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Yellow Gold Cultured Pearl & Diamond Victorian Cluster Bypass Ring 18k Antique
Yellow Gold Cultured Pearl & Diamond Victorian Cluster Bypass Ring 18k Antique

Yellow Gold Cultured Pearl & Diamond Victorian Cluster Bypass Ring 18k Antique

Located in Greensboro, NC

Size: 8 Sizing Fee: Up 1/2 a size for $100 or Down 1/2 a size for $100 Era: Victorian Date: 1860s - 1870s Metal Content: 18k Yellow Gold & 18k White Gold Stone Information Culture...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Pearl Emerald Amethyst Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Victorian Pearl Emerald Amethyst Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring

Victorian Pearl Emerald Amethyst Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

This antique Victorian cocktail ring is supplied with an independent diamond grading report card.

Category

Antique 1870s English Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Emerald, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage-Inspired Semi-Mount for Round or Oval Diamond 1-2 Carat 14K Gold ER14411
Vintage-Inspired Semi-Mount for Round or Oval Diamond 1-2 Carat 14K Gold ER14411

Vintage-Inspired Semi-Mount for Round or Oval Diamond 1-2 Carat 14K Gold ER14411

By Five Star Jewelry

Located in Austin, TX

This diamond engagement ring semi-mount has a fabulous flair that reminds you of the Victorian era. The details for this beautiful ring are listed below: Metal Quality: 14 Karat Yell...

Category

2010s American Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Vintage 18K Yellow Gold and Platinum 0.56ctw Old Cut Diamond 5 Stone Ring
Vintage 18K Yellow Gold and Platinum 0.56ctw Old Cut Diamond 5 Stone Ring

Vintage 18K Yellow Gold and Platinum 0.56ctw Old Cut Diamond 5 Stone Ring

Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB

A vintage diamond, platinum, and yellow gold ring, comprising five old European cut diamonds, set in platinum, to a band of 18 karat yellow gold.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Diamond Twist Ring
Antique Diamond Twist Ring

Antique Diamond Twist Ring

Located in London, GB

Here we have a delightful twist ring dating back to the Victorian period. This antique piece showcases five round faceted old cut diamonds in a diagonal formation which graduate in s...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Spectra Fine Jewelry 5-Stone Diamond Demi Eternity Wedding Band
Spectra Fine Jewelry 5-Stone Diamond Demi Eternity Wedding Band

Spectra Fine Jewelry 5-Stone Diamond Demi Eternity Wedding Band

By Spectra Fine Jewelry

Located in New York, NY

The five-stone ring, with its row of sparkling diamonds, traces its roots back to the Victorian era, when each stone was thought to symbolize love, loyalty, devotion, commitment, and...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Portuguese 5ct Unheated Burmese Raspberry Spinel & Old-Mine Diamond Ring
Antique Portuguese 5ct Unheated Burmese Raspberry Spinel & Old-Mine Diamond Ring

Antique Portuguese 5ct Unheated Burmese Raspberry Spinel & Old-Mine Diamond Ring

Located in New York, NY

An extraordinary, investment-grade heirloom centred on an approximately 5.00-carat natural, unheated Burmese spinel of exceptional museum quality, originating from Mogok, Burma (Myan...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Portuguese Late Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Spinel

Lagoon Tourmaline and Diamonds natural gemstone Ring, 14 Karat Yellow Gold, 7US
Lagoon Tourmaline and Diamonds natural gemstone Ring, 14 Karat Yellow Gold, 7US

Lagoon Tourmaline and Diamonds natural gemstone Ring, 14 Karat Yellow Gold, 7US

By GRALJEWELRY

Located in Dublin, D

Natural 1Ct Lagoon Tourmaline and Diamonds gemstone 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ring Laboratory full certificate for the ring Main Stone: Tourmaline Main Stone Creation: Natural Main Stone...

Category

2010s Afghan Victorian Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 0.65ct Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring, 1901 England
Antique 0.65ct Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring, 1901 England

Antique 0.65ct Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring, 1901 England

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A fine and impressive antique 0.65 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold five stone cocktail ring; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This fine and...

Category

Antique Early 1900s English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian 0.25ct Diamond 18ct Gold Ring
Antique Edwardian 0.25ct Diamond 18ct Gold Ring

Antique Edwardian 0.25ct Diamond 18ct Gold Ring

Located in London, GB

A classic and elegant piece of Victorian jewellery, this antique five-stone diamond ring is crafted in 18ct yellow gold with a platinum-topped navette-shaped setting.

Category

20th Century English Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage Plum Pink Sapphire & Solid White Opal Diamond Bridge Ring in 9ct Gold
Vintage Plum Pink Sapphire & Solid White Opal Diamond Bridge Ring in 9ct Gold

Vintage Plum Pink Sapphire & Solid White Opal Diamond Bridge Ring in 9ct Gold

Located in SYDNEY, AU

This striking five-stone ring is hallmarked London 1975 and crafted in 9ct yellow gold in the classic Victorian bridge ring style.

Category

Vintage 1970s British Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Antique Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Antique Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring

Antique Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

The interior of this Victorian sapphire and diamond ring shank is hallmarked with the 18k mark (18ct).

Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

TVJ 1.00 Carat Asscher Cut Diamond Five Stone Ring
TVJ 1.00 Carat Asscher Cut Diamond Five Stone Ring

TVJ 1.00 Carat Asscher Cut Diamond Five Stone Ring

Located in London, GB

This is a beautiful diamond five stone ring. The ring features a Georgian style cut down setting with five asscher cut diamonds which has been crafted in silver with a yellow gold ba...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Georgian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Vintage Sapphire and Diamond Carved Shank Cluster Ring, circa 1950s
Vintage Sapphire and Diamond Carved Shank Cluster Ring, circa 1950s

Vintage Sapphire and Diamond Carved Shank Cluster Ring, circa 1950s

Located in London, GB

A centrally set row of five sapphires is embraced by twin rows of round brilliant cut diamonds that total to 0.60ct, at the heart of this classically-styled cluster ring dating from ...

Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Blue Topaz and Diamond Victoraian Style Wedding Band Ring in 9K Yellow Gold
Blue Topaz and Diamond Victoraian Style Wedding Band Ring in 9K Yellow Gold

Blue Topaz and Diamond Victoraian Style Wedding Band Ring in 9K Yellow Gold

Located in Bangkok, TH

This striking Blue Topaz Ring showcases a breathtaking Victorian-style lattice pattern in solid 9K yellow gold.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Blue Topaz, Topaz, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold, Gold

Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Yellow Gold Pendant
Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Yellow Gold Pendant

Victorian Natural Pearl and Diamond Yellow Gold Pendant

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

The lower portion of the design features a claw set Old European cut diamond, supporting a drop pearl. This Victorian pearl and diamond pendant is suspended from an impressive 16.5"...

Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 14k Yellow Gold Sapphire and Ruby Drop Earrings, Circa 1880
Victorian 14k Yellow Gold Sapphire and Ruby Drop Earrings, Circa 1880

Victorian 14k Yellow Gold Sapphire and Ruby Drop Earrings, Circa 1880

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Each hand design is ornamented with a ring and bracelet, incorporating four mine cut diamonds.

Category

Antique 1880s American Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 20.34 Carat Opal and 4.63 Carat Diamond Silver Gilt Cross Pendant Brooch
Antique 20.34 Carat Opal and 4.63 Carat Diamond Silver Gilt Cross Pendant Brooch

Antique 20.34 Carat Opal and 4.63 Carat Diamond Silver Gilt Cross Pendant Brooch

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A magnificent, fine and impressive antique 20.34 carat opal and 4.63 carat diamond, silver gilt cross pendant / brooch; part of our diverse antique jewellery and estate jewelry colle...

Category

Antique 1860s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Silver

Victorian Art Nouveau Seed Pearl and 18k Yellow Gold Necklace
Victorian Art Nouveau Seed Pearl and 18k Yellow Gold Necklace

Victorian Art Nouveau Seed Pearl and 18k Yellow Gold Necklace

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Images do not always reflect the true colour and brilliance of gemstones and diamonds. The video however provides a truer representation of the actual colour and showcases each stone...

Category

Antique 1880s Drop Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, Yellow Gold

Antique 6.92ct Garnet, 3.50ct Moonstone and 1.23ct Diamond Yellow Gold Pendant
Antique 6.92ct Garnet, 3.50ct Moonstone and 1.23ct Diamond Yellow Gold Pendant

Antique 6.92ct Garnet, 3.50ct Moonstone and 1.23ct Diamond Yellow Gold Pendant

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A stunning antique Victorian 6.92 carat garnet, 3.50 carat moonstone and 1.23 carat diamond, 14 karat yellow gold and 14k white gold set pendant; part of our diverse antique jeweller...

Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, Moonstone, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Diamond Pearl and Enamel Yellow Gold and Silver Pendant
Antique Diamond Pearl and Enamel Yellow Gold and Silver Pendant

Antique Diamond Pearl and Enamel Yellow Gold and Silver Pendant

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A stunning antique Victorian 0.55 carat diamond, pearl and enamel, 12 karat yellow gold and silver set necklace; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections.

Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Silver, Enamel

Antique Ruby and Diamond 12 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch
Antique Ruby and Diamond 12 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch

Antique Ruby and Diamond 12 Karat Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

This stunning example of Victorian jewelry is supplied with an independent diamond grading report certificate for the feature stone, in addition to an independent diamond and gemston...

Category

Antique 1890s Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Antique Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch / Pendant
Antique Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch / Pendant

Antique Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch / Pendant

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

This large antique sweetheart brooch frame is embellished with a total of one-hundred and sixty-five eight cut diamonds, graduating in size depending on the location.

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique 1.45 Carat Amethyst and Seed Pearl Yellow Gold Necklace
Antique 1.45 Carat Amethyst and Seed Pearl Yellow Gold Necklace

Antique 1.45 Carat Amethyst and Seed Pearl Yellow Gold Necklace

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

The bolt ring fastening is also hallmarked with the mark for 15k gold (15CT).

Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

A Late Victorian Five Stone Diamond Ring
A Late Victorian Five Stone Diamond Ring

A Late Victorian Five Stone Diamond Ring

Located in London, GB

A late Victorian five stone diamond ring, the five old European-cut diamonds graduating from the centre and estimated to weigh 1.95 carats in total, embellished with rose-cut diamond...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Ring
Victorian Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Ring

Victorian Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Ring

Located in London, GB

A Victorian emerald and diamond five-stone ring, alternately set with three square-set emeralds estimated to weigh a total of 2 carats, accompanied by GCS Report stating to be of Col...

Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Style Five-Stone Ruby and Diamond Ring
Victorian Style Five-Stone Ruby and Diamond Ring

Victorian Style Five-Stone Ruby and Diamond Ring

Located in London, GB

This ring is in very good condition. A very fine Victorian style five stone ring.

Category

2010s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

A Victorian five stone Burmese ruby ring
A Victorian five stone Burmese ruby ring

A Victorian five stone Burmese ruby ring

Located in London, GB

This incredible Victorian five stone Burmese ruby ring comes from the collection of Bentley & Skinner, Jewellers by Royal Appointment to His Majesty King Charles III.

Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Half Hoop Ring
Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Half Hoop Ring

Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Half Hoop Ring

Located in London, GB

An emerald and diamond five-stone Victorian style ring, the three old octagonal-cut emeralds weighing 1.29 carats, accompanied by GCS report stating to be of Colombian origin, claw s...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British High Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

A Five Stone Ruby And Diamond Ring
A Five Stone Ruby And Diamond Ring

A Five Stone Ruby And Diamond Ring

Located in London, GB

This estate sourced ring is in very good condition for its age. A charming five stone ring featuring glimmering diamonds and rubies.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

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Victorian Five Stone Diamond Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact victorian five stone diamond ring you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. Finding the perfect victorian five stone diamond ring may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular accessory, there are many different carat weights to choose from, but 1 Carat and 1.5 Carat versions are of considerable interest. Creating a victorian five stone diamond ring has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Five Star Jewelry are consistently popular. See these pages for an old european cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also old mine cut cut and round cut cut versions available here, too. When shopping for a victorian five stone diamond ring, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Victorian Five Stone Diamond Ring?

The price for a victorian five stone diamond ring starts at $347 and tops out at $53,213 with these rings, on average, selling for $3,107.

A Close Look at Victorian Jewelry

The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.

Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria & Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.

The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.

Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.

Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs. 

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Finding the Right Rings for You

Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.

No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.

Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.

Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry

The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.

Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.