$1,300
Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Amethyst Cocktail Ring A yellow gold ring set with an oval cut amethyst accented with smaller various cut amethysts.
Amethyst, 14k Gold
$589Sale Price / item|75% Off
Amethyst cocktail ring, gold, silver
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
Amethyst cocktail ring, gold, silver. Amethyst statement ring.
Amethyst, Gold, Silver
$1,285 / item
10K Yellow Gold Yellow Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Bradenton, FL
Vintage 10K Gold Yellow Amethyst Cocktail Ring, size 7.5. Ring features an impressive emerald-cut citrine stone that is approximately 20mm x 14mm.
Amethyst, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Signed Trisko 14 Karat Gold & Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine signed gold and amethyst cocktail ring. By Trisko. In 14k yellow gold and prong set with and emerald cut amethyst gemstone on a square band.
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold
$1,375Sale Price|50% Off
Retro Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Northampton, MA
Flashy and splashy, this 14K yellow gold hand-fabricated ring features a large (Approximately 7.5 carats) natural, fire-filled amethyst. The stone is beautifully cut and bezel-set. T...
Amethyst, 14k Gold
Bochic Vintage Ruby & Amethyst Cocktail Ring in 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby & Amethyst Cocktail Ring Set in 18K Gold & Silver — Signed Natural Ruby 2.00 Carats Natural Amethyst 13.00 Carats A bold expression of color ...
Ruby, Amethyst, Silver, 18k Gold
Gold Diamond Coral Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Amazing pink coral ring in 14kt white gold surrounded by diamonds and amethysts. diamonds 2.23kt tot weight 10.8gr r.f. egaa For any enquires, please contact the seller through th...
Amethyst, Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Retro French 30ct Amethyst Cocktail Ring Sz 6.75 Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Large
Located in Torrance, CA
Stylish Retro vintage amethyst cocktail ring (circa 1940s) crafted in 18 karat yellow gold.
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Retro Yellow Gold Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
This striking ring features a large rectangular amethyst gemstone with a vibrant purple hue. The amethyst is set in a four-prong gold setting, showcasing its clarity and brilliance. ...
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold
Tiffany & Co. Paloma Picasso Amethyst Cocktail Ring.
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Crafted circa the 1980s through the iconic collaboration between visionary designer Paloma Picasso and the legendary American jeweler Tiffany & Co., this striking ring is fashioned i...
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-Century Rose Gold Architectural 3ct Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami, FL
A sophisticated mid-century amethyst ring crafted in solid 14K rose gold (marked 583), showcasing a beautifully cut ~3-carat emerald-cut amethyst in a bold architectural setting.
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 14 Karat Gold Oval Cut Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a vintage cocktail ring crafted in 14K gold. Circa 1980. The piece features beautiful oval cut amethyst.
Amethyst, 14k Gold
Mid-Century Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Denver, CO
This mid-century cocktail ring features a high-domed elongated oval cabochon amethyst measuring approximately 20 x 10mm and weighing approximately 11.57 carats.
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14K White Gold Amethyst Cocktail Ring with Diamond Accents
Located in Sewickley, PA
This elegant statement ring features a richly purple Amethyst gemstone. Secured in a classic prong setting and is flanked on each side by delicate diamond accents. The side details a...
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
14k Gold & High Set Pear Cut Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine estate cocktail ring. In 14k yellow gold. Claw set with a large pear cut amethyst gemstone in a high-set setting.
Amethyst, 14k Gold
Vintage H Stern 18k Yellow Gold 9.92ct Amethyst Cocktail Ring
By H. Stern
Located in New York, NY
This vintage H Stern cocktail ring is crafted in 18k yellow gold and features a bold 9.92 carat amethyst as its centerpiece.
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Large Aquamarine & Amethyst Cocktail Ring in 18k Gold, Size 9.5ct
Located in La Jolla, CA
Large Aquamarine and Amethyst Statement Ring in 18k Yellow Gold Large Stone Ring features large faceted Oval Amethyst and Aquamarine both have been set inverted and vertically in 18...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
14K Russian Rose Gold Amethyst Cocktail Ring, Circa 1980s, 15ct
Located in Palm Desert, CA
14 Karat Russian Rose Gold Amethyst Ring. The ring features a bezel-set 15.0ct oval cabochon Amethyst. The handmade ring also contains custom looped prongs and a simple wire detail t...
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
$1,350Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Sapphire & Amethyst Cocktail Ring 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Amethyst & Fancy Multi Sapphire Large Cocktail Ring 18K Gold & Silver Natural Purple Amethyst - 9 Carat Natural Fancy Sapphire from Sri Lanka - 5...
Amethyst, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green...
Vintage Amethyst Cocktail Ring 10 Karat Yellow Gold Large Purple Gemstone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Cocktail ring with a large oval Amethyst 10k Yellow Gold, 4.10 grams Finger size 6.5.
Amethyst, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby & Amethyst Cocktail Ring Set 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Orient” Vintage Ruby, Amethyst & Multi Gem Cocktail Ring Set 18K Gold & Silver Natural Red Ruby - 8 Carat Natural Amethyst - 4 Carat Natural White Topaz - 4 Carat This ...
Amethyst, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
Vintage 14ct Yellow Gold, 1940s Large 20 Carat Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Vintage Cocktail Ring 14ct Gold Tested Circa 1940s This vintage cocktail ring is a stunning piece of jewellery that is bound to turn heads.
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Elegant Grand Scale French Mid-20th Century 18k Gold and Amethyst Cocktail Ring
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This completely unique and and "over the top" French ring, crafted from 18k yellow gold with large center emerald cut amethyst, entirely surrounded by numerous additional amethyst ...
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Pear Shape Amethyst and Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Huge Pear Shape Amethyst Cocktail Ring 1 large amethyst set in 3 prong setting surrounded by 50 round cut diamonds approximately 3.86 cts set in 14k yellow gold.
Amethyst, 14k Gold
Vintage Amethyst Cocktail Ring Platinum Stamped Circa 1940’s
Located in Brighton, GB
Vintage Cocktail Ring Platinum Stamped Circa 1940’s Fabulous, vintage cocktail ring.
Amethyst, Platinum
18.00 Carat Amethyst Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid- Century Amethyst cocktail ring. 18.00 carat oval amethyst in a simply double 4 prong 14k yellow gold setting.
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
14 Karat Emerald Cut Amethyst Gold Cocktail Ring 1940s
Located in Wallkill, NY
Stunning large Emerald Cut Amethyst Cocktail ring. Wonderful 14K Gold Setting on this ring.
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
18K Gold & 6.75 Ct Amethyst Sugarloaf Cabochon Pisces Zodiac Cocktail Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage gold & amethyst cocktail ring In 18 karat yellow gold. With a bezel-set 6.75 Ct± amethyst sugarloaf or bullet cabochon.
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Vintage 39.50 Carat Amethyst and 1.32Carat Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive vintage 39.50 carat amethyst and 1.32 carat diamond, 18 karat yellow gold and palladium set cocktail ring; part of our diverse amethyst cocktail rings...
Amethyst, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Palladium
Siberian Amethyst Ring, 25.00 Carats
Located in New Orleans, LA
This striking retro amethyst cocktail ring centers a stunning 25.00-carat emerald cut Siberian amethyst.
Amethyst, Palladium
$1,365Sale Price|25% Off
Bochic “Capri” Vintage Ruby, Amethyst & Multi Sapphire Ring - 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Capri” 19 Carat Ruby, Multi Sapphire & Amethyst Cocktail Ring in 18K Gold & Silver A bold and captivating statement ring from Bochic’s iconic “Capri” Traveling Collection, ...
Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
Bochi“Capri” Vintage Enamel & Purple Amethyst Ring 18K Gold & Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Bochic “Capri” Vintage Green Enamel & Purple Amethyst Cocktail Ring 18K Gold & Silver Amethyst Purple Rose Cut Gems - 5 Carats Green enamel leaves The Ring looks like a painting a...
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
25.37 Carat Amethyst and 0.85 Carat Diamond 14k White Gold Ring Circa 1970
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This stunning, fine and impressive vintage amethyst cocktail ring has been crafted in 14k white gold.
Amethyst, Diamond, White Gold
Mid Century amethyst diamond platinum cocktail ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This captivating Mid Century cocktail ring is a bold and elegant expression of 1950’s glamour, centered by a vivid round brilliant cut amethyst weighing approximately 1.00 carat.
Amethyst, Diamond, Platinum
Amethyst And Diamond Cocktail Ring, 14K Gold
Located in Bradenton, FL
14K Yellow Gold Amethyst and Diamond Cocktail Ring. Ring features an oval amethyst, approximately 6 carats, surrounded by 18 matched brilliant-cut small round diamonds.
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold
Amethyst Ring 14K Gold Cocktail Vintage Estate
By Estate Jewelry
Located in East Brunswick, NJ
Amethyst Ring 14K Gold Cocktail Vintage Estate This stunning vintage ring is finely crafted in solid 14K Yellow Gold (carefully tested and guaranteed) and set with genuine Earth min...
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Amethyst and Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami Beach, FL
14K white gold ring presenting a faceted pear-shaped amethyst accented with three prong-set diamonds on each side. Amethyst, approximately 9 carats. Diamonds, .05 carats; G-H VS-SI. ...
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold
Vintage 14ct Gold Amethyst & Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Vintage Cocktail Ring 14ct Gold Circa 1960’s Fabulous Vintage Cocktail Ring.
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Amethyst 9 Carat Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The amethyst set up high upon this ring is a gorgeous pale purple colour held in double claws. Modelled in 9carat gold. Ring Size: M or 6 1/4 Stone Dimensions: 10x8mm Height Off F...
Amethyst, Gold
Diamond Amethyst Ring 14K Gold Cocktail Vintage
By Estate Jewelry
Located in East Brunswick, NJ
Diamond Amethyst Ring 14K Gold Cocktail Vintage This stunning vintage estate ring is finely crafted in solid 14K Yellow Gold (carefully tested and guaranteed) and set with Earth min...
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mauboussin Amethyst & Mother of Pearl Cocktail Ring
By Mauboussin
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
This striking cocktail ring has been set with an amethyst and mother of pearl panels and was made by french jeweller, Mauboussin.
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Amethyst and Diamond Silver Cocktail Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This stunning amethyst sits proudly on a simple four claw setting modelled out of silver and has ribbed shoulders. On the tip of each claw is a diamond point which adds a lovely bit ...
Amethyst, Diamond, Silver
Diamond Amethyst Ring 14K Gold Vintage Cocktail
By Estate Jewelry
Located in East Brunswick, NJ
This spectacular vintage ring is finely crafted in solid 14K Yellow Gold (carefully tested and guaranteed), and set with natural Earth mined Amethyst gemstones and diamonds. Twenty o...
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
4.66 Carat Amethyst Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
1990's amethyst and diamond ring. 4.66ct cushion cut Amethyst in a platinum setting with 28 round accent diamonds along both sides of the shank. The ring has a serial number. We do n...
Amethyst, Diamond, Platinum
Amethyst and Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Beautiful color purple oval faceted amethyst prong mounted in a diamond 14k white gold frame. The frame has 23 single cut diamonds weighting approximately .34 carat in total weight f...
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Amethyst & Tanzanite Cocktail Ring in 10k Yellow Gold
Located in Bloomington, MN
Amethyst & Tanzanite Cocktail Ring in 10k Yellow Gold This ring is crafted in 10k yellow gold and features an oval amethyst weighing approximately 3.88ct.
Amethyst, Tanzanite, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Amethyst and 9 Carat Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This gorgeous ring holds an amethyst which is so sparkly and a bright purple. The stone is held in scalloped claws and the rest of the ring is very simple and modelled in 9ct gold. ...
Amethyst, Gold
Vintage Amethyst and 9 Carat Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This gorgeous cocktail ring holds an amethyst which is glossy and a pale lilac.
Amethyst, Gold
14K Yellow Gold Amethyst Diamond Textured Cocktail Ring
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
A bold vintage amethyst and diamond cocktail ring crafted in 14 karat yellow gold.
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Amethyst and 9 Carat Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This gorgeous cocktail ring holds an amethyst which is glossy and bright purple.
Amethyst, Gold
14K White Gold Amethyst & Diamond Cocktail Ring 14.3g
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Ladies custom made amethyst and diamond ring with 14k white gold setting. Stamped 14k and weighs 14.3 grams. The amethyst is a faceted triangle shape, 4.50 carats. great color. Some ...
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
$1,445 / item
14K Gold Vintage Amethyst and Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Bradenton, FL
Vintage 14K Gold Purple Amethyst and Diamond Cocktail Ring, size 7.5. Ring features a dramatic faceted amethyst set in warm yellow gold, accented by sparkling white diamonds.
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold
Large Vintage Cocktail ring with amethyst and diamonds
Located in Milano, MI
Large cocktail ring with a central ametyst of circa 30ct flanked by 1.70ct c.a. of round cut diamonds of good commercial white.
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage Mellerio 1.70 carat amethyst platinum cocktail ring
By Mellerio
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage platinum ring by Mellerio features a vivid amethyst framed by baguette diamonds, embodying timeless French elegance and refined craftsmanship.
Amethyst, Diamond, Platinum
Amethyst and Diamond Halo Sterling Silver Cocktail Ring
Located in Milford, DE
This stunning cocktail ring features a richly hued cushion-cut amethyst set in a gleaming sterling silver band.
Amethyst, Diamond, Sterling Silver
Vintage Amethyst & Diamond Cocktail Ring in White Gold
Located in New York, NY
A striking vintage cocktail ring from the Retro era, featuring a cushion-cut purple amethyst of approximately 35 carats.
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage Amethyst and 9 Carat Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The amethyst in this ring is a gorgeous deep purple colour and is complimented by the 9carat yellow gold. Fully hallmarked London 1975. Ring Size: M or 6 1/4 Stone Dimensions: 12.5...
Amethyst, Gold
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.
There are few gemstones in the world that are both affordable and worthy of a duchess’s attention. But then not many stones are as beautiful as amethyst. Indeed, vintage and antique amethyst jewelry has innumerable fans, and February’s birthstone has many unique attributes. For the romantics, there are several tales in Greek mythology that tell the story of Bacchus and Amethyste, a maiden that he pursues yet is rescued by Diane by turning her into a white stone. Bacchus, mourning his love, pours a glass of wine over the sculpture, dyeing her purple.
Amethyst has adorned many royal jewels. One of the most enviable jewelry collections of all time belonged to Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor. In 1947, the Duke gifted her with a Cartier amethyst and turquoise bib necklace. This special order piece was made with twisted 18-carat and 20-carat gold, platinum, brilliant- and baguette-cut diamonds, one heart-shaped faceted amethyst, 27 emerald-cut amethysts, one oval faceted amethyst, and turquoise cabochons. The Duchess was not the only Royal with a penchant for the purple gemstone. The tiara now owned by Queen Silvia of Sweden is set with amethysts that once belonged to the French Empress Josephine. A stunning 56-carat cushion-cut, square-shaped amethyst set in an 18-karat yellow gold necklace designed by Tiffany & Co. is now in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
The Smithsonian also has in its possession an even more rare example of fine amethyst: the 96-carat Morris Amethyst Brooch. The brooch features a deep, rich purple heart-shaped amethyst. The museum states that the piece was likely made during the Edwardian period (1901–15) “when platinum and diamonds were often used, and amethyst, a favorite stone of King Edward VII’s wife, Alexandra, was often included in jewelry of the era.”
Another amethyst necklace, with an even richer story, can be found in the Natural History Museum of London. Known as the Delhi Purple Sapphire (even though the stone is an amethyst), this stone was stolen from the Temple of Indra during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Anyone in possession of this stone is bound to have terrible luck, including its owner Edward Heron-Allen, who gifted the gemstone to the museum thinking that this would save him but ended up transferring the bad luck to the museum curators overseeing the stone.
Find a wide range of vintage and antique amethyst necklaces, bracelets and other fine jewelry on 1stDibs.
A flashy symbol of wealth during the early 20th century, antique and vintage cocktail rings have gained broader appeal in the decades since for the hefty dose of glamour they bring to any ensemble.
Cocktail rings earned their name for their frequent appearances during glitzy cocktail parties at the height of the Prohibition era. Back then, these accessories were seen not only as statement pieces but as statements in and of themselves. They openly represented a sense of freedom and independence as well as a demonstration of opulence. After all, the 1920s heralded the Harlem Renaissance and Art Deco design, and a slew of social and cultural shifts meant that women in particular were breaking from pre–World War I conventions and embracing newfound freedoms to express themselves as individuals.
Women expressly wore cocktail rings on the fingers of their right hand versus the left, which was “reserved” for an engagement ring or wedding band, accessories definitely paid for by a suitor. And for cocktail rings, the bigger the colored gem at the center — which is usually mounted in a high setting — and the more elaborate the design, the stronger the likelihood of being noticed.
Cocktail rings remained a popular piece of jewelry for women until the 1930s, when the Great Depression and the onset of war marked a change in behaviors nationwide. While the 1960s and ’70s saw a return in visibility for the accessory, it wasn’t until the 1980s that cocktail rings once again assumed their position as a beacon of luxury and glitz.
During the 20th century, the range of dazzling cocktail rings seems to have been limitless, from glimmering gold rings set with carved jade diamonds designed by David Webb to Pomellato’s pink quartz confections to striking Gucci butterfly rings with accent diamonds set in a pavé fashion.
So, how do you wear a cocktail ring? Cocktail rings “can be worn for almost anything — dinners, date nights, parties, special events, on the red carpet,” explains David Joseph of New York-based jewelry brand Bochic.
Can you wear cocktail rings with other rings? “In my opinion, cocktail rings should stand on their own since they showcase a large gem in the center,” says Joseph.
These glamorous jewels can be worn inside or outside crowded taverns, in either daytime or nighttime with casual or dressy attire. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of antique and vintage cocktail rings, including those offered by Chanel, whose elegant cocktail rings often feature pearls and, of course, diamonds, and sometimes were styled after showy flowers like the camellia, and Van Cleef & Arpels, whose detailed and intricate designs are viewed as miniature pieces of wearable art.
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