Vintage Costume Jewelry Cocktail Rings

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of vintage costume jewelry cocktail rings. Frequently made of gold, 18k gold and 14k gold, these items were constructed with great care. Our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and pieces in stock date back to the 20th Century while others were produced as recently as the 20th Century. Our collection of vintage costume jewelry cocktail rings includes designs that are universally popular, but modern and retro styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., Loulou de la Falaise and Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co. produced popular versions that are worth a look. Lovers of these pieces agree that it’s a versatile accessory, but a selection from our variety of 17 diamond versions can add an especially stylish touch. A selection of round cut, brilliant cut and oval cut can be found today on these pages. Most of our vintage costume jewelry cocktail rings for sale are for women, but there are 8 pieces available to browse for men.

Prices for vintage costume jewelry cocktail rings can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $275 and can go as high as $900,000, while vintage costume jewelry cocktail rings, on average, fetch $1,418.

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.