GIA Certified 56.05 Carat Natural Aquamarine Diamonds Bracelet Bohemian Deco*
Located in New York, NY
Bohemian Raised Solitaire, elegant. 52.25ct. Natural Aquamarine Bracelet Vivid Aqua Blue, Transparent & round cut. Clean VS Clarity 25.61 x 19.47 x 13.86mm diameter GIA R...
Aquamarine, Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
0.92ct Ceylon Sapphire Solitaire Engagement Ring 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in London, GB
Make a bold statement of love with this 0.92ct Ceylon Sapphire Solitaire Engagement Ring. Crafted from 18ct yellow gold, this ring features a stunning oval-shaped sapphire as the cen...
Sapphire, Yellow Gold
7.50 Carat Natural Yellow Sapphire & Diamond Solitaire Ring, 14k Yellow Gold
Located in New Delhi, DL
A large oval-cut yellow sapphire forms the focal point of this cocktail ring, framed by a continuous halo of round natural diamonds. The scalloped diamond surround follows the oval p...
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gol...
1.25 Carat Purple Sapphire Yellow Gold Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Sapphire engagement ring. Oval sapphire bezel set center stone in a 14k yellow gold setting. 1 oval purple sapphire, approx. 1.25cts Size 7 and sizable 14k yellow gold Stamped: 14...
Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Heart Sapphire Solitaire Ring 18KT yellow gold size 6
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Pretty solitaire ring with a blue heart sapphire in the center and solid 18KT yellow gold.
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Yellow Gold Sapphire Solitaire Engagement Ring - 14k Round .65ct
Located in Greensboro, NC
Size: 4 1/4 Sizing Fee: Up 5 sizes for $40 or Down 2 sizes for $30 Note: If resized up, the ring's shank will be replaced. Metal Content: 14k Yellow Gold & 14k White Gold Stone In...
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2.67ct Sapphire Emerald Solitaire Engagement Ring In 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in London, GB
This stunning 2.67 carat solitaire engagement ring features a beautiful natural emerald cut sapphire in a classic 18ct yellow gold setting.
Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Yellow Ceylon sapphire and diamond flanked solitaire ring, mid 20th Century.
Located in London, GB
Yellow Ceylon sapphire and diamond flanked solitaire ring.
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Platinum
5.50ct Yellow Sapphire Emerald Cut Solitaire Engagement Ring In 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in London, GB
5.50ct Yellow Sapphire Emerald Cut Solitaire Engagement Ring In 18ct Yellow Gold This stunning engagement ring features a beautiful 5.50ct emerald cut yellow sapphire man made set in...
Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Yellow Gold Blue Sapphire Solitaire Bypass Ring - 10k Oval .26ct
Located in Greensboro, NC
Size: 6 Sizing Fee: Up 3 sizes for $40 or Down 2 sizes for $30 Metal Content: 10k Yellow Gold Stone Information Natural Blue Sapphire Treatment: Heating Carat(s): .26ct Cut: Oval ...
Blue Sapphire, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
14k Yellow Gold & Oval Ceylon Sapphire Ladies Solitaire Ring 3.81ct
Located in Newport Beach, CA
We are pleased to offer this 14k Yellow Gold & GIA Certified Ceylon Sapphire Solitaire Ring.
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat Yellow Gold 5.39 Carat Sapphire Solitaire Ring
By Gems Paradise
Located in Jaipur, IN
Behold the epitome of opulence with our 18 Karat Yellow Gold 5.39 Carat Sapphire Solitaire Ring—a singular masterpiece crafted for those who seek the extraordinary.
Sapphire, 18k Gold
2.67ct Sapphire Emerald Solitaire Engagement Ring In 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in London, GB
2.67ct Sapphire Emerald Solitaire Engagement Ring In 18ct Yellow Gold This stunning 2.67 carat solitaire engagement ring features a beautiful natural emerald cut sapphire in a classi...
Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Yellow Gold Sapphire Bypass Solitaire Engagement Ring - 14k Round .73ct
Located in Greensboro, NC
Size: 6 1/2 Sizing Fee: Down 3 for $30 or up 2 for $35 Metal Content: 14k Yellow Gold & 14k White Gold Stone Information Natural Sapphire Treatment: Heating Carat(s): .73ct Cut: R...
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,849Sale Price / item|20% Off
6.52 Carat Solitaire Yellow Sapphire Ring 0.60 Ct. SI/H Diamond 14k Yellow Gold
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Deira, Dubai
6.52 Carat Solitaire Yellow Sapphire Ring 0.60 Ct. SI/H Diamond 14k Yellow Gold This ring features round cut diamonds halo around cushion cut yellow sapphire making a perfect Birthst...
Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
$4,812Sale Price / item|20% Off
6.52 Carat Solitaire Yellow Sapphire Ring 0.60 Ct. SI/H Diamond 18k Yellow Gold
By Spectrum Jewels
Located in Deira, Dubai
6.52 Carat Solitaire Yellow Sapphire Ring 0.60 Ct. SI/H Diamond 18k Yellow Gold This ring features round cut diamonds halo around cushion cut yellow sapphire making a perfect Birthst...
Yellow Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1.90 Carat Pink Sapphire Solitaire Ladies Ring in Yellow Gold Band
By SEAWAVEDIAMONDS
Located in New York, NY
1.90 Carat Pink Sapphire Solitaire Ladies Ring in Yellow Gold Band -Metal Type: 18K Yellow Gold -1.90 Carat Cushion Cut Pink Sapphire -Size 5.5 Made in New York City.
Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Burmese Sapphire Cabochon Solitaire Ring, circa 1990
Located in London, GB
Burmese sapphire cabochon solitaire ring. Set with a cushion shape cabochon natural unenhanced Burmese sapphire in an open back rubover setting with an approximate weight of 13.00 ca...
Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Yellow Gold Lab Created Sapphire Men's Ring - 14k Rectangular 22.50ctw Solitaire
Located in Greensboro, NC
Size: 11 Sizing Fee: Up 1 size for $60 or Down 1 size for $60 Metal Content: 14k Yellow Gold Stone Information Lab Grown Sapphire Treatment: Heating Carat(s): 22.50ct Cut: Rectang...
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat Yellow Gold 5.39 Carat Multi-Sapphire Solitaire Ring
By Gems Paradise
Located in Jaipur, IN
Behold the epitome of opulence with our 18 Karat Yellow Gold 5.39 Carat Multi-Sapphire Solitaire Ring—a singular masterpiece crafted for those who seek the extraordinary.
Sapphire, 18k Gold
Ceylon Sapphire Flank Solitaire Ring, circa 1940
Located in London, GB
Ceylon sapphire flank solitaire ring. Set to centre with an octagonal emerald-cut natural unenhanced Ceylon sapphire in an open back rubover setting with an approximate weight of 4.2...
Sapphire, Yellow Gold
14 Karat Yellow Gold Sapphire Solitaire Ring with Diamond Accents
Located in Stamford, CT
14 Karat Yellow Gold Fashion Ring with Blue Sapphire and Diamonds. 0.60 total weight of round diamonds 0.50 total weight of baguette diamonds 5.00 ct Blue Sapphire. Size 7.5 5.20 gra...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
$502Sale Price / item|44% Off
Sapphire solitaire ring for men silver, gold
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
SIlver, Gold Round Sapphire Ring For Men's. Mens Solitaire Sapphire Ring.
Sapphire, Gold Plate, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
$456Sale Price / item|50% Off
Sapphire solitaire ring for men silver, gold
By Daizy Jewellery
Located in Istanbul, TR
SIlver, Gold Round Cabochon Sapphire Ring For Men's. Mens Solitaire Sapphire Ring.
Sapphire, Gold Plate, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Solitaire Oval Blue Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k Solid Yellow Gold
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
Blue sapphire ring with diamonds set in 14k gold which perfectly goes with your personality and also helps you to improve your learning and spiritual healing. Designed with oval cut...
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Ring Sapphire Solitaire with Diamond Accents
Located in Stamford, CT
14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Ring Sapphire Solitaire With Diamond Accents Size 8.75 . 0.10 total diamond weight.
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
18K Gold Solitaire Ring with Fancy Shield Shaped 1.04ct Yellow Sapphire size 7
Located in Big Bend, WI
18K yellow gold ring featuring a 1.04 carat yellow sapphire. The sapphire is a pale yellow color and fancy shape modified shield cut. The sapphire has a CSL card stating natural unhe...
Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Yellow Gold Sapphire Art Deco Solitaire Engagement Ring 14k Euro 1.30ct Vintage
Located in Greensboro, NC
Size: 4 3/4 Sizing Fee: Up 3 sizes for $50 or Down 1 size for $40 Era: Art Deco Metal Content: 14k Yellow Gold & 14k White Gold Stone Information Natural Sapphire Treatment: Heat...
Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
14 Karat Yellow Gold Sapphire Solitaire Band with Diamond Accents Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
14 Karat Yellow Gold Sapphire Solitaire Band With Diamond Accents Ring 0.16 total diamond weight.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
5.39 Carat Solitaire White Natural Sapphire & Diamond Halo Ring, 14k Yellow Gold
Located in New Delhi, DL
This contemporary statement ring features a prominent oval-cut natural white sapphire at its center, secured in a four-prong setting and surrounded by a delicate halo of round-cut na...
Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Sapphire Solitaire Ring with Diamond Accents
Located in Stamford, CT
14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Deep Blue Sapphire Solitaire Ring with Diamond Accents 10 piece diamond with 0.30 total diamond weight. 9.00 mm x 6.00 mm oval sapphire.
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
$1,705 / item
Solitaire Star Round Blue Sapphire 14K Gold Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegantly crafted, this Solitaire Star Round Blue Sapphire 14K Rose Gold Ring features a captivating deep blue sapphire at its center, flanked by brilliant diamonds that add a radian...
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Platinum
$6,696Sale Price|20% Off
3 Carat Pear Shaped Ceylon Blue Sapphire Solitaire Cocktail Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
This sophisticated and contemporary solitaire ring showcases an exceptional natural pear-shaped Ceylon blue sapphire, weighing approximately 3 carats.
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cherub Figural Solitaire Ring with Rose Cut Sapphire in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
We think this large ring is probably an upsized reproduction of an Art Nouveau or late Victorian ring. It features two children (we call them cherubs but they seem a little old for ...
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Solitaire Pear Sapphire 14K (or 18k upon request) Yellow Gold Band Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Solitaire Pear Sapphire 14K Yellow Gold Band Ring is a stunning piece crafted in 14K yellow gold, featuring a beautiful combination of blue sapphire, ruby, and emerald stones.
14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2.15ct Yellow sapphire engagement ring in 18ct yellow gold.
Located in London, GB
Chunky large yellow sapphire gemstone solitaire engagement ring in 18k yellow gold plain band.
Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Gold
14 Karat Yellow Gold Blue Sapphire Solitaire with Diamond Accent Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
14 Karat Yellow Gold Blue Sapphire Solitaire With Diamond Accent Ring Size 8.5 4.69 Total Grams
14k Gold
Yellow sapphire emerald engagement ring in 18k yellow gold.
Located in London, GB
Beautiful large yellow emerald sapphire gemstone solitaire engagement ring in 18ct yellow gold plain band.
Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Gold
1.05ct Sapphire and diamond solitaire engagement ring in platinum
Located in London, GB
Yellow sapphire emerald shape solitaire engagement ring in platinum.
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
1.05ct Yellow sapphire engagement ring in platinum
Located in London, GB
Yellow sapphire emerald shape solitaire engagement ring in platinum.
Yellow Sapphire, Platinum
$5,704Sale Price|20% Off
4 Carat Oval Blue Sapphire Solitaire Vintage Style Ring in 14k Gold
Located in Chicago, IL
This exquisite vintage-inspired solitaire ring showcases a magnificent 4 carat oval-cut natural blue sapphire, exuding elegance and timeless charm.
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1.02 Carat Oval Sapphire and Diamond Gold Solitaire Cocktail Ring
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Beautiful! Sapphire and Diamond Gold Solitaire Cocktail Ring.
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Natural Ceylon Sapphire Solitaire Ring: Solid 14K Gold, 5mm Round Fine Jewelry
Located in Columbus, OH
Natural Ceylon sapphire in a 5mm round solitaire, prized for its rich color and timeless appeal. Set in solid 14K gold, this fine jewelry piece is perfect for everyday elegance. "5m...
Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Monture Cartier Vintage Aquamarine Solitaire Ring in 18k Yellow Gold Size 7.5
By Cartier
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Gorgeous Monture Cartier Ring Features Appx 22.80 ct Aquamarine in 18k Yellow Gold Prong Setting Appx 0.80 ct Diamond and 1.20 ct Sapphire Accents Total Mass = 13.30 grams Featured i...
Aquamarine, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,274Sale Price|37% Off
0.50 Carat Princess Diamond 18 Karat Gold Solitaire Hasbani Engagement Ring
By Hasbani Diamonds
Located in London, GB
A modern classic engagement ring. Handmade in 18 Karat Gold, with a 0.50 Carat White Diamond. Set in an open gallery 4 corners mount with a split v-shank. A beautiful Half Carat Cer...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yel...
0.75 Carat Princess Diamond 18 Karat Gold Solitaire Hasbani Engagement Ring
By Hasbani Diamonds
Located in London, GB
A modern classic engagement ring. Handmade in 18 Karat Gold, with a 0.75 Carat White Diamond. Set in an open gallery 4 corners mount with a split v-shank. An attractive 0.75 Carat C...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yel...
$10,076Sale Price|40% Off
1.00 Carat Princess Diamond 18 Karat Gold Solitaire Hasbani Engagement Ring
By Hasbani Diamonds
Located in London, GB
A modern classic engagement ring. Handmade in 18 Karat Gold, with 1.00 Carat White Diamond. Set in an open gallery 4 corners mount with a split v-shank. An impressive 1.00 Carat Cer...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yel...
0.25 Carat Princess Diamond 18 Karat Gold Solitaire Hasbani Engagement Ring
By Hasbani Diamonds
Located in London, GB
A modern classic engagement ring. Handmade in 18 Karat Gold, with a 0.25 Carat White Diamond. Set in an open gallery 4 corners mount with a split v-shank. A very pretty 0.25 Carat C...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yel...
1.20 Carat Platinum Engagement Round Diamond Solitaire Twist Bespoke 4 Claw Ring
By Hasbani Diamonds
Located in London, GB
For a beautifully entwined journey together, this gleaming twisted vine modern classic engagement ring. Handmade in high grade Platinum 950 to British Standard, with a total of 1.20 ...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yel...
Bespoke 3Carat Pear Diamond 18K Gold GIA F VVS Hasbani Engagement Solitaire Ring
By Hasbani Diamonds
Located in London, GB
This bespoke exquisite oval-shape diamond ring is a refined statement of luxury, meticulously handcrafted by Hasbani Diamonds London, renowned second-generation high-jewellery design...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yel...
0.68 Carat Round Side Band Diamond Solitaire 18 Karat Rose Gold Engagement Ring
By Hasbani Diamonds
Located in London, GB
For a beautifully entwined journey together, this gleaming twisted vine modern classic engagement ring. Handmade in 18 Karat Rose Gold, with a total of 0.68 Carat White Diamonds. Set...
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Yel...
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Solitaire Sapphire ring 18KT yellow gold UNISEX 2CT
Located in Jupiter, FL
Unisex ring made with 2ct blue oval sapphire in 18KT yellow gold. GRAM WEIGHT: 6.24gr GOLD: 18KT yellow gold NATURAL SAPPHIRE Cut: Oval Color: Blue Clarity: Moderately Included Cara...
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1.05 Ct Blue Sapphire Bezel Band 14K Gold Sapphire Solitiare Band Juhi Jewels
Located in Jaipur, IN
Available in all ring sizes for a personalized fit. Product Details Metal: 14K Yellow Gold Style: Solitaire Band Gemstone: Natural Blue Sapphire Gemstone Weight: 1.05 Carats Gemston...
Blue Sapphire, 14k 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.
On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry.
Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.
Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.
America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.
The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.
You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.
Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).
The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.)
Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.
Even as jewelry trends have come and gone, antique and vintage diamond solitaire rings are a classic fashion piece. Although enduringly popular as an engagement ring style, a solitaire ring — whether it's an emerald solitaire ring, a sapphire solitaire ring or another iteration — makes a fantastic addition to any outfit with a variety of shapes and settings to explore.
Solitaire rings have a single stone setting and a minimalistic band in which pressure, bezel or prongs hold the stone in place. They have a long history in jewelry, such as an example discovered in Israel with a single amethyst that could be as old as the third century A.D.
Simple gold rings with single diamonds were prized possessions in Ancient Rome. However, it was not until the 1940s that engagement rings with a solitaire diamond setting became widely popular.
After the turmoil of the Great Depression and World War II led to a decline in diamond prices, De Beers saw an opportunity. The diamond magnate teamed up with the ad agency N.W. Ayer for the “A Diamond Is Forever” campaign. It was a sensation and cemented the solitaire diamond as the leading engagement ring. Statistics show that diamonds are the most common gemstones for engagement rings, preferred by 87 percent of people. (On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.)
Today, the design of solitaire rings takes many forms, and those created by Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and other internationally celebrated jewelry houses are particularly sought-after accessories. Though the single-stone setting remains the same, bands have become more detailed, with some containing other stones or even multiple diamonds. Art Deco, Art Nouveau and other art movements have influenced the design of solitaire rings over the years. However, the simplicity of this accessory remains timeless.
Browse 1stDibs for a unique selection of antique and vintage solitaire rings to accent any fashion choice.
Ancient Egyptians referred to the vibrant stone as the “gem of the sun.”
There are many ways to showcase a diamond, from traditional prongs to a smooth, streamlined bezel. Here’s everything you need to consider.
The vintage bombé ring is bursting with color and timeless style.
Zircon is a magnificent and underrated natural gemstone that has been worn and adored for centuries.
Givers of fine gems enjoy surprise more than receivers, and women more than men. Find out what else our survey of 3,000 Americans revealed.
If diamonds don’t seem right, what about a magnificent sapphire, ruby or emerald?
Accounting for just 1 percent of all diamonds, these marvels of nature are exceedingly rare and gorgeously complex.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.