Cocktail Rings
Late 20th Century Italian Modernist Cocktail Rings
Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1970s American Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow ...
2010s American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Tanzanite, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modernist Cocktail Rings
Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1940s American Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Agate, Sterling Silver
1960s French Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century French Modernist Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Chrysophrase, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1970s Swiss Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Modernist Cocktail Rings
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold
1950s American Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Pearl, 14k Gold
1980s Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Tanzanite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Unknown Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Carnelian, Diamond, Brown Diamond, 14k Gold, 15k Gold
Diamond and Sapphire Cocktail Rings and Other Antique and Vintage Cocktail Rings
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.