Cocktail Rings
1990s Turkish Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 19th Century French Art Deco Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1890s Belle Époque Antique Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Silver, Rose Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1810s British Regency Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 9k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Australian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, White Gold, 18k Gold
1810s Unknown Georgian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century American Art Deco Antique Cocktail Rings
Other, Multi-gemstone, Crystal, Citrine, White Gold, 10k Gold
1990s Italian Modernist Cocktail Rings
Coral, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, Silver
1990s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
19th Century Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Black Opal, Platinum
1990s Italian Modernist Cocktail Rings
Agate, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1870s Unknown Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1990s European Retro Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond
19th Century French Early Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1990s American Modern Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Diamond, Platinum
19th Century American Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Platinum
1990s Swiss Romantic Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Early Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Topaz, Imperial Topaz, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s American Native American Cocktail Rings
Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century American Art Deco Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-19th Century Unknown Modern Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Coral, 18k Gold
19th Century English Medieval Antique Cocktail Rings
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Artisan Cocktail Rings
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
19th Century American Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Natural Pearl, Kyanite, Yellow Gold
19th Century French Renaissance Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Zircon, Blue Zircon, Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century American Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Gold
1990s Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Garnet, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1990s French Cocktail Rings
Chalcedony, White Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Garnet, Enamel
Late 19th Century European Edwardian Antique Cocktail Rings
Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Hong Kong Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Yellow Gold
1990s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Onyx, Diamond, Enamel, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Garnet, Moonstone, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1890s English Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Moonstone, 9k Gold, Silver
1890s Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1860s Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1990s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Turquoise, White Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-19th Century Unknown Modern Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1990s European Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, 14k Gold
1990s Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
19th Century Unknown Belle Époque Antique Cocktail Rings
Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Gilt Metal
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.