Cocktail Rings
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Silver
1980s German Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, White Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s Unknown Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
14k Gold
1970s Italian Artisan Vintage Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, Onyx, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Silver
1970s Italian Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Freshwater Pearl, Sterling Silver
1990s French Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Yellow Gold
1990s Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
Late 20th Century Cocktail Rings
Topaz, Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
1990s American Art Deco Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Unknown Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1990s Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Opal, Sapphire, Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Chrome Tourmaline, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Enamel
1990s Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire
15th Century and Earlier American Baroque Revival Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century British Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Rubelite, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s French Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Vintage Cocktail Rings
Chrysophrase, Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Artisan Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Cocktail Rings
Chrysoberyl, Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Spanish Artisan Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Italian Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, 14k Gold
1970s Italian Artisan Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1970s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k 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.