Cocktail Rings
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s American Artisan Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Platinum
Early 2000s Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Opal, Platinum
Early 17th Century American Modern Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Enamel, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
18th Century Italian Classical Roman Antique Cocktail Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-17th Century Australian Art Deco Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s French Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Baroque Revival Cocktail Rings
Iolite, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Garnet, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Opal, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Black Opal, Opal, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Modern Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire, Gold
16th Century Australian Art Deco Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Baroque Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Yellow Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Thai Artisan Cocktail Rings
Onyx, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s Colombian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Neoclassical Cocktail Rings
Tanzanite, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Thai Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Silver
Early 2000s Thai Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Hong Kong Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Modernist Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s American Retro Cocktail Rings
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s American Retro Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Gold
15th Century and Earlier Turkish Byzantine Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Agate, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
15th Century and Earlier American Classical Roman Antique Cocktail Rings
Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Bronze
Early 2000s Swiss Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
15th Century and Earlier Greek Classical Greek Antique Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
Emerald, White Gold
Early 2000s English Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Italian Victorian Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, White Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s German Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Blue Topaz, Diamond, Topaz, Platinum
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Modern Cocktail Rings
Peridot, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Greek Antique Cocktail Rings
Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Gold
Early 2000s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
15th Century and Earlier Turkish Byzantine Antique Cocktail Rings
Agate, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow 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.