Cocktail Rings
1980s French Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Chrysophrase, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Peridot
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1980s French Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
1980s American Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Chalcedony, Diamond, White Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Blue Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, Rose Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s British Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Peridot, Gold
1980s German Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s Unknown Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Tsavorite, Garnet, Diamond, Citrine, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Cocktail Rings
Jade, 14k Gold
18th Century Unknown Georgian Antique Cocktail Rings
Garnet, Diamond, Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
1980s American Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1980s American Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
1980s Unknown Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold
1980s American Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Morganite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Artisan Vintage Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold
1980s Portuguese Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Contemporary Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
1980s French Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Swiss Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1980s Unknown Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire
1980s Italian Artisan Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Cocktail Rings
Onyx, Diamond, Citrine, Aquamarine, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1980s American Modernist Vintage Cocktail Rings
Tiger's Eye, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1980s American Vintage Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Unknown Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Star Sapphire, Ruby, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Italian Contemporary Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Rubelite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Jade, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s Retro Vintage Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1980s French Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s French Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Rubelite, 18k Gold
1980s Unknown Vintage Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Vintage Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White 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.