Fashion Jewelry Cocktail Rings
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Topaz, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s Spanish Cocktail Rings
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Engagement Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Cluster Rings
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Topaz, Blue Topaz, Multi-gemstone
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Fashion Rings
22k Gold, Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Fashion Rings
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Diamond, 14k Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cocktail Rings
Agate, Base Metal
Late 20th Century Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Cocktail Rings
Agate, Brass
Vintage 1950s Modernist Cocktail Rings
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Cocktail Rings
Beryl, Green Beryl, Sterling Silver
20th Century Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Topaz, 14k Gold
2010s French Contemporary Cocktail Rings
White Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Other, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1980s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Thai Modern Cocktail Rings
Tourmaline, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Cocktail Rings
18k Gold
20th Century Dome Rings
Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Other, Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Other, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Citrine, 10k Gold
Vintage 1980s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Garnet, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Fashion Rings
Other, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Fashion Rings
Other, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Other, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Modern Cocktail Rings
Other, Sterling Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Other, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Other, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold, Vermeil
2010s American Modern Cocktail Rings
Other, Sterling Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Other, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Cocktail Rings
Sterling Silver
Fashion Jewelry: Antique and Vintage Cocktail Rings for Sale
Shopping for cocktail rings in the collection of fashion jewelry on 1stDibs?
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.
For enthusiasts of costume jewelry, which is typically designed to accessorize with current fashions and made of inexpensive materials, there has been no shortage of coveted cocktail rings created over the years by the likes of J Dauphin, Miriam Haskell, Kenneth Jay Lane, Elsa Schiaparelli and others. A range of fashion rings created in ceramic or embellished with rhinestones — the latter a source of instant, affordable glamour — have also been designed at Chanel. The founder of the internationally revered luxury house, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, loved costume jewelry but couldn’t resist designing jewelry with diamonds.
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.
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 in our collection of fashion jewelry, 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.