Diamond Engagement Rings
Mid-18th Century British Art Deco Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18th Century Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
18th Century Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
18th Century Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
18th Century French Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Garnet, Silver, 18k Gold
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1620s American Art Deco Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
18th Century Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-18th Century Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 18th Century German Baroque Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby
Mid-18th Century Dutch Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
1780s European Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 1700s Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
1740s English Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
1760s Italian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
18th Century English Victorian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold
15th Century and Earlier Turkish Modern Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1680s European Modern Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold
15th Century and Earlier Turkish Modern Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Tanzanite, 14k Gold
15th Century and Earlier Turkish Byzantine Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Spinel, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
18th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
15th Century and Earlier Turkish Byzantine Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Spinel, Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
16th Century American Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, White Gold
Early 17th Century Dutch Renaissance Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold
18th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
18th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Yellow Gold
15th Century and Earlier Turkish Byzantine Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Spinel, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
15th Century and Earlier Artisan Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Enamel, Gold, 22k Gold
Mid-18th Century Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel, Silver, Yellow Gold
18th Century Unknown Georgian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Garnet, Diamond, Gold
15th Century and Earlier American Contemporary Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
16th Century British Victorian Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Mid-18th Century Unknown George II Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, Silver
1650s American Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
15th Century and Earlier Turkish Byzantine Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold
1770s Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1660s Unknown Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1770s Italian Modern Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
1640s Unknown Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold, White Gold
16th Century Tudor Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
18th Century Antique Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Shop Antique and Vintage Diamond Engagement Rings on 1stDibs
Antique and vintage diamond engagement rings are timeless. Diamonds are the hardest gemstones and stand out for their extraordinary brilliance. They are usually thought of as being clear, with a dazzling sparkle that turns white light into flashes of color. One in 10,000 diamonds is colored, with hues ranging from yellow and pink to blue and black. The more intense the color, the higher the price of the diamond.
Rings have long been signifiers of marriage and committed relationships. The modern diamond engagement ring can be traced back to 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria commissioned an expensive diamond ring for his betrothed. Diamond rings subsequently became extremely popular among the European aristocracy. Later, during the Victorian era, the popularity of diamond engagement rings had filtered down to the middle class, owing to the increasing accessibility — and affordability — of gold and diamonds.
Authentic antique Victorian-era engagement rings were frequently set in rose or yellow gold and they are highly collectible. Designs for Victorian engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal. Diamonds were likely to be small rose- or old-mine-cut (the ancestor of today’s cushion-cut) stones. The former are often associated with antique styles like Victorian or Georgian, as rose-cut diamonds are uncommon in modern jewelry. The diamonds were typically set in a group of five in a band or as a solitaire. Victorian-era engagement rings also saw other gemstones accompanying diamonds. Small seed pearls and moonstones were popular. Other sentimental and romantic motifs such as hearts and stars took hold as well.
In 1886, esteemed American luxury firm Tiffany & Co. introduced its solitaire diamond design, which is still among the most popular styles of engagement rings. The Tiffany Setting raises the stone above the band on six prongs, allowing its facets to catch the light and reflect through the stone.
French jewelry house Cartier, which pioneered the use of platinum in fine jewelry and helped define Art Deco, sought to render the diamonds in their engagement rings and other rings as brilliantly as possible. The brand’s timeless Solitaire 1895 engagement ring gave the impression of delicate lace.
Shopping for an engagement ring can be challenging — from stone to carat weight to cut to setting, jewelry lingo can feel like a foreign language, making the task of choosing a diamond feel even more daunting. Explore our buying guides for a close look at antique engagement rings, Art Deco engagement rings and vintage engagement rings, and shop an exquisite collection of antique and vintage diamond engagement rings on 1stDibs.
Read More
Our Guide to Engagement Ring Settings – And How to Choose One
There are many ways to showcase a diamond, from traditional prongs to a smooth, streamlined bezel. Here’s everything you need to consider.
Colorful Gemstones Are a Brilliant Choice for Engagement Rings
If diamonds don’t seem right, what about a magnificent sapphire, ruby or emerald?
Our Guide to Fancy-Colored Diamond Engagement Rings
Accounting for just 1 percent of all diamonds, these marvels of nature are exceedingly rare and gorgeously complex.
Our Guide to Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco Engagement Rings
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
Talking Diamonds with the Jeweler Behind J. Lo’s Engagement Ring
Alon Ruschin, of Vivid Diamonds & Jewelry, channels his passion for gems into helping clients find just the right ring.
5 Engagement Ring Styles to Consider Right Now
If a classic solitaire isn't for you, explore these alluring alternatives.
The One-of-a-Kind Allure of Custom Engagement Rings
Thinking of going bespoke but not sure what it entails? We ask the experts what you need to know.
Experts Talk Engagement Ring Trends and Shopping Tips
Ready to rock? Some of our favorite jewelry designers and dealers share indispensable advice for choosing that most important ring.