Cocktail Rings
18th Century Unknown Contemporary Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 18th Century Victorian Antique Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1770s French Napoleon III Antique Cocktail Rings
Gold, Silver
Mid-18th Century African Art Nouveau Antique Cocktail Rings
Moonstone, Ruby, Platinum, Silver, Sterling Silver
18th Century French Georgian Antique Cocktail Rings
18k Gold
Mid-18th Century Pakistani Arts and Crafts Antique Cocktail Rings
Topaz, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, 15k Gold, 18k Gold
18th Century Art Deco Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Gold, Platinum
Late 18th Century French Georgian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-18th Century North American Art Nouveau Antique Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
18th Century French Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
18th Century Unknown Art Deco Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
18th Century Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold
1780s Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
18th Century Antique Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 18th Century Edwardian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Star Sapphire, 18k Gold, Y...
1780s English Georgian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Silver, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
18th Century European Contemporary Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
18th Century Italian Classical Roman Antique Cocktail Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Cocktail Rings
Agate, Rose Gold
18th Century Unknown Georgian Antique Cocktail Rings
Garnet, Diamond, Gold
Late 18th Century Georgian Antique Cocktail Rings
Enamel, Gold
Early 18th Century Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
18th Century German Baroque Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
Late 18th Century French Antique Cocktail Rings
18k Gold
18th Century Italian Classical Roman Antique Cocktail Rings
Agate, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
1770s Italian Modern Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
18th Century Aesthetic Movement Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Palladium
18th Century Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 18th Century Antique Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
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.