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14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

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14k Yellow Gold 20CT Cabochon Blue Star Sapphire Mermaids Holding Up Stone Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
14k Yellow Gold Cabochon Cut Blue Sapphire Mermaid Ring Size 7.5 41.5 Grams Center Sapphire
Category

Late 20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Star Sapphire, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Diamond and Sapphire Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa: 1920 Platinum top and 14K Yellow Gold Ring set with European Cut Diamonds totaling 2.90
Category

20th Century Unknown Edwardian 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Platinum

Wide Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
One of a kind. Very interesting solid 10k & 14k yellow gold three piece ring. There is a 10k
Category

Late 20th Century Modern 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Retro Pearl Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
. Hand crafted in 14k gold. Ring size 5-1/4 and may be resized.
Category

1940s American Retro 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold

PHILIP PAVAL Gold Pearl Sapphire Ring
By Philip Paval
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A 14k gold ring set with pearls and blue sapphire created by Philip Paval of Los Angeles. Ring is a
Category

1950s American 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Natural Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold

14K White Gold 1950s Old European Cut Diamond and Synthetic Sapphire Ring
Located in Towson, MD
Set at the center of this geometric floral pinwheel of synthetic (lab grown) sapphires is a lovely
Category

1950s American Art Deco 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold

Vintage Sapphire Diamond Pearls Cocktail Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
Beautiful handmade 14k rose gold ring. It is set with one large Natural Sapphire in the center
Category

Late 20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Pearl, Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

1970s Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring Band
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1970s Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring Band Sapphire and diamond gold ring band circa 1970. A single
Category

1970s Contemporary 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold

GIA 9.00 Carat Unheated Ceylon Sapphire Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
approximately 1.40 carats. Set in 14k white gold, the ring weighs 7.2 grams and is currently size 5, with easy
Category

1970s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Sapphire Diamond White Gold Band Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Nice 1970 14k white gold deep blue Sapphire and diamond ring. Perfect engagement or finger ring
Category

1970s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 20.00 Carat Cabochon Sapphire Ring
Located in London, GB
Dimensions: 16.5mm x 14mm Sapphire Weight: Approx. 20.00ct Marked: 14K Box: The Vintage Jeweller Ring Box
Category

20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

White Diamond Marquise and Blue Sapphire Art Deco Ring in 14K White Gold
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful white diamond marquise and rounds with blue sapphire rounds. Handmade in 14k white gold
Category

Mid-20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, White Gold

Cabochon Moonstone Sapphire Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
The allure of the cabochon moonstone is augmented by a frame of blue sapphires, creating a unique
Category

1960s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Moonstone, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Oval Sapphire and Diamond Halo Ring
Located in Coral Gables, FL
14 Karat Yellow Gold Ring Featuring An Oval Sapphire Approximately 1.00 Carat and 24 Round Diamonds
Category

1990s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

5.51 Carat Gem Sapphire Gents’ Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
The substantial ring is created of 14 karat yellow gold with a finely detailed pattern of polished
Category

Late 20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Sapphire Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
14K gold white and yellow gold diamond and sapphire ring, American, Ca. 1915; size: 6 3/4.
Category

20th Century American Edwardian 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Vintage 10.66 Ct Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
The ring is crafted in 14K white gold. It features an excellent natural unheated 10.66 ct blue
Category

Late 20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Vintage Gemstone Ring of 14k Gold
Located in Lewisburg, PA
This vintage ring (circa 1960-1970) features assorted gemstones in 14k gold. The gemstones include
Category

Mid-20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Aquamarine, Chrysoberyl, Emerald, Garnet, Sapphire, Zircon, 14k Gold

0.15ctw Sapphire 0.10ctw H/I SI2 Diamond Ring Set in 14K Yellow Gold
Located in Sewickley, PA
This elegant 14k yellow gold ring showcases a sophisticated swirl design, beautifully blending
Category

Late 20th Century American Contemporary 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

14 Karat White Sapphire Cocktail Ring
Located in Palm Desert, CA
14k Gold Checkerboard-Cut Oval White Sapphire ring. The Sapphire stone measures 14.08mm x 10.11mm
Category

1970s American Retro 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Gold

1950s Emerald Ruby Sapphire Gold Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Wonderful one of a kind, genuine all gem quality solid 14k gold ring with sapphires, rubies and an
Category

1940s Modern 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold

White Gold Diamond Sapphire Spray Ring
Located in Coral Gables, FL
14 Karat White Gold Spray Ring Featuring 5 Pear Cut Sapphires Totaling 1.25 Carats Accented By 19
Category

Mid-20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Diamonds Sapphires Australian Pearl Gold Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
covered by the seller (customs duties included). Fantastic 14 kt rose gold ring, 18.40 g with pearl
Category

1970s Italian Retro 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold

1950s Star Sapphire and Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami, FL
14 karat white gold, star sapphire and diamond ring, set in the center with a cabochon star
Category

1950s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Star Sapphire, Gold, 14...

Rock Crystal Sapphire Diamond and Gold Ring
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Carved rock crystal, diamonds and blue sapphire set on a 14k gold plaque and shank, made in Italy
Category

1970s Italian 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Rock Crystal, Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold

Emerald Cut Sapphire Diamond Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Bright blue Emerald cut Sapphire and trilliant cut diamonds in a white gold setting. GIA certified
Category

1960s Unknown 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Modern Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Era: Modern Composition: 14k yellow gold Primary Stone: natural square step cut sapphire Carat
Category

1990s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Set Gold Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 14k, American. This beautiful ring is set with a vibrant yellow 3.0 carat sapphire
Category

1960s American 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold

Whimsical Lobster Diamond Sapphire Yellow Gold Ring
Located in London, GB
This ring is made in 18kt and 14kt gold. It depicts a lobster adorned with 2 sapphires cabochon for
Category

1990s Unknown 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mid Century Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Dallas, TX
A throwback to the days of cocktails and dinner parties. This bright jewel will surely liven up any event. In a size 7.50 it is easily adjustable
Category

1960s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Synthetic Purple Sapphire Cocktail Ring
Located in Denver, CO
An oval shaped synthetic purple sapphire measuring 10 x 15mm radiates from within a hand carved
Category

Mid-20th Century English 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Purple Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Sapphire Blue Zircon Cat Ring, 14KT Yellow Gold, Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
A vintage 14 karat yellow gold sapphire and blue zircon cat ring. This ring features a kitten motif
Category

1970s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Sapphire, Zircon, Blue Zircon, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Marvelous Diamond Sapphire Cluster Ring Gorgeous Stones
Located in Media, PA
This is a gorgeous diamond and sapphire ring with fabulous quality stones. The total carats on the
Category

Late 20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

12.55 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The classic Sapphire engagement ring. Featuring a 12.55 carat cornflower blue sapphire that is
Category

20th Century Unknown 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

1940s Pink Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Towson, MD
14 karat rose gold, green gold, and palladium ring with a ribbon design. Set with 5 round pink
Category

20th Century Unknown Retro 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Palladium

14 Karat Yellow Gold Sapphire Quilted Ring
Located in Coral Gables, FL
14 Karat Yellow Gold Ring Featuring A Sapphire Cabochon & 6 Square Cut Sapphires Totaling 0.50
Category

Mid-20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Allsopp-Steller Sapphire Aquamarine Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A 14 carat gold cluster ring set with 8 oval cut aquamarines around 6 brilliant cut Montana
Category

1940s American 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Aquamarine, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold

1940s Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Toronto, ON
14K Cabochon Sapphire and Diamond Ring, C.1940. The ring centering a cabochon blue sapphire
Category

Mid-20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

1960s Aquamarine and Pink Sapphire Gold Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1960s, 14k, American. This fabulous sixties ring features a 14.50 carat aquamarine
Category

1960s American 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Aquamarine, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

British Vintage Band Ring ring with sapphires and diamonds
Located in Chorzów, PL
Old ring with sapphires and diamonds. Made of 0.550 yellow gold with a central band of seven
Category

Mid-20th Century British Post-War 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

0.72ctw Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring, 14KWhiteGold, Past Present Future Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
A vintage 14 karat white gold sapphire and diamond engagement ring. This ring features a three
Category

1970s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

Antique Art Deco Diamond and Sapphire Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This antique Art Deco ring has every classic element from this time period. Cast in 14K white gold
Category

1940s American Art Deco 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Multicolored Sapphire and Diamond Ring, 14 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in New York, NY
A lively ring with oval and round multi-colored sapphires, comprising of orange, yellow, green
Category

Mid-20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire,...

1.35 Carat Blue Sapphire Ring Yellow Gold
Located in Dallas, TX
1.35 carat blue sapphire set in intricate 14 karat gold mounting. Size 7.
Category

Mid-20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14kt Sapphire and Diamond Channel Set Ring
Located in Towson, MD
14kt yellow gold approximately .55tcw Sapphire and approximately .10tcw I-J color, I1-I2 clarity
Category

1990s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Diamond and Sapphire Yellow Gold Statement Ring
Located in Towson, MD
This estate 14-karat yellow gold ring showcases a sophisticated design with a striking combination
Category

20th Century Contemporary 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

White Gold Diamond and Multicolor Sapphire Ring
Located in Coral Gables, FL
14 Karat White Gold Ring Featuring 8 Oval Cut Multicolor Sapphires Totaling Approximately 5 Carats
Category

1990s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Sapphire 14 Karat Gold Channel Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
mark Stamped U.S.A and 14k for 14 karat gold Circa: 1990s Ring Size: 7 1/2 & sizable Measures: 3.3
Category

1990s Contemporary 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Gold Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Towson, MD
One 14 karat yellow gold (stamped 585 14K) ring set with three 5x3.5mm natural blue oval sapphires
Category

20th Century Contemporary 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Art Deco Sapphire Diamond Gold Band Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
Charming Sapphire Diamond Gold ring, all handmade in the Art Deco era, in excellent condition. It
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold

15 Carat Star Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Miami, FL
14k white gold ring featuring a cabochon star sapphire weighing approximately 15cts accented by 2
Category

1990s American 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Star Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Aqua, Diamond, Sapphire and Ruby 14 Carat Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Dazzling vintage designer ring. Holding a Diamond, Sapphire, Aqua and Ruby and modelled in 14ct
Category

1980s Unknown Modern 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Yellow Gold Turquoise Diamonds and Sapphires Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, IT
Fabulous turquoise ring,yellow gold 14 carat with diamonds and sapphires, turquoise from Arizona
Category

1980s Italian 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold

Vintage Diamond Sapphire 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Vintage Diamond Sapphire 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ring. Featuring three round brilliant cut and 14
Category

1990s 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

12.55 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The classic Sapphire engagement ring. Featuring a 12.55 carat cornflower blue sapphire that is
Category

Late 20th Century American 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Vintage 14K Rose Gold Pink Sapphire and Diamond Leaf Motif Band
Located in New York, NY
A striking Retro Ring, featuring bezel set round pink Sapphires and white Diamonds set in 14k Rose
Category

20th Century Retro 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

14K Yellow Gold Lab Created Round Sapphire Band Size 7.5 #15623
Located in Washington Depot, CT
14K Yellow Gold Lab Created Round Sapphire Band This beautiful ring is set in 14K yellow gold
Category

20th Century 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

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14k Vintage Sapphire Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact 14k vintage sapphire ring you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 14k Gold and Yellow Gold. Find an antique version now, or shop for 426 vintage or 43 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. You’re likely to find the perfect 14k vintage sapphire ring among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 15th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Creating a 14k vintage sapphire ring has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Antinori Fine Jewels, Diamonds Mine and Alberto are consistently popular. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes oval cut and mixed cut alternatives. Most of our 14k vintage sapphire ring for sale are for women, but there are 65 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a 14k Vintage Sapphire Ring?

The price for a 14k vintage sapphire ring starts at $300 and tops out at $44,000 with these rings, on average, selling for $1,445.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

The Legacy of Sapphire in Jewelry Design

On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry

Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.

Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.

America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.

The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.

You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.

The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.

Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).

The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.)  

Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Rings for You

Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.

No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.

Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.

Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry

The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.

Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.