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14 Karat White Gold and Diamond Oval Huggie Earrings #16763
Located in Washington Depot, CT
14K white gold. Width: 3 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: G-H Diamond
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Hoop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

14 Karat White Gold and Diamond Oval Huggie Earrings #20991
Located in Washington Depot, CT
14K white gold. Width: 3 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: G-H Diamond
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Hoop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

10 Karat White Gold Diamond Wedding Band Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
single cut diamonds set in 10K white gold. Width: 2 mm Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct
Category

20th Century Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, 10k Gold, White Gold

14 Karat White Gold Pearl and Diamond Earrings
Located in Washington Depot, CT
back closures. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: J-K Diamond clarity: VS2
Category

20th Century Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: J-K Diamond clarity: SI-I1 Size
Category

20th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

14 Karat White/Yellow Gold and Diamond Filigree Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
ring measures 15 mm x 12 mm. Shank measures 1 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond
Category

20th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

18 Karat White Black Pearl and Diamond Earrings
Located in Washington Depot, CT
total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond clarity: VS2 Diamond color: H Size: 9 mm Weight: 2.8 dwt
Category

20th Century Dangle Earrings

Materials

Multi-gemstone, Gold

18 Karat White Gold Pearl and Diamond Pendant
Located in Washington Depot, CT
brilliant cut diamonds set in classic 14K white gold. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond
Category

20th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, White Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: H-I Diamond clarity: SI1-I1 Ring Size: 6.75
Category

20th Century Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Genuine Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
14K yellow gold. Shank measures 1.5 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: H
Category

20th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

Multi-gemstone, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
: 2.5 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: I-H Diamond clarity: SI1 Size
Category

Early 20th Century Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Peridot and Diamond Earrings
Located in Washington Depot, CT
gold. Push back closures. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: I Diamond
Category

1990s Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Peridot, Yellow Gold

18 Karat White Gold Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
white gold. Center stone approximate diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: L Diamond clarity: VS2
Category

20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: J-K Diamond clarity: SI-I1 Size: 7 Weight: 1.7
Category

Early 20th Century More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamond Ball Pendant #19757
Located in Washington Depot, CT
diamonds set in classic 14K yellow gold. Approximate total diamond weight: .12 - .16 ct. Diamond color: I
Category

20th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 18 Karat White Gold Onyx and Diamond Cufflinks #4382
Located in Washington Depot, CT
white gold. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: H Diamond clarity: SI1 Size: 20
Category

20th Century Cufflinks

Materials

White Gold

10 Karat White Gold Topaz and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
. Shank: 2 mm. Topaz weight: 7.18 ct. Total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond clarity: SI-I Diamond
Category

20th Century Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Topaz, White Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
. Width: 8 mm. Shank: 2.5 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: G Diamond
Category

20th Century Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamond Band Ring Size 8.25 #18110
Located in Washington Depot, CT
noted to one stone not visible to naked eye. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
gold. Shank measures 2.5 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: I Diamond
Category

20th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

Multi-gemstone, Yellow Gold

14 Karat White Gold Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
measures 2 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: G Diamond clarity: VS1-VVS2
Category

20th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

Multi-gemstone

14 Karat Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond Ring #14022
Located in Washington Depot, CT
yellow gold. Width: 9 mm. Shank: 2 mm. Emerald weight: .31 ct. Total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond
Category

20th Century Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Coral and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
yellow gold. Top of ring measures 22 mm x 17 mm. Shank: 2 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct
Category

Early 20th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Mobe Pearl and Diamond Ring
Located in Washington Depot, CT
. Top of ring measures 19 mm. Shank measures 2 mm. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond
Category

20th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

Pearl, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Huggie Hoop Earrings #22476
Located in Washington Depot, CT
. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: I Diamond clarity: SI1-I1 *Stone weights are
Category

20th Century Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Paul Morelli 18K Yellow Gold and Diamond Flower Stud Earrings #23196
By Paul Morelli
Located in Washington Depot, CT
closures are not Paul Morelli. Approximate total diamond weight: .16 ct. Diamond color: G Diamond
Category

20th Century Contemporary Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

0.60 Ct Diamonds, 16 Mm Pearls, Rose Gold and Silver Earrings.
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
conditions. Diamonds 0.60 ct Pearls 12.30 gr - 16 mm Total Weight 17.10 gr RF *UGOR For any informations
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

16 Ct Natural Burma Ruby 10 Ct Diamond Hanging/Drop Earrings 18 Kt Gold 35 Gm
Located in New York, NY
16 Ct Natural Burma Ruby & 10 Ct Diamond Hanging/Drop Earrings 18 Kt Gold 35 Gm This exquisite
Category

Early 2000s Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. Platinum Circlet Pendant Necklace .12 Ct Diamond F VVS 16" Long
By Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
diamond weight is 0.12 cts F color, VVS clarity. Pendant is stationary and is hanging off a 16" long curb
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

16 ct. t.w. Yellow Beryl, Black Diamond Yellow Gold Art Deco Inspired Earrings
By Sarosi By Timeless Gems
Located in Los Angeles, CA
beryl and dramatic black diamonds. Yellow beryl belongs to the same mineral family as aquamarine
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Gold, 18k ...

Contemporary Neo-Classical 0.70 ct Emerald 0.56 ct Diamonds Gold cluster Ring
Located in MADRID, ES
Emerald: Oval cut, 0.70 ct Diamonds: 16 brilliant-cut stones, total 0.56 ct Diamond Clarity: VS–SI Diamond
Category

20th Century European Neoclassical Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold

Gold Ring 1945-1950 with Diamonds 2.14 ct
Located in MADRID, ES
** Technical Information: Weight: 8.08 grams Diamonds (Brilliant Cut): 16 diamonds, 1.42 ct total Diamonds
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Stunning 1.40 ct Diamonds Halo Ring in 14k Rose Gold - GIA Certified
Located in רמת גן, IL
diamond, 16 round diamonds totaling 0.40 ct add an extra layer of brilliance. This ring is a sophisticated
Category

2010s Israeli Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

11.5 ct Bue Sapphire and Diamond Linked Bracelet in 18kt Solid Yellow Gold
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
Shape - Oval Stone Size - 6 x 4 mm Gemstone Weight - 11.5 ct Gemstone pcs - 16 Pc Diamond Weight - 4.7
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Tennis Bracelets

Materials

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

My Shining Star - 0.62 ct Marquise Diamond Fire Opal Engagement Ring 18k Yellow
Located in Suwanee, GA
. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS PRODUCT Solid 18K Yellow Gold Mexican Fire Opal, 0.40 ct 16 Diam...
Category

2010s American Arts and Crafts Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Unique 1.5 ct Orange Sapphire Diamond Cross Pendant Embedded in 18K White Gold
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
- Square > Stone Size - 2.2 mm > Stone Pcs - 16 > Diamond Weight - 0.05 ct > Diamond pcs - 4 > Gross
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Timeless 0.50ct Diamond Halo Ring
Located in רמת גן, IL
Color grade: D Clarity grade: VS2 Main stone carat weight: 0.50 ct Side stone: 16 pcs Diamond Shape
Category

2010s Singaporean Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Sapphire Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
of... Center Sapphire 0.54 ct. Total Diamond 16 pcs. 0.16 ct. The ring was made in size US#7
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Ruby Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
of... Center Ruby 0.34 ct. Total Diamond 16 pcs. 0.16 ct. The ring was made in size US#7 1/4
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

18 Karat White Gold Diamond Medium Cross Simple Necklace
Located in Los Angeles, CA
101 Round Diamonds = 1.80 ct 16 Baguette Diamonds = 0.50 ct
Category

2010s American Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Rosior Diamond and Tsavorite "Lemon Tree" Cocktail Ring
By Rosior
Located in Porto, PT
ct; - 70 green Diamonds with 0, 45 ct; - 41 Tsavorites with 0,41 ct; - 16 White Diamonds with 0,13 ct
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold, Yello...

14KT Abstract Diamond Wrap Ring
Located in Lynchburg, VA
CT center diamond. Four flush-set diamonds accent the band for a total carat weight of .18. The
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Unique Blush Zircons Tsavorite Diamond Gold Earrings
By Bella Campbell/Campbellian Collection
Located in Morristown, NJ
19.00 CT's 16 Green Garnets 12.80 CT's 160 Diamonds .87 CT's
Category

2010s American Contemporary Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Tsavorite, Zircon, 18k Gold

David Webb Pear Shaped Emerald Diamond Gold Earrings
By David Webb
Located in New York, NY
David Webb pear shaped emerald and diamond earrings. 2 pear cut emeralds @ 16 ct tw, 2 kite shaped
Category

Vintage 1970s American Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold

Turquoise And Diamonds Gentelmans Rings 14k Yellow Gold
Located in Dallas, TX
Turquoise 1.3 ct And 16 Diamonds 0.87ctw Gentleman's Rings 14k Yellow Gold Size 10.5
Category

2010s Signet Rings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany Co. Gold, Enamel, Emerald Diamond Giraffe Pin
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
diamonds set in the feet. Weighing 26.8 Grams. Sixteen (16) diamonds weighing 0.14 Ct. in total. Stamped
Category

Vintage 1960s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

14 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Pendant Necklace #19202
Located in Washington Depot, CT
brilliant cut diamond bezel set in classic 14K yellow gold. Approximate diamond weight: .16 ct. - .20 ct
Category

20th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat White Gold Diamond Medium Emerald Flower Earring Ring Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
are standard U.S size: Size 7. Earring: 23 Round Diamonds = 0.63 ct 16 Baguette Diamonds = 0.17 ct
Category

2010s American Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 14 Karat White Gold Diamond Engagement Ring 1.16 Carat
Located in Washington Depot, CT
(.16 ct. twt.) and eight princess cut diamonds (.62 ct. twt.) on its band. Shank measures 2 mm
Category

20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

18 Karat White Gold Diamond Medium Emerald Flower Earring Ring Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
our rings are standard U.S size: Size 7. Earring: 16 Round Diamonds = 0.10 ct 34 Emerald Stones
Category

2010s American Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

18 Karat White Gold Diamond Small Emerald Pear Earring Ring Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
2 Emerald Stones = 0.70 ct Length: 0.30 inches / Width: 0.25 inches Ring: 16 Round Diamonds
Category

2010s American Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

18 Karat White Gold Diamond Small Ruby Huggy Flower Stud Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
, stud and dangling. 16 Round Diamonds = 1.02 ct 26 Ruby Stones = 1.64 ct
Category

2010s American Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

14 Karat White Gold and Diamond Hoop Earrings #18974
Located in Washington Depot, CT
weight: .16 ct. - .20 ct. Diamond clarity: SI1-I1 Diamond color: H-I Stamped: 14KT FD Ring Size: 19
Category

20th Century Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

MOISEIKIN 18 Karat White Gold Diamond Flower Ring
By MOISEIKIN
Located in Hong Kong, HK
and season. 18K White Gold Diamond Ring 3.53g, Size 16.5 mm inner diameter 4 Ruby 0.04 ct 16 Diamond
Category

2010s Russian Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

14 Karat White Gold Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring 1.16 Carat
Located in Washington Depot, CT
diamonds (.16 ct. twt.) and eight princess cut diamonds (.62 ct. twt.) on its band. Shank measures 2 mm
Category

20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Small Round Classic Stud Earring Ring Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
. Earring: 2 Round Diamonds = 0.30 ct Length: 0.10 inches / Width: 0.10 inches Ring: 16 Round Diamonds
Category

2010s American Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 4.00ct emerald and diamond ring, Austria, circa 1900.
Located in Chorzów, PL
emerald weighing approx. 4.00 ct; which surrounds 16 diamonds in a brilliant cut "old" with a total weight
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Silver

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16 Ct Diamond For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact 16 ct diamond you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and White Gold — can elevate any look. Our collection of these items for sale includes 68 vintage editions and 161 modern creations to choose from as well. Finding the perfect 16 ct diamond may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. Creating a 16 ct diamond has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by LB Exclusive, Cellini and Kabana are consistently popular. See these pages for a round cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also oval cut cut and mixed cut cut versions available here, too. Finding a 16 ct diamond for sale for women should be easy, but there are 55 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a 16 Ct Diamond?

On average, a 16 ct diamond at 1stDibs sells for $6,210, while they’re typically $274 on the low end and $1,800,000 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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 Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And 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

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Questions About 16 Ct Diamond
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023
    There is no set number of diamonds on a 16-inch tennis necklace. The number of diamonds that make up a tennis chain often depends on the size of the gemstones. Generally, the larger the diamonds are, the fewer there are on a tennis necklace. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of tennis necklaces.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The number of diamonds in a 10-carat tennis bracelet varies. A carat rating for a tennis bracelet refers to the total weight of all of the diamonds in the piece. As a result, a bracelet may have 20, 5-carat diamonds; 10, 1-carat diamonds or another number of diamonds of a different weight. You'll find a variety of diamond tennis bracelets on 1stDibs.