Skip to main content

18k Emerald And Old Mine Diamond Ring

to
48
489
468
68
174
108
461
404
62
34
16
10
120
293
92
31
25
33
40
18
18
11
14
7
9
350
164
2
119
110
46
27
25
to
6
4
3
2
2
131
111
46
44
34
21
17
13
8
2
1
516
274
220
Sort By
Contemporary Handmade 18 Karat Gold Diamond and Emerald Ring
Located in Miami, FL
Composition: 18K gold and platinum Stones: • 1 Old mine cut diamond of H-VS2 quality that weighs
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Edwardian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique, 19th Century, Georgian, 15 Carat Yellow Gold, Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
graduating old mine cut diamonds all set in a rubover style setting. This ring has all the charm and
Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond, Emerald and Gold Dome Ring
Located in Madison area, WI
- Victorian Diamond and Emerald Ring - c. 1860-1880 - 18k yellow gold; 6 old mine-cut diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique BAILEY BANKS BIDDLE Emerald and Diamond Ring
By Bailey, Banks Biddle
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Fine old natural emerald and diamond ring in a handmade 18kt. yellow gold mount signed and numbered
Category

20th Century Unknown Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
rub-over set in yellow gold with 18 white old mine cut diamonds set in silver in the surround. Set
Category

Mid-20th Century Revival Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

Spectacular Platinum Diamonds and GIA Certified Emerald Ring
Located in Miami, FL
with 86 old mine cut diamonds of I-SI1 quality that weigh 1ctw. This stylish ring can be resized upon
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Rarever 18K White Gold Rose Cut Diamond 6.13ct Emerald Dress Ring
By RAREVER
Located in London, GB
of rose-cut diamonds. Honouring the traditions of ancient artisans, this ring is handmade from 18
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian 18 Karat Gold Diamond and Emerald Ring
Located in Miami, FL
0.80ctw. ·30 Old mine cut diamonds of I-VS2 quality that weigh 1.20ctw. Ring size: 7 Ring face: 20mm by
Category

20th Century Unknown Late Victorian Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

18 Karat White Gold, 2.30 ct Emerald and 0.34ct Diamond Three-Stone Ring, 1950s
Located in Bologna, IT
beautiful 2.30ct central emerald, flanked on either side by old cut mine diamonds, totalling 0.34ct. The
Category

Mid-20th Century Three-Stone Rings

Materials

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

David Webb Cluster Ring with Diamonds, Sapphire and Emeralds
By David Webb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
ct old mine diamond, surrounded by a cluster of 8 green emeralds, 18 blue sapphire and 12 diamonds
Category

Vintage 1950s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Victorian 18 Karat Emerald, Amethyst and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A beautiful 18 Karat yellow gold Victorian emerald, amethyst and diamond cluster ring. This ring
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Gorgeous Victorian Emerald Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clover Creek is a gorgeous Victorian Era 18k yellow gold cocktail ring centering a beautiful step
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Handmade Exquisite Platinum 1.65 Carat Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Miami, FL
Old mine cut diamonds of H-VS2 quality that weigh 0.50ctw. Ring size: 7 ½ Ring face: 12mm by 12mm
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Revival Engagement Rings

Materials

Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Modern Edwardian Style 18 Karat Gold Diamond and Emerald Ring
Located in Miami, FL
Description Period: Edwardian (1901-1920) Composition: 18K gold and platinum Stones: ·1 Old mine
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Ruby Diamond Emerald Tricolor Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
rows of gemstones - emerald, old mine cut diamonds, and rubies - the ring features pretty scrolled
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique, Victorian, 18 Carat Yellow Gold, Old Cut Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
Victorian, diamond five stone ring, circa 1880. Set with five beautiful chunky old mine-cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian Emerald Diamond Round Cluster Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A cool Edwardian period emerald and diamond round cluster ring. The central stone is bursting with
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian Emerald Diamond Shield Cluster Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
heart?) shape, and set with old cut diamonds around a central emerald. Very strange to see an
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Georgian Emerald Diamond Gold Half Hoop Ring
Located in New York, NY
quality. The emeralds weigh a total of approximately .50ctw, and .50ctw in old mine diamonds. It is
Category

Antique 1820s British Georgian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique Edwardian Diamond Emerald 5-Stone Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A streamlined antique 5-stone ring set with alternating old mine cut diamonds and emeralds. It
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Band Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Emerald Diamond 5-Stone Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A gorgeous antique five-stone ring set with three natural emeralds and two old mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique 19th Century English Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

3.50 Carat Colombian Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Greenwich, CT
Colombian emerald and diamond ring, centering a fine old mine Muzo emerald weighing 3.50 carats
Category

Late 20th Century Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco 0.67 Carat Emerald 0.90 Carat Old Cut Diamond Trilogy Ring circa 1920
Located in Essex, GB
– Emerald cut emerald and old mine cut diamonds. Colour – The diamonds are F to G. Clarity – The diamonds
Category

Early 20th Century Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Emerald Diamond Square Cluster Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
- 4.8 x 4.5mm Old Mine Cut Diamonds - total diamond weight approx. 1.20ct RING SIZE 6 US MEASUREMENTS
Category

Vintage 1920s English Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Antique Late Victorian Emerald and Diamond Five Stone Ring Modelled in 18ct Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Cut Diamond Details; Cut: Old Mine Cut Carat: 0.83ct total Clarity: SI1-SI2 Colour: J Ring Size: UK
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat Gold Rose de France and Diamonds Ring
Located in Miami, FL
with 3 old mine cut diamonds at both sides of I-SI1 quality that weigh 0.10ctw (total). Ring size: 7
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

2.20 Carat Colombian Emerald Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Greenwich, CT
Victorian emerald and diamond cluster ring, centering on a natural square emerald-cut emerald
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Emerald and Diamond Three Stone Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold and Platinum
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
resizing options. Emerald Details: Cut: Emerald Cut Carat: 1.19ct Diamond Details: Cut: Old Mine Cut
Category

Vintage 1910s British Edwardian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Colombian 1.64 Carat GIA Cert Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Greenwich, CT
four old mine-cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.30 total carats, mounted in 18k gold. Accompanied
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Solitaire Rings

Materials

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

Edwardian Emerald Diamond Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
four rich luscious green old mine emeralds, totaling 1.25 carats, shining shoulder-to-shoulder. The
Category

20th Century Edwardian Cluster Rings

Antique Colombian Minor Oil 3.90 carat Emerald Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
by old mine-cut diamonds to give a rounded square cluster shape. Mounted in antique pale rose gold
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Three-Stone Colombian Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Emeralds; the three weigh approx. 2.80 carats. The setting is accented with twenty one Old Mine Cut
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

4.02 Carat Cabochon Emerald Diamond Gold Platinum Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
cabochon emerald. Old mine / miner cut diamonds Colour – The emerald is a verdant green with undertones
Category

Mid-20th Century Revival Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Unique Victorian Cluster Engagement Ring with Emerald Cut Center Diamond
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mine Cut diamonds that total approximately 0.80ct. The ring is finished with a bright yellow 18k yellow
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco 1920s 1.81 Carat Amethyst and Diamond Ring
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
within four claws to a surround of of eight old mine cut diamond accents, spaced two to each side of the
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond Gold Edwardian Navette Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
featuring three Old Mine cut diamonds set vetically within an octagonal shape setting. The combined
Category

20th Century Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Rare Neon Teal Tourmaline Diamond Ring
Located in Mill Valley, CA
mined rarity in the world of gemology, boasting a shade known as "lagoon blue." Imagine a neon teal that
Category

2010s Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold

French 2.20 Carat Burmese No Heat Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
concentric frames of teeny-tiny old mine-cut diamonds in this ravishing, original Edwardian-era ring from the
Category

20th Century French Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Diamond Entwined Snakes Ring
Located in Brooklyn, NY
together. Each head sparkles with old mine cut diamonds bead-set in a pretty four-pointed star shape. Old
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

AGL certified Emerald cut Aquamarine approx. 30 carats set in yellow gold ring
Located in Surfside, FL
AGL certified Emerald cut Aquamarine approx. 30 carats set in 18K withe and yellow gold ring with 6
Category

20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Yellow Gold

Estate Handmade 18K and Platinum Emerald Old Mine Cut Diamonds Ring
Located in Miami, FL
. ·44 Old mine cut diamonds of G-VS2 quality that weigh 1ctw. ·22 natural calibrated cut emerald that
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Exquisite Victorian Colombian Emerald Old Mine Diamond Seven Stone Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
G VVS old mine cut Diamonds Seven Natural earth mined gemstones to make this ring a true exemplary
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Art Nouveau .60 Carat Colombian Emerald .50 Carat Old Mine Diamond Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
ring set with Colombian Emerald and old mine Diamond ring Hand crafted of solid Platinum except the
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

18 Karat Yellow Gold Old Mined Sandwana 1.27 Carat Emerald Halo Diamond Ring
Located in Hollywood, FL
A Beautiful Handcrafted Ring in 18 Karat Gold with Natural Old Mined Sandawan , Zimbabwe origin
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Old Mined Sandwana 1.15 Carat Emerald Halo Diamond Ring
Located in Hollywood, FL
A Beautiful Handcrafted Ring in 18 Karat Gold with Natural Old Mined Sandawan , Zimbabwe origin
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Midcentury 18ct Gold 2.7ct Emerald and 3.2ct Old Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A magnificent mid century 18ct gold round emerald and old cut diamond cluster ring dating from the
Category

Vintage 1940s Retro Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco 1.55 Carat Colombian Emerald 1.20 Old Mine Diamond Three-Stone Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
.) Flanked on sides by two old mine cut Diamonds 1.20 Ct for both G/H VVS/SI – both diamonds are beautiful
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, 24k Gold

Handmade 18 Karat Gold and Platinum Diamond and Emeralds Ring
Located in Miami, FL
Composition: 18k gold and Platinum Stones: • 4 natural calibrated emeralds 0.70ctw • 1 old mine cut
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Sparkling 18 Karat Gold and Platinum Diamonds and Emeralds Ring
Located in Miami, FL
and is framed in 18k gold. This vivid piece of jewelry is dripping with 50 old mine cut diamonds of H
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Emerald Sapphire Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Berlin, DE
Set with central old-mine-cut diamond weighing 0,73 carats VVS clarity, top crystal color, 22
Category

20th Century Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold

Antique Victorian Emerald Old European Cut Diamond yellow gold Ring
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Gorgeous antique Victorian emerald and Old Mine Cut diamond ring, set in 18k yellow gold with
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique, Victorian, 18 Carat Gold Emerald and Diamond Cluster Engagement Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
surround of charming old mine-cut diamonds, this beautiful cluster ring also has a story to tell
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

French Art Deco .90 Carat Colombian Emerald .60 Carat Old Diamond Solitaire Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
solitaire ring The gorgeous square crown is centred by a square old cut natural Colombian Emerald – intense
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
A lovely Victorian ring in 18K yellow gold set with a central emerald. The emerald is lighter in
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian Colombian Emerald Diamond Rare Five-Stone Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
at the centre, four graduated old mine cut Diamonds of the best quality From A to Z this ring is
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Edwardian 4.50 Carat Natural Emerald .60 Carat Diamond Three-Stone Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
old mine cut Diamonds .60 CT Total weight – G/H VVS/SI grade projecting brilliance and sparkle Ring
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Art Deco 18 Karat Gold 2.27 Carat Diamond and Emerald Ring
Located in Miami, FL
Period: Art Deco (1920-1935) Composition: 18K gold and platinum Stones: • 3 Old mine cut diamonds
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

  • 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "18k Emerald And Old Mine Diamond Ring", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

18k Emerald And Old Mine Diamond Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the 18k emerald and old mine diamond ring you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Frequently made of 18k Gold, Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. If you’re looking for a 18k emerald and old mine diamond ring from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 19th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular piece, are consistently popular carat weights. Creating a 18k emerald and old mine diamond ring has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Leopold Gautrait and Thesis Gems and Jewelry are consistently popular. Today, if you’re looking for an old mine cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes alternatives. Most of our 18k emerald and old mine diamond ring for sale are for women, but there are 3 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a 18k Emerald And Old Mine Diamond Ring?

On average, a 18k emerald and old mine diamond ring at 1stDibs sells for $7,900, while they’re typically $3,539 on the low end and $22,100 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.  

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.