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French Art Deco Burma Ruby Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
triangular cut synthetic ruby that is traced by diamonds. Hand crafted in 18k gold. Stamped with French
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Vintage Art Deco Diamond Ring Lab Sapphire 18k Gold Platinum Band Jewelry 7.25
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed vintage Art Deco diamond & sapphire ring (circa 1920s to 1930s) crafted in 14k
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

2.17 Ct. Aquamarine Diamond Art Deco Style Ring in 18K White Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
and artistry. Ring Information Style: Art-deco Metal: 18K White Gold Total weight: 4.64 g. (approx
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage French Gia 3.25 Carats Old European Cut Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Vintage French GIA 3.25 Carats Old European Cut Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring
Category

Vintage 1970s French Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage French GIA 3.25 Carats Old European Cut Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Vintage French GIA 3.25 Carats Old European Cut Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring
Category

Vintage 1970s French Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco 1.60ct Two Stone Twist Ring, c.1920s
Located in London, GB
: VS2 Metal: 18ct White Gold, Platinum Age: 1920s Size: M 1/2
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Emerald Diamond Gold Platinum Cluster Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamonds. Hand crafted in 18k yellow gold and platinum. Ring size 5 and can easily be resized to fit, if
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Diamond Gypsy Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Lovely classic Gypsy Style ring with an Old European Cut Diamond center weighing 1.87 carats and
Category

Early 20th Century Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

French Art Deco Diamond Set White Gold Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1920s, 18k, France. This gorgeous Art Deco engagement ring has a brilliantly chic look
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Tiffany Co. 6.40 Carat Diamond Gold Platinum Engagement Ring
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Miami, FL
- Circa 1920's. The Ring Size is Currently 5 but can be Adjusted Up or Down.
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Deco ring with diamonds and emerald, 1920s-30s. 20th century.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Ancient ring with diamonds and emerald in Art Deco style from the 1920s. Origin: Austro-Hungarian
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

French Diamond Sapphire Gold Moi Et Toi Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
with a 1.97 carat round cornflower blue sapphire. Crafted in 18k gold. Stamped with French hallmarks
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

0.62Ct Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Trilogy Ring - Antique Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique 0.62 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold, platinum set three stone
Category

Vintage 1920s Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Sapphire Diamond-Set Gold Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1920s, 18k. This delicate Art Deco jewel is a visual delight. Its .65 carat sapphire is a
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

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

Antique 3.98Ct Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Cluster Ring Circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
antique diamond ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold with a platinum setting. This substantial 1920s
Category

Vintage 1920s Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Gold Halo Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Art deco sapphire diamond 18k halo ring featuring an approximately 0.75 carat blue sapphire. With
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Sapphire Diamond Gold Platinum Cluster Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
. Hand crafted in 18k rose gold and platinum. Ring size 8 and can easily be resized to fit, if needed
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Hand Etched. 57ct Old European Diamond 18K Engagement Ring Bluesapphire
Located in Addison, TX
the size in the message section. Item Details: Ring Size: 6.5 Metal Type: 18K White Gold Weight: 5
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco 1.60ct Diamond Three Stone Ring, C.1920s
Located in London, GB
diamonds range from H-I in colour and match in SI2 clarity. The 18ct white gold shoulders start off
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Diamond Set Gold and Platinum Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1920s, 18k, platinum, Swiss. This Art Deco ring features a sleek architecture perfectly made
Category

Vintage 1920s Swiss Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct Gold Onyx Emerald Diamond Statement Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Onyx Ring 18ct Gold Tested Circa 1920’s Fabulous, 1920’s Oval statement ring. Set with
Category

Mid-20th Century English Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique 2.20 Carat Diamond and 18k White Gold Seven Stone Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
and impressive antique diamond ring has been crafted in 18k white gold. The stunning antique ring is
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

1920s Antique French 2.98 Carat Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Cluster
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive sapphire ring has been crafted in 18 k yellow gold with a platinum setting. The pierced decorated
Category

20th Century French Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Art Deco Old European Cut Diamond Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
. Accented by two dimensional diamond pyramids. Hand crafted in 18k white gold. Ring size 8 and can easily be
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Traub Orange Blossom Diamond Art Deco Ring White Gold 18k Old Mine .50ctw Vintag
Located in Greensboro, NC
Blossom Metal Content: Guaranteed 18k Gold as stamped Stone Information: Natural Diamonds Clarity
Category

20th Century Unknown Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

1920s Antique French 2.82 Carat Sapphire and Sapphire White Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning antique French 2.82 carat sapphire and 0.59 carat diamond, 18 karat white gold and
Category

Vintage 1920s French Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco 18 Karat Gold Jadeite and Diamond Ring
Located in Towson, MD
One ring set with one 12x9mm oval jadeite cabochon stone flanked by two baguette diamonds
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

18ct White Gold Diamond Engagement Ring With Diamond Shoulders 0.67ct Total
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Diamond Ring 18ct White Gold Stamped Circa 1920s Introducing a stunning 18ct white gold
Category

Early 20th Century English Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

18ct White Gold Diamond Engagement Ring With Diamond Shoulders 0.67ct Total
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Diamond Ring 18ct White Gold Stamped Circa 1920s Introducing a stunning 18ct white gold
Category

Early 20th Century English Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

0.85Ct Diamond 18k Yellow Gold, Platinum Set Trilogy Ring - Antique Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
platinum mark (18k plat). This impressive 1920's three stone ring is supplied with an independent
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct Gold French Single Stone Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Single Stone Ring 18ct Gold French Stamped Circa 1920’s Beautiful, single stone diamond
Category

Early 20th Century French Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

1.01 Carat Cushion Cut Art Deco Diamond Solitaire, circa 1920s
Located in London, GB
Clarity: VS2 Certification: BGI #603 372 K9 GI2 Metal: 18ct Yellow Gold, Platinum Age: 1920s Size: J
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Belais Art Deco Old European Cut Diamond 18K Hand Etched Filigree Ring Sapphire
By Belais
Located in Addison, TX
This fine example of Art Deco style is crafted of 18 karat white gold. An intricate filigree design
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

1.21Ct Ruby 0.15Ct Diamond, 18k White Gold Trilogy Ring - Antique Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
hallmark (18k). This original 1920's gemstone ring is supplied with an independent diamond grading
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Ring
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Original Art Deco diamond ring handcrafted in 18 karat white gold. The center Old Mine cut diamond
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Mine Cut Diamond Gold Snake Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
surface of the ring, depicting textured scales and a single 0.20ct old Mine Cut diamond is set within the
Category

Vintage 1920s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique 18kt Rose Gold Rose Diamond And Marquise Opal Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Pink gold (750/00) marquise ring set with a navette-cut opal in a setting of diamond roses. Gross
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Art Deco Yellow Sapphire and Diamond-Set Gold Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1920s, 18k, Switzerland. This distinctive Art Deco ring features a gorgeous 3.25ct yellow
Category

Vintage 1920s Swiss Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

French Art Deco Diamond Set Gold and Platinum Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1920s, 18k and platinum, France. A striking example of Art Deco jewelry, this ring has a
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

French Art Deco Diamond Set Platinum and Gold Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1920s, Platinum/18k, France. Delightfully French, this charming octagonal ring has a
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Onyx and Diamond Ring in 18 Karat Gold
Located in Towson, MD
One 18 karat white gold Art Deco carved flower black onyx ring featuring three (3) single cut
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco 18.52ct Green Aquamarine Cocktail Ring, c.1920s
Located in London, GB
touch of sparkle to the ring. Crafted from 18 carat white gold, this 1940s ring exemplifies the opulence
Category

Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Platinum 18K Yellow Gold Pearl Rose-Cut Diamond Halo Ring
Located in MONTMORENCY, FR
Channel the refined glamour of the 1920s with this exceptional Art Deco cocktail ring, crafted in
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Deco Diamond Ring Platinum 18k Filigree Shield Dinner Jewelry 4 Pinky
Located in Torrance, CA
& Hallmark: 18 karat white gold and platinum. The ring is hallmarked "18k" and has tested positive for
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct Yellow White Gold Deco Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Deco Engagement Ring 18ct Yellow & White Gold Stamped Circa 1920’s Fabulous Geometric
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco 3.87 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamonds used during this era, and VS2 clarity. Delicately placed in the elaborate 18k gold ring. Ring size
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco 2.92 Carat Burma Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
This stunning one-of-a-kind 18kt white gold Art Deco ring features delicate filigree detailing and
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco 18 Karat White Gold Diamond and Sapphire Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Composition: 18K White Gold Primary Stone: Diamond Carat: .35 Ct (center stone) Color: I/J
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

18Kt Yellow Gold and Diamond 2.50 carats Solitaire Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
The diamond 2.50 Carats, L Color, VS1 Purity. With three diamonds at each side.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco Old Cushion Cut Three-Stone Engagement Ring, circa 1920s
Located in London, GB
Weight: 2.40 Total Colour: H-I Clarity: VS – SI Metal: 18ct White Gold, Platinum Age: 1920s Size: K 1/2
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Art Deco 18 Karat White Gold, Diamond and Onyx Cocktail Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
like motif with rose cut diamonds on either side. #R0022 Metal: 18K White Gold Weight: 9.9 grams
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold

Gypsy Setting Black Enamel in 18k Yellow Gold
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
of the bezel set Diamond. This ring is rare with black enamel baked onto 18k Yellow Gold. The old
Category

Early 20th Century Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco 18 Karat Gold Ladies Cluster Ring with Diamonds 0.61 Carat Total
Located in Braintree, GB
Art Deco 18K White Gold Ladies Cluster Ring With Diamonds (0.61 CT Total) France Circa.1920's
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique French Art Deco 18 Karat Gold Men’s Ring with Diamond 0.33 Carat
Located in Braintree, GB
Antique French Art Deco 18K Yellow Gold Mens Ring With Diamond (0.33 CT) C.1920's Hallmarked with
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Signet Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco 0.70ct Emerald and Diamond Three Stone Ring, C.1920s
Located in London, GB
great ring for everyday wear and dates back to the 1920's. Gemstone: Emerald Stone Shape: Emerald Cut
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Art Deco 18K White Gold Single Cut Diamond Wedding Band
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful antique 1/4 eternity band with engravings. Item #R0503 Metal: 18K White Gold Weight
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Art Deco White Gold Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Era: Art Deco Composition: 18K White Gold Primary Stone: Diamond Carat Weight: .63 Carat
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

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1920s Diamond 18k Gold Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate 1920s diamond 18k gold ring for your needs in our varied inventory. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and White Gold. You can easily find a 2586 antique edition and 1 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect 1920s diamond 18k gold ring among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 20th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular piece, .5 Carat and 1 Carat are consistently popular carat weights. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic 1920s diamond 18k gold ring over the years, but those made by Tiffany Co., Belais and Cartier are often thought to be among the most beautiful. An old european cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also round cut and old mine cut versions for sale. If you’re browsing our inventory for a 1920s diamond 18k gold ring, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a 1920s Diamond 18k Gold Ring?

On average, a 1920s diamond 18k gold ring at 1stDibs sells for $2,801, while they’re typically $325 on the low end and $350,000 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.  

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.