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Vintage Gold Ring Diamond French Jewelry Dome Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage French ring is made from 18k yellow and white gold and has a bold, structured look
Category

Vintage 1970s French Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique Ring 3 Diamonds 1ctw. solid 18K Gold Silver Ø7.5 US /2.9gr
Located in SE
Old Ring with 3 old European cut Diamonds, band in solid 18K Yellow Gold (tested) with Silver
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold

Antique Ring Garnet Diamonds solid 18K Gold Silver ØUS6 / 3.28gr
Located in SE
Nordic Renaissance-styled ring with carved band in solid 18K Yellow Gold. Claw set Natural oval
Category

Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Nouveau Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique 18ct White Gold Art Deco Diamond Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Art Deco Ring 18ct Gold Tested Circa 1920’s Fabulous, Art Deco ring. Set with stunning
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Ring 1.25ct Emerald 0.5ctw Diamonds solid 18K Gold Silver ØUS4.5 /5.35gr
Located in SE
solid 18ct greenish Yellow Gold holding natural Emerald stone and four rose - cut Diamonds set in Silver
Category

Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

1910s–1920s French Art Deco Marquise Emerald Diamond Ring – Size 60 (US 8)
Located in MONTMORENCY, FR
) and edged with a halo of 28 antique rose-cut diamonds (~1.00 ct total). Crafted in 18 K white gold
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Green Agate Diamond Diamond Yellow Gold Cameo Three-Stone Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Estate 1920's green agate and diamond ring. Green female form cameo marquise agate center stone
Category

Early 20th Century Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Agate, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Ring 0.1 ct Diamond solid 18K Yellow Gold Platinum ØUS6 / 2.8gr
Located in SE
A Diamond ring in solid 18K Gold and Platinum, likely hand - made in USA ca. 1920s - 1930s
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Ring natural Emerald Diamonds solid 18K Gold Ø US 5.5 / 3.4 gr
Located in SE
Nice cluster Ring with the carved band and shoulders. Top parts of openwork crown in White Gold or
Category

Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

0.95Ct Diamond and 18k White Gold Solitaire Style Engagement Ring Circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive antique diamond engagement ring has been crafted in 18k white gold with a platinum setting. The
Category

Vintage 1920s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, Platinum

.50 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Art Deco Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
1920's Art Deco diamond engagement ring. EGL certified old mine center diamond, set in an open work
Category

Early 20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold

GIA Report Certified Colombian Emerald Diamond 18k White Gold Ring Circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
diamond, 18 karat white gold and platinum set ring; part of our diverse collection of emerald jewelry
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, White Gold, Platinum

.EGL Certified .47 Carat Diamond White Yellow Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Art Deco diamond engagement ring. .47ct old European center stone in a 18k white gold top with
Category

Early 20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique 18ct Gold French Art Deco Ruby Diamond Statement Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Art Deco Ring 18ct Gold Stamped Circa 1920’s Fabulous French Art Deco Ring. Such a
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique 1920s 1.26 Carat and Yellow Gold Platinum Set Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning antique 1920s 1.26 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold, platinum set cocktail ring
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Three-Stone Rings

Materials

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

Antique European Halo Ring 1ctw Diamonds solid 18K Gold Silver Ø US10.25 /4.6g
Located in SE
Beautiful Antique Diamond Flower Ring, Renaissance styled. Likely German,composed ca. 1920s -1930s
Category

Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold

Antique Cluster Ring 0.5ctw Diamonds 18K Yellow Gold Silver Ø US6 /2.2 gr
Located in SE
Old ring set with a silver cluster of nine rose-cut diamonds attached to 18K Gold hoop. Hallmarked
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Art Deco 18k Jade and Rose Cut Diamond Filigree Ring
Located in New York, NY
Metal: 18k White Gold Item #: BR-1754-111825-18
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique 18ct Gold Art Deco Ruby Diamond Square Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Art Deco Ring 18ct Gold Tested Circa 1920’s Fabulous, Art Deco ring. A beautiful square
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Old German Ring natural 0.6ct Sapphire Diamonds solid 18K Gold Platinum ØUS 6.25
Located in SE
German Halo Ring,hand -made ca. 1920s -1930s with natural Blue Sapphire and 14 old European cut
Category

Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

18K Art Deco .41ct Diamond Filigree Ring with GIA Report
Located in Big Bend, WI
Art Deco 18K white gold filigree .41ct diamond ring. The GIA report #2231041985 states circular
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antiquee Ring 0.3ct Emerald 0.4ctw Diamonds solid 18K Gold Silver Ø US6.25 /3.2g
Located in SE
Europe ca.1920s -1930s. Metal of band in solid 18K Gold, crown in Silver. Emerald's bezel in Yellow Gold
Category

Vintage 1930s European Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Danish Halo Ring 1 ct Sapphire 1.5ctw Diamonds 18K Gold Ø5.25/7gr
Located in SE
Beautiful old Halo Ring, band, and crown in solid 18K Gold featuring natural Blue Sapphire and 10
Category

Vintage 1920s Danish Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Vintage 18 Karat White Gold Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Addison, TX
18 karat white gold vintage ring featuring a round brilliant cut Diamond set in four prongs
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

White Gold Diamond Art Deco Solitaire Engagement Ring, 18k Old European .10ct
Located in Greensboro, NC
Art Deco engagement ring dates from circa 1920's-1930's. The old Mine cut diamond is bead-set in an
Category

Late 20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Antique German Halo Ring natural 0.7 ct Ruby Diamonds 18K Gold Platinum Ø3.75US
Located in SE
Beautiful old German Halo Ring from ca. 1920s -1930s, with great stones and parts in solid 18K
Category

Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Halo Ring 2.5ct Ruby 0.5ctw Diamonds 18K Gold Silver Ø5.25US /4.8 gr
Located in SE
Halo Ring from ca .1920s -1930s with Ruby and 13 rose cut Diamonds. Not hallmarked, tested 18K
Category

Vintage 1930s European Art Nouveau Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Peacock GIA Certified 1.83 Carat Old Euro Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
8 Old European cut diamonds in its original 18k yellow gold cluster ring setting. This ring captures
Category

Early 20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique 1.00 Carat Diamond and 18k White Gold Five Stone Ring Circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive five stone diamond ring has been crafted in 18k white gold with a platinum setting. The stunning
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, Platinum

White Gold Diamond Art Deco Solitaire Engagement Ring, 18k Old European .78ct
Located in Greensboro, NC
Metal Content: 18k White Gold Stone Information: Natural Diamond Carat: .78ct Cut: Old European
Category

20th Century More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 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 Diamond Ruby Platinum and Gold Plaque Ring
Located in New York, NY
later. Circa 1920's. Size 4-3/4; this ring can be sized. Ring size 4-3/4; this ring can be sized.
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold

Gia Certified .78 Carat Round Yellow Diamond White Gold Art Deco Engagement Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
1920's Art Deco round diamond engagement ring. GIA certified .78 round brilliant cut light yellow
Category

Early 20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique Halo Ring natural 1.2 ctw. Diamonds solid 18K Gold Silver ØUS6 / 5.5 gr
Located in SE
Ca. 1900s -1920's hand- made Halo Ring with Diamonds. Band in solid 18K Yellow Gold. Openwork Crown
Category

Vintage 1930s European Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Ring natural 0.5ct Sapphire Diamonds 18K Gold Platinum ØU7.25 /2.25gr
Located in SE
Platinum, band tested solid 18K Yellow Gold. Likely French, made ca. 1920s -1930s. Size: Ø US 7.25 / 17.45
Category

Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

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

Antique Art Deco 18ct Gold Ruby Diamond Ring, Circa 1920
Located in Brighton, GB
Vintage Ruby & Diamond Ring 18ct Gold Stamped Circa 1920s A striking Art Deco ring set with six
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Belais .12 Carat Diamond Art Deco Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Belais diamond engagement ring. 18k white gold original Art Deco circa 1920s with highly detailed
Category

Early 20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

5.90 Carat High Zircon 1.48 Carat Diamond 18k White Gold Cluster Ring Circa 1925
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
zircon ring is hallmarked to the interior of the shank with the mark for 18k gold mark (18CT) and
Category

Vintage 1920s Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Zircon, White Gold, Platinum

Old Ring Bague au Firmament Diamond Blue Enamel 18K Gold Ø5.75 US/ 5.5 gr
Located in SE
Аntique ca. early XX cent. solid 18K Yellow Gold Bague au Firmamen styled Blue Enamel and Diamond
Category

Vintage 1920s Italian Empire Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel, Platinum

Antique 18ct Gold Platinum Art Deco Ruby Diamond Marquise Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Marquise Ring 18ct Gold & Platinum French Stamped Circa 1920’s Fabulous, French made
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold, Gold

Antique Halo Ring 0.6 ctw Diamonds solid 18K Gold Platinum Ø 9US/ 2.58 gr
Located in SE
Antique Halo Ring with Diamonds, ca 1920s -1930s, likely US made . Band in solid 18K Yellow Gold
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Nouveau Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct White Gold Platinum Art Deco Upfinger Diamond Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Art Deco Ring 18ct Gold & Platinum Tested Circa 1920’s Fabulous, Art Deco bombe/dome
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct Gold Platinum 3 Stone Diamond Heart Illusion Engagement Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique 3 Stone Heart Ring 18ct Gold & Platinum Stamped Circa 1920’s Beautiful 3 Stone Diamond
Category

Early 20th Century English Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Platinum

Antique Diamond and White Gold Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
diamond solitaire ring has been crafted in 18k white gold with a platinum setting. The pierced decorated
Category

Vintage 1920s French Engagement Rings

Materials

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

1925s Calibrated Red Gems Diamonds 18 Karat Yellow Gold Round Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat yellow gold. Antique Art Deco ring, the round setting is set with rose-cut
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Art Deco Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Denver, CO
Crafted in the 1920s from 18K white gold, this shimmering cluster ring is designed around an Old
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

18K 3 Stone Diamond Filigree Ring with Syn Emerald
Located in Big Bend, WI
18K white gold filigree diamond ring with synthetic emerald accents. There are 3 round diamonds
Category

Vintage 1920s Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Art Deco 1.53 Carat Diamond and 18k White Gold Dress Ring Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive 1.53 carat diamond and 18 karat white gold Art Deco dress ring
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Art Deco 18K Yellow Gold and Platinum Ruby and Old Mine Cut Diamond 5 Stone Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An Art Deco ruby, diamond, platinum and yellow gold ring, comprising one oval cut ruby, two round
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique 1.14Ct Diamond and 18k White Gold Trilogy Engagement Ring Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive 1.14 carat diamond and 18 karat white gold, platinum set trilogy ring; part
Category

Vintage 1920s Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct Gold Platinum, Art Deco Calibrated Ruby and Diamond Daisy Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Target Ring 18ct Yellow Gold Circa 1920s Step back into the elegance of the 1920s with
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct Gold Platinum, Art Deco Ruby and Diamond Plaque Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Plaque Ring 18ct Gold & Platinum Circa 1920s Step back in time with this exquisite
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct White Gold Art Deco Ruby Diamond Scroll Target Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Target Ring 18ct White Gold Circa 1920’s Fabulous, Art Deco target ring. A gorgeous
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Filigree Ring
Located in Denver, CO
Crafted in the 1920s, this Art Deco ring is designed around an Old European-cut diamond center
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco Emerald and Diamond Ring A white gold art deco ring set with a old minue cushion-cut
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique Ruby Diamond 18ct Gold Halo Ring
Located in London, GB
A romantic and fiery beauty, this antique (c. Edwardian–Art Deco Era) ruby and diamond cluster ring
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Filigree Ring
Located in Denver, CO
Crafted in the 1920s, this striking Art Deco ring features a 0.75-carat Old European cut center
Category

Vintage 1920s 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.