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Antique Ring natural 0.8ct Ruby Diamonds solid 18K Gold Platinum ØUS 7.25/ 3.8gr
Located in SE
Old Ruby and Diamonds Ring hand - made in ca. 1920s- 1930s. Swedish, hallmarked 18K, maker's
Category

Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique 18kt white Gold Engagement Ring with Diamonds
Located in Aventura, FL
designs. Period: 1920's Style: Antique Metal: 18Kt Gold  Natural Stone: Diamond   Ring size: 10
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Diamond and Yellow Gold Platinum Set Twist Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
stone diamond twist ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold with a platinum setting. The pierced
Category

Vintage 1920s French Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct White Gold and Platinum, Sapphire Diamond Five Stone Band Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Sapphire and Diamond Ring 18ct and Platinum Circa 1920s Step into the elegance of the
Category

Early 20th Century European Band Rings

Materials

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

Antique 18ct White Gold Platinum, Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Art Deco Sapphire & Diamond Ring 18ct White Gold & Platinum Circa 1920s Introducing a stunning
Category

Early 20th Century European Cluster Rings

Materials

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

French MAUBOUSSIN ALESSANDRA GIA 5.60ctw Blue Sapphire and Diamond 18k Ring
By Mauboussin
Located in New York, NY
FRENCH SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND 'ALESSANDRA' DRESS ENGAGEMENT 18K RING, BY MAUBOUSSIN A stunning Art
Category

2010s French Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold

Antique Old Cut Diamond 18 Carat Yellow and White Gold Five-Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
This 18 carat gold five-stone ring is truly stunning, seamlessly combining antique charm with
Category

Vintage 1920s English Band Rings

Materials

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

Vintage 18kt Yellow Gold Crown Ring with Old Mine Cut Diamonds, Italy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage crown ring with 18 karat yellow gold band, blue enamel, and brilliant diamonds in old mine
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Art Deco Diamond Ruby Ring
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
setting. Crafted in 18k White Gold , the centerpiece showcases an old European cut diamond framed by 16
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

4.01ct Old European Cut Diamond 18ct Gold and Platinum Antique Engagement Ring
Located in London, GB
be altered. The band is stamped 18ct and Plat. This is a rare and stunning antique diamond ring that
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

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

1920s 8.18 Carat Opal and Diamond Earring and Pendant Set
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
twenty-six pavé set eight-cut diamonds. The pendant suspends from an 18" Figaro style chain, crafted in
Category

Vintage 1920s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, 9k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Antique French Sapphire and Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
stunning, fine and impressive antique 1920's blue sapphire and diamond ring ring has been crafted in 18k
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Art Deco Diamond and Filigree Solitaire Ring
Located in Denver, CO
Crafted in the 1920s in 18K white gold, this striking Art Deco solitaire ring features an Old
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Filigree Ring
Located in Denver, CO
Crafted in the 1920s from 18kt white gold, this Art Deco band features an Old European cut diamond
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Filigree Solitaire Ring
Located in Denver, CO
This striking band is crafted from 18k white gold with fine filigree details and set with an Old
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Deco 0.85 Carat Diamond Ring Vintage 18 Karat White Gold Estate
Located in Torrance, CA
Art Deco era engagement ring (circa 1920s to 1930s), crafted in 18 karat white gold. Centrally
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Old Mine Diamond Ruby Ring
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco Old Mine Diamond & Ruby Ring An 18 karat white gold ring set with 8 old mine diamonds and
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

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

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1920s, 14k, Switzerland. Delightfully bright and spectacularly Art Deco, this charming ring
Category

Vintage 1920s Swiss Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

0.81ct Old Mine Cut Diamond and 18ct White Gold Toi Et Moi Antique Ring
Located in London, GB
cradled in the curve of a gorgeous 18 carat white gold band. From the cut of the diamonds and the way in
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique 18ct Onyx Oval Shaped Diamond Ring Halo Setting Rose Gold Band Cage Work
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Onyx Ring 18ct White & Rose Gold Stamped Circa 1920’s Lovely, oval shaped ring
Category

Early 20th Century English Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

A Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum and Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
by calibré-cut sapphires, to diamond-set shoulders, in platinum and 18k gold, size 7 Weight: 2.8
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Fashion Rings

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

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique Art Deco 18ct Yellow And White Gold Ruby And Diamond Target Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Art Deco Target Ring Circa 1920’s 18ct Yellow & White Gold Set with a Beautiful, Old Brilliant
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Art Deco Old European Cut Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Elongated Cocktail Ring
Located in Boca Raton, FL
stunning design crafted from lustrous 18 karat gold. The 13 Old European cut diamonds are prominently
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Old European Cut Yellow Diamond Ring
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elegantly crafted circa 1920, this enchanting bombe ring is composed of platinum and 18k white gold
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Ring, 2.04ct Royal Blue, 17K/14K Gold, Size 9
Located in Northampton, MA
A stunning Art Deco sapphire ring featuring a 2.04ct natural Ceylon sapphire of exceptional quality
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold

Antique French Diamond and White Gold Solitaire Ring, Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
solitaire ring has been crafted in 18 karat white gold. This antique 1920s diamond solitaire features a
Category

Vintage 1920s French Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Deco Diamond Ring 18 Karat Gold Filigree Long Shield Dinner Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed vintage Art Deco era ring (circa 1920s to 1930s) crafted in 18k white gold. Nine
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Garavelli 18 Karat White Gold Pavè Diamond 0.20 ct Giotto Ring
By Garavelli
Located in Valenza, IT
US 18KT GOLD :GR 6.67 WHITE DIAMONDS ct :0.20 Made in Italy Garavelli 18K Gold Ring with Pavè
Category

2010s Italian Contemporary Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Filigree Solitaire Ring
Located in Denver, CO
This striking Art Deco band is meticulously crafted from 18k white gold with fine filigree details
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique 18ct White Gold Onyx Diamond Deco Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Onyx & Diamond Ring 18ct White Gold Tested A Fabulous Rectangular Shaped Onyx with
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold

18K Gold Topaz Amethyst Garnet Citrine Peridot Rhodolite Multicolor Rainbow Ring
By Vaibhav Dhadda
Located in Jaipur, Rajasthan
either side along with diamonds, this ring was extremely popular in 1920’s, 1990’s and is so even today
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Garnet, Peridot, Topaz, Rhodolite, 18k Gold,...

Antique Ring natural 0.5ct Diamond 1 ctw Zircone solid 18K Gold Ø 6.75US / 4.6gr
Located in SE
Antique Three - Stone Ring featuring solid 18K Yellow and White Gold frame holding 3 gem stones
Category

Vintage 1930s European Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Zircon, 18k Gold

Antique 18ct White Gold and Platinum Original Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Sapphire and Diamond Target Ring 18ct White Gold & Platinum Circa 1920s Introducing an
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique German Ring natural 0.35ct Emerald 0.3ct Diamond solid 18K ØUS7.75/2.4gr
Located in SE
A German ring, Art- Deco period ca. 1920s - 1930s, hallmarked 18K . Metal is solid 18K White Gold
Category

Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique 0.40ct Diamond Signet Ring, hallmarked 1929
Located in London, GB
set within a hand crafted ring of 18 carat yellow gold. Gemstone: Diamond Stone Shape: Old Cut Carat
Category

Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Filigree Engagement Ring
Located in Denver, CO
Crafted in the 1920s from 14-18kt white gold, this Art Deco band features an Old European cut
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Two-Tone Diamond and Sapphire Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
, surrounding a single 0.10ct diamond at the center. The face of the ring is white gold while the underside
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Art Deco 18 Carat Gold and Platinum Solitaire Diamond Ring in Rub-Over Setting
Located in London, GB
the diamond to weigh 1.25 carats or higher. Set on a D-shaped 18 carat rose gold wedding band, the use
Category

Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Deco 1920 18kt Gold and Platinum Ring with Diamonds Sapphires
Located in Aventura, FL
: 18K Yellow Gold & Platinum Stones: Natural Diamonds & Natural Sapphires Ring Size: 5 1/2 (sizable
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Circa 1920s Ornate GIA Unheated Sapphire and Old European Diamond Engagement Rin
Located in Hicksville, NY
Year: 1920s Item Details: Ring Size: 6 Metal Type: 18K White Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight
Category

Vintage 1920s Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique Ring Ruby solid 18K Gold Ø US5 / 1 gr
Located in SE
Beautiful four - stones Ring, likely German, hand-made ca. 1920s -1930s. Band in solid 18ct Yellow
Category

Vintage 1930s European Retro Cluster Rings

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique German Ring natural 0.5 ctw Diamonds solid 18K Platinum ØUS 5.5 / 3.1gr
Located in SE
A German ring, Art- Deco period ca. 1920s - 1930s, not hallmarked. Metal of crown tested solid
Category

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Art Deco 1 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Shield Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Era: Art Deco Estate Composition: 18K White Gold Primary Stones: Nine Old European Cut Diamonds
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Art Deco Diamond Solitaire and Filigree Ring
Located in Denver, CO
Crafted in the 1920s in 18kt white gold, this stunning Art Deco ring is designed around an Old
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Sapphire Filigree Engagement Ring
Located in Denver, CO
two blue sapphires and intricate filigree in this stunning Art Deco ring handcrafted in 18K white
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique 1.36 Carat Diamond and White Gold Engagement Ring, circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique 1.36 carat diamond, 18 karat white gold ring with platinum
Category

Vintage 1920s French Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco 20K Gold Old European Cut and Sapphire Diamond Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is an art deco diamond ring Circa 1920's Details: 0.70 carat old European diamond F/G I1
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Filigree Engagement Ring
Located in Denver, CO
This striking band is meticulously crafted from 18kt white gold with fine filigree details and set
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Emerald and Diamond Yellow and White Gold Set Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
collections. This fine and impressive antique emerald and diamond ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1920s French Fashion Rings

Materials

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

Pave Diamond Flower Ring
By Garavelli
Located in Valenza, IT
Pave Diamond Flower ring in 18kt white gold, from Garavelli Minuette floral collection. Diamonds
Category

2010s Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Pave Diamond Flower Ring
Pave Diamond Flower Ring
$5,122 Sale Price
20% Off
Old Mine Cut Diamond and Onyx Ring
Located in Denver, CO
An Old Mine cut diamond weighing 0.10 carats, F-G color, VS clarity sparkles in the corner of a
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Colombian Emerald and Diamond Filigree Ring
Located in Denver, CO
Crafted in 18K white gold, a fully-engraved shank and intricate piercing create a fanciful mounting
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Art Deco Diamond Sapphire Ring 6.25 14k Gold Engagement Filigree Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed vintage Art Deco diamond & sapphire ring (circa 1920s to 1930s) crafted in 14k
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique 0.56 Total Carat Weight Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Miami, FL
Antique 0.56 Total Carat Weight Diamond Engagement Ring 18k White Gold The ring features a European
Category

Vintage 1920s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond Old European Cut Dome Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Art Deco 1920s diamond in a domed hand pierced 18k white gold engagement ring. crt 1 old European
Category

Vintage 1920s Engagement 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.