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3.5Ct Emerald Diamonds 18K White Gold Ring, 1970
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Emerald Diamonds 18K White Gold Ring. Created around 1970. Fine Emerald rectangular cur installed
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, White Gold

Gold, Emerald and Diamond Modernistic Ring, circa 1970
Located in Aspen, CO
is surrounded by 28 fine white diamonds weighing .75 cts. The heavy gold ring weighs 22.85 grams
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Modernist Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold

Vintage Emerald and Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring circa 1970
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive 0.35 carat emerald and 0.18 carat diamond, platinum cocktail ring; part of
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Vintage 1970 s Pear Shape 5.30 Carats Emerald Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Vintage 1970's Pear Shape 5.30 Carats Emerald Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring. The emerald is
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Emerald Cut Colombian Emerald Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Estate 1970s emerald and diamond platinum ring. Centering upon an emerald-cut Colombian emerald
Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Bulgari Diamond Trombino Ring, Italian, circa 1970
By Bulgari
Located in London, GB
Bulgari diamond 'Trombino' ring. An important piece, set horizontally to centre with two emerald
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Geometric Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
designed as a lozenge with a square cut emerald weighing approximately 0.60 cts and a frame of baguette and
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Emerald Diamond Platinum Five-Stone Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Emerald diamond and platinum fiver stone ring band circa 1970. Clear and concise information you
Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Emerald Diamond Gold Leaves Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Designed as a band engraved with leaves, four emeralds foliate carved and accented with six round
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

c. 1970 Henry Dunay Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, and 18 Karat Gold Ring
By Henry Dunay
Located in New York, NY
An amethyst, diamond, emerald and 18 karat textured gold ring, by Henry Dunay, c. 1970, United
Category

20th Century American Modernist Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

1970s Emerald Diamond Gold Coronet Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
with an octagonal cut emerald surmount by a ball end coronet and with a round cut diamond below to line
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Emeralds, Diamonds, Rose Gold and Silver Ring.
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Fantastic ring in 9 kt rose gold and silver structure mounted with diamonds and emeralds. This ring
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Vintage Diamond Emerald Platinum Bypass Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami, FL
This classic vintage diamond and emerald bypass ring is crafted in solid platinum. Centered by an
Category

Vintage 1970s Art Deco Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

1970s Emerald Diamond Platinum Gold Insert Ring
Located in Miami, FL
This stunning retro cluster diamond ring with insert is crafted in platinum and 18k yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1970s Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum, 18k Gold

Emerald Diamond Wide Band Ring, 14KT Yellow Gold, Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
A vintage 14 karat yellow gold emerald and diamond wide band ring. This byzantine style ring
Category

Vintage 1970s Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Emerald Cut Amethyst Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amethyst diamond and yellow gold cocktail ring circa 1970. Centering upon an emerald-cut amethyst
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage 1970s Emerald Cut Emerald and Diamond Yellow Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
emerald cut cluster ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold with a 18k white gold diamond setting. The
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ruby Emerald Diamond Snake Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Designed as an entwined snake, the head set with an oval cut ruby and a round cut diamond, a round
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Fashion Rings

Materials

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

Gold 2.54 Carat Natural Emerald, Ruby Sapphire Cocktail Diamond Ring, circa 1970
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A magnificent 14k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring set with 18 Natural Ruby, Emerald, and Sapphires
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold

1970s Modernist Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Birmingham, AL
emeralds and 4 round brilliant cut diamonds. The diamonds weigh an approximate total of 0.40ctw and grade
Category

Vintage 1970s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Tourmaline, White Diamond, 14k Gold

Biwa Pearl Emerald Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Biwa pearl emerald and diamond gold cocktail ring circa 1970. The organic and abstract design
Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold

Emerald Diamond Gold Bamboo Style Ring
Located in Dallas, TX
surrounded by emeralds. A fun and fanciful feel to the whole ring. Size 9 1/2
Category

Vintage 1970s Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Sapphires Emeralds Rubies Diamonds Rose Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
diamonds 0.25 ct, sapphires, rubies and emeralds from ct 9.64. Total weight g 14.09 Diamonds ct 0.25
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Vintage Ilias Lalaounis Diamond Emerald Yellow Gold Band Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Southampton, PA
Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Emerald & Diamond Band Ring by Ilias Lalaounis. With 34 round brilliant
Category

Vintage 1970s Greek Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald

Handcraft Emerald 14 Karat Yellow Gold Diamonds Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, IT
artisans assembled with emerald and old cut diamonds Ring total weight 5 grams Emerald weight 1 karat
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Silver

Estate Emerald Diamond Sapphire Yellow Gold Cluster Ring
By Birks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Estate diamond emerald sapphire and yellow gold cluster ring circa 1970. Love it because it
Category

Vintage 1970s Canadian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

1970s Free-Form Emerald Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handmade Emerald Diamond Cocktail Ring Platinum Gold Handmade cocktail ring with 5.50 carats of
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold

1970s Emerald Diamond 18k Gold Elongated Arrow Ring
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Bezel set emerald with five diamonds set in an 18k gold arrow style setting, circa 1970's. Face of
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modernist Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Emerald 18k Yellow Gold Ring
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
VCA Emerald & Diamond Asymmetrical Stacking Ring. Pave Set Round Brilliant Diamonds and Emeralds TW
Category

Vintage 1970s French Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

Charles Krypell Diamond, Emerald and Sapphire Band Ring
By Charles Krypell
Located in Darnestown, MD
Charles Krypell wide band ring of diamonds; sapphires and emeralds. Krypell is well known for the
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Citrine Diamonds Emeralds Rose Gold and Silver Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Wonderful ring in 9 kt rose gold and silver, length 2,5 cm x 2 x width, embellished with diamonds
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, Emerald, 9k Gold, Silver

Vintage 18 Carat Gold Emerald and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
An exquisite vintage oval cluster ring. Centrally set with a wonderful green emerald measuring
Category

Vintage 1970s British Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Gold

1970s Buccellati Emerald Diamond Bicolored Gold Band Ring
By Buccellati
Located in Firenze, IT
emerald weighing approx. 2 cts, at the shoulders two triangle cut diamonds weighing approx. 0.50 cts to a
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Dome Rings

Materials

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

Vintage Emerald and Diamond 18 Carat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Behind this stunning emerald and diamond cluster there is the most wonderful setting. The open work
Category

Vintage 1970s British Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Ilias Lalaounis, Lapis Lazuli, Emerald, Diamond, Gold Cocktail Ring
By Ilias Lalaounis
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Beautiful Ilias Lalaounis, three stone ring containing 4 lapis lazuli cubes, 4 round cut Emeralds
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold

14 Karat Gold Aquamarine and Diamond Emerald Cut Ring
Located in Wallkill, NY
Modern in design, clean diamond accents on either side of the emerald cut aquamarine approximately
Category

Vintage 1970s Engagement Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

1960s Chatham Rough Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Cincinnati, OH
Organic rough emerald and diamond ring. The 18k 1"L x 1"W x 7/8"H textured yellow gold ring
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Modernist Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

1970s Van Cleef Arpels Paris Diamond Emerald-Cut Engagement Ring
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in London, GB
Van Cleef & Arpels diamond emerald-cut ring. Set to centre with a rectangular emerald-cut diamond
Category

Vintage 1970s French Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Handcraft Emerald 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamonds Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, IT
emerald and diamonds Ring total weight 4.40 grams Emerald weight 0.50 karat Diamonds weight 0.12 karat
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Emerald and Diamond 18 Carat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
a halo of emeralds totalling 30pts and the diamonds on the outer circle totals 80pts.. The ring is
Category

Vintage 1970s British Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold

Vintage 18 Karat Gold Emerald Cut Aquamarine and Diamond Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This superb vintage ring is set with a beautiful emerald cut aquamarine in a four claw setting. The
Category

Vintage 1970s Solitaire Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage Emerald and Diamond 18 Carat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
stone are diamonds totalling 48pts. All modelled in 18carat gold and stones set in platinum. Ring Size
Category

Vintage 1970s British Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Platinum

Emeralds, Diamonds, Pearl, Rose Gold and Silver Retrò Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
structure mounted with a central pearl surrounded by diamonds and emeralds. This ring was totally handmade
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Buccellati Emerald Diamond Tricolored Gold Band Ring
By Buccellati
Located in Firenze, IT
The collet-set round emerald weighing approximately 0.15 cts flanked by two brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Band Rings

Materials

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

Emeralds, Rubies, Sapphires, Diamonds, 14 Karat Rose Gold Ring.
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
emeralds, sapphires andrubies. Between of them, leaves studded with diamonds. This ring was totally
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Vintage 18 Karat Gold Emerald and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A delightful vintage cluster ring centrally set with a beautiful oval-cut green emerald, surrounded
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Cluster Rings

Materials

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

13.00 Carat Emerald with Diamonds Vintage Ring 18 Karat White Gold
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
Vintage emerald with diamonds ring, circa 1970's. Approximately 13.00ct emerald apx F2 surrounded
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

10.58 Carat Gubelin Certified Columbian Emerald and Diamond Ring c.1970s
Located in London, GB
1970s era three stone emerald and diamond ring. This remarkable emerald is of Columbian origin and has
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Art Deco Vintage Platinum Ring with Emerald Tsavorite and Diamonds
Located in Stamford, CT
Set in an Art Deco ring, Tsavorite a stone with the color of a fine, saturated emerald, was named
Category

Vintage 1970s American Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

14.00 Carat Emerald with Diamonds Vintage Ring 18 Karat White Gold
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
Vintage emerald with diamonds ring, circa 1970's. Approximately 14.00ct emerald apx F2 surrounded
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

White Diamonds Ruby Emeralds Blue Sapphires White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
little emeralds crown and embellished by shining white diamonds and deep color blue sapphires Diamonds
Category

Vintage 1970s Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Emerald Sapphire Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This striking hand made ring centers upon a round cabochon emerald weighing approximately 3 1/2cts
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Vintage 18 Carat Gold Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A stunning vintage emerald and diamond ring. Centrally set with a magnificent oval cut green
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 18 K White Gold Cocktail Ring with Diamonds and Emerald
Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse
A beautiful statement Ring featuring an emerald weighing approximately 6 ct surrounded by 14
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Emeralds, Sapphires, Diamonds, 14 Karat White Gold Flower Shape Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
with a flower of emeralds with a diamond in the central part, surrounded by a flower of sapphires and
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 18 Carat Gold Emerald and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
An exquisite vintage cluster ring. Centrally set with a magnificent emerald measuring approximately
Category

Vintage 1970s British Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Emerald-cut Diamond and Sapphire Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Emerald-cut Diamond and Sapphire Ring Contemporary 18-karat white gold stepped design featuring
Category

Vintage 1970s Contemporary Cluster Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, White Diamond, White Gold

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1970 Ring Emerald Diamond For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact 1970 ring emerald diamond you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. Our collection of these items for sale includes 662 vintage editions and 3 modern creations to choose from as well. If you’re looking for a 1970 ring emerald diamond from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 20th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. A 1970 ring emerald diamond from David Webb, Van Cleef Arpels and Bulgari — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. Today, if you’re looking for an emerald cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes round cut and oval cut alternatives. When shopping for a 1970 ring emerald diamond, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a 1970 Ring Emerald Diamond?

The price for a 1970 ring emerald diamond starts at $434 and tops out at $455,000 with these rings, on average, selling for $4,264.

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.