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Eighteen Karat Gold Ceylon Cabochon Sapphire Diamond 2.61 Carat 3 Stone Ring
By OGI Ltd
Located in New York, NY
18 karat yellow gold gypsy ring Ceylon Cabochon sapphire weighing 2.43 carat Two round brilliant
Category

2010s American Contemporary Three-Stone Rings

Materials

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

Antique 2.75 Carat Ceylon Sapphire Old European Cut Diamond GIA 3-Stone Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
English Origin Edwardian era 2.75 Carat Oval Cut Sapphire & 2.14 Ctw. Old European Cut Diamond 3
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Bvlgari Sapphire Diamond Gold Earrings
By Bulgari
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
) blue sapphires and two carved (3-carat each) yellow sapphires accented with eight emerald cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Clip-on Earrings

Materials

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

Bochic “Capri” Sapphire, Ruby Emerald Elephant Bangle Set 18K Gold Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Carat Yellow Sapphire Natural Cabochon - 3 Carat This Bangle is from the "Capri" traveling collection
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Bangles

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver

3 Carat Sapphire and Diamond Teardrop Ring 14 Karat
Located in Laguna Hills, CA
.50 carat. Quality of the diamonds are SI1 Color is G Ring size is 6 14 karat yellow gold .75 x .55
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

5.57 Carat Emerald Cut Peridot and Sapphire Yellow Gold 3-Stone Cocktail Ring
By Sarosi By Timeless Gems
Located in Los Angeles, CA
peridot and emerald-cut blue sapphires in a modern take on the classic 3-stone ring. The center stone is a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

Peridot, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold

2.24 Carat Sapphire Diamond Set of 3 Gold Bands
By Roshe Jewels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
all 3 bands is 2.24 Carats The bands are made in 14K White, Yellow and Rose Gold and weigh
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

3 Carat Natural Sapphire Rubies Yard Link Bracelet 14kt
Located in New York, NY
3 carat natural Sapphire and rubies bracelet. Oval cuts clean clarity and transparent. Bracelet
Category

2010s American Link Bracelets

Materials

Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

$1 NO RESERVE - 1.20 Carat Sapphire Band 3/4 Eternity, 14K Yellow Gold Ring
By Diamonds Mine
Located in Ramat Gan, IL
yourself or your loved one - a heirloom piece to treasure forever! Center Natural Sapphire: Weight: 1.20
Category

2010s Israeli Art Deco Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

NO RESERVE - 1.20 Carat Sapphire Band, 14 Karat Yellow Gold 3/4 Eternity Ring
By Diamonds Mine
Located in Ramat Gan, IL
yourself or your loved one - a heirloom piece to treasure forever! Center Natural Sapphire: Weight: 1.20
Category

2010s Israeli Art Deco Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

3 Ct. Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Classic Half Eternity Band Ring in 18K Gold
Located in Bangkok, TH
Here is a ring you will fall in love for an eternity. This.. 3 carat Asscher cut yellow sapphire
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

$1 NO RESERVE! 1.90 Carat Sapphire 3/4 Eternity Band - 14 kt. Gold - Ring
By Diamonds Mine
Located in Ramat Gan, IL
of charge prior to shipping out. Center Natural Sapphire: Weight: 1.90 ct, 17 stones Color: Multi
Category

2010s Israeli Art Deco Wedding Rings

Materials

Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

$1 NO RESERVE! 1.81 Carat Sapphire 3/4 Eternity Band - 14 kt. Gold - Ring
By Diamonds Mine
Located in Ramat Gan, IL
of charge prior to shipping out. Center Natural Sapphire: Weight: 1.81 ct, 17 stones Color: Pink
Category

2010s Israeli Art Deco Wedding Rings

Materials

Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Bespoke Mount for 3-5 Carat Yellow White Diamond Oval Shape Halo Platinum Ring
By Hasbani Diamonds
Located in London, GB
This Spectacular Bespoke mount is suitable for a 3 - 5 Carat center diamond with 0.93 Carat of
Category

2010s British Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Pink Diamond, Eme...

Bochic “Orient” Neoclassical Dragon Yellow Sapphire Ring Set 18K Gold Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
-style ring inspired by CARTIER Iconic Neoclassical “Dragon” Collection Natural Yellow Sapphire - 3
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Neoclassical Cocktail Rings

Materials

Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bee Brooch Pin
Located in Miami, FL
round yellow sapphires weighing approximately 1 carat total, invisibly set. The wings are encrusted with
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

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

Bochic “Capri” Vintage Ruby Multi Color Gem Sapphire Bangle Set In 18K Gold
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Natural Yellow Sapphire - 3 Carats Natural Blue Topaz - 5 Carats Natural Pink Quartz - 4 Carats
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Baroque Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver

Bochic “Capri” Vintage Ruby Multi Sapphire Bangle Set In 18K Gold Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Yellow Sapphire - 3 Carats Natural Amethyst - 5 Carats Natural Pink Quartz - 4 Carats Natural Blue
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Baroque Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Topaz, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Aquamarine, Ameth...

Bochic “Orient” Elephant Brooch, Sapphire, Emerald Set In 18K Gold Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
, round brilliant shapes, 3 Carats Natural Natural Yellow sapphires, oval shapes, from Sri Lanka - 3
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Brooches

Materials

Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate,...

Bochic “Capri” Purple Amethyst Multi Color Sapphires Cuff Set In 18K Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
- 3 Carats Blue Sapphire - 5 Carats Yellow Sapphire- 5 Carats Red Ruby - 5 Carats Light Blue
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Amethyst, Aquamarine, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sa...

Bochic “Capri” Vintage Amethyst Multi Color Sapphires Cuff Set In 18K Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Amethyst - 3 Carats Blue Sapphire - 5 Carats Yellow Sapphire- 5 Carats Red Ruby - 5 Carats Light Blue
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Bangles

Materials

Amethyst, Peridot, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, S...

Bochic “Capri” Vintage Amethyst Multi Color Sapphires Cuff Set In 18K Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Amethyst - 3 Carats Blue Sapphire - 5 Carats Yellow Sapphire- 5 Carats Red Ruby - 5 Carats Light Blue
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Bangles

Materials

Amethyst, Peridot, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, S...

Bochic “Capri” Vintage Amethyst Multi Color Sapphires Cuff Set In 18K Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Amethyst - 3 Carats Blue Sapphire - 5 Carats Yellow Sapphire- 5 Carats Red Ruby - 5 Carats Light Blue
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Bangles

Materials

Amethyst, Peridot, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, S...

Bochic “Capri” Vintage Amethyst Multi Color Sapphires Cuff Set In 18K Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Amethyst - 3 Carats Blue Sapphire - 5 Carats Yellow Sapphire- 5 Carats Red Ruby - 5 Carats Light Blue
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Bangles

Materials

Amethyst, Peridot, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, S...

Bochic “Capri” Vintage Amethyst Multi Color Sapphires Cuff Set In 18K Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Amethyst - 3 Carats Blue Sapphire - 5 Carats Yellow Sapphire- 5 Carats Red Ruby - 5 Carats Light Blue
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Bangles

Materials

Amethyst, Peridot, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, S...

Bochic “Capri” Vintage Amethyst Multi Color Sapphires Cuff Set In 18K Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Amethyst - 3 Carats Blue Sapphire - 5 Carats Yellow Sapphire- 5 Carats Red Ruby - 5 Carats Light Blue
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Art Deco Bangles

Materials

Amethyst, Peridot, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, S...

Bochic “Capri” Purple Amethyst Multi Color Sapphires Cuff Set In 18K Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
- 3 Carats Blue Sapphire - 5 Carats Yellow Sapphire- 5 Carats Red Ruby - 5 Carats Light Blue
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Bangles

Materials

Amethyst, Peridot, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, G...

Bochic “Capri” Vintage Ruby Multi Color Gem Sapphire Bangle Set 18K Gold &
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Yellow Sapphire - 3 Carats Natural Blue Topaz - 5 Carats Natural Pink Quartz - 4 Carats Natural Blue
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Baroque Revival Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Aquamarine, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Si...

Bochic “Orient” Sapphire, Topaz South Sea Pearl Bangle Set White 18K Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
sapphires - 3 carats Pink, Blue, Rose. Orange, Yellow Sapphires South Sea Black pearls, silver tone Set
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Bangles

Materials

South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire...

Bochic “Capri” Ruby Multi Color Gem Sapphire Bangle Set In 18K Gold Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Aquamarine - 5 Carats Natural Red Ruby - 6 Carats Natural White Topaz - 3 Carats Natural Yellow Sapphire
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Yellow Sapphire, Topaz, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Ruby, Aquamarine, Ameth...

Bochic “Capri” Ruby Multi Color Gem Sapphire Bangle Set In 18K Gold Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Aquamarine - 5 Carats Natural Red Ruby - 6 Carats Natural White Topaz - 3 Carats Natural Yellow Sapphire
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Amethyst, Aquamarine, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, To...

Bochic “Capri” Ruby Multi Color Gem Sapphire Bangle Set In 18K Gold Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
Aquamarine - 5 Carats Natural Red Ruby - 6 Carats Natural White Topaz - 3 Carats Natural Yellow Sapphire
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Baroque Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Amethyst, Aquamarine, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, To...

Bochic “Capri” Ruby Multi Color Gem Sapphire Bangle Set In 18K Gold Silver
By Bochic
Located in New York, NY
- 5 Carats Natural Yellow Sapphire - 3 Carats Natural Amethyst - 3 Carats Natural Orange Sapphire
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Bangles

Materials

Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Silver

3 Carat Pear Sapphire Bracelet in Yellow Gold
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
= 6.75" Appx Total Sapphire Weight = 3 carats Total Mass = 3 grams Gorgeous Piece!
Category

Early 2000s American Modern Tennis Bracelets

Materials

Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold

Yellow Sapphire 3 Carat and Diamond Engagement 18 Carat White Gold Ring
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Cut Yellow Sapphire stone weighing 3.22ct, surrounded by a total of 1.00ct of Diamonds. All set in
Category

Late 20th Century British Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

1-1/3 ct. Multi Color Sapphire/Tsavorite Orange Pendant in 14K Yellow Gold
By Affinity Designs LLC
Located in New York, NY
Sapphire: 1.2mm-2.2mm Round Tsavorite: 1.2mm-1.3mm Length Approximations: 3/4". Note: All carat weight
Category

2010s Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Sapphire, Tsavorite, Yellow Gold

3 Carat Vivid Red Spinel Ring with Blue Sapphires 18 Karat Gold
By D and A Style
Located in Singapore, SG
gold with black rhodium to enhance the red color of quite big red Burmese spinel (around 3 carat) and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Armenian Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Spinel, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold, 14k Gold, Y...

0, 3 Carat Yellow Diamond Black Obsidian Movable 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
By D and A Style
Located in Singapore, SG
Intense Yellow color 0,30 carat weight, VS clarity, Black obsidian Armenian origin fancy shape 18 Karat
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Armenian Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold,...

3, 4 Carat Green Tourmaline Marriage Sapphire 18 Karat Gold Infinity Ring
By D and A Style
Located in Singapore, SG
Natural Bi-color marriage Sapphires, Sri-lankan origin, round shape, about 5 carat total weigh
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Armenian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Sapphire, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Y...

3 Carat Mexican Fire Opal Ring with Sapphires, Emeralds and Diamonds in 18k Gold
By Zahira Fine Jewellery
Located in Bangkok, TH
sapphires into the design. Delicately set in 18k yellow gold, this ring has been made with the finest
Category

2010s Thai Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

3, 11 Carat Natural Purple Sapphire 18 Karat Rose Gold "Fan" Cocktail Ring by D&A
By D and A Style
Located in Singapore, SG
18-carat rose gold frame The ring details: Central stone - Natural Purple Sapphire, Srilankan origin
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Armenian Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Spinel, Purple Sapphire, Rhodolite, Go...

Diamond and Sapphire Ring. 14K Yellow/White Gold. Wide Band. 3/4 Carats.
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Diamond and Sapphire Womens Band Ring. 14K Yellow/White Gold 8 natural Round Brilliant Cut
Category

Early 2000s American Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

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3 Carat Yellow Sapphire For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the 3 carat yellow sapphire you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, Yellow Gold and 18k Gold — can elevate any look. Find an antique version now, or shop for 1750 vintage or 2268 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. If you’re looking for a 3 carat yellow sapphire from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 18th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular accessory, there are many different carat weights to choose from, but .5 Carat and 1 Carat versions are of considerable interest. Finding an appealing 3 carat yellow sapphire — no matter the origin — is easy, but Luigi Ferrara, Roshe Jewels and LB Exclusive each produced a popular version that is worth a look. See these pages for a round cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also oval cut cut and cushion cut cut versions available here, too. Most of our 3 carat yellow sapphire for sale are for women, but there are 1265 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a 3 Carat Yellow Sapphire?

Prices for a 3 carat yellow sapphire can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $53 and can go as high as $798,500, while this accessory, on average, fetches $3,875.

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 Sapphire in Jewelry Design

On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry

Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.

Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.

America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.

The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.

You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.

The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.

Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).

The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (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.)  

Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.