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Victorian French Natural Ruby, Diamond, and Blue Enamel Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
rests atop a bed of royal blue enameling that highlights the incredibly vibrant color. A soft milgrained
Category

1880s French Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique 18K Gold Silver 2.98ctw Old Cut Diamond and Blue Enamel Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian diamond, blue enamel, yellow gold, and silver brooch, comprising sixty-eight old cut
Category

Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel

Krementz Victorian Blue Enamel Old European Diamond Gold Bracelet
Located in Stamford, CT
link bracelet with blue and white floral enamel, safety and diamond catch. Catch stamped 14k. Links
Category

1890s Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold

Antique Regency Mourning Ring, 18 Karat Gold, Blue Enamel, Pearl and Diamond
Located in NEWARK, GB
karat yellow gold with decorative engraved stepped shoulders highlighted with a light sky blue enamel
Category

19th Century British Regency Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Art Deco Blue and White Enamel Gold Dress Set
Located in London, GB
An Art Deco French gentleman's dress set, blue guilloche and white enamel cufflinks, with a white
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Enamel

Antique Gold and Blue Enamel Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
An antique gold bracelet, centering on blue enamel, pearl and diamond bow in 18k.
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Natural Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Yellow Gold Blue Enamel and Rose Cut Diamond Bangle
Located in Cape May, NJ
Era: Victorian Composition: (Top) 18K Yellow Gold , 14K Yellow Gold, Blue Enamel Primary Stone
Category

1860s Unknown Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Powder Blue Enamel and Rose Cut Diamond Bangle Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
. This bangle is such a piece. With its bright romantic robins egg blue color, it reflects its Victorian
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Lacloche Art Deco Diamond Sapphire Agate Coral Silver and Enamel Desk Clock
By LaCloche
Located in New York City, NY
and blue enamel accented at each corner and cabochon blue sapphires on what we believe to be gold
Category

1920s Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Agate, Blue Sapphire, Coral, Diamond, Gold, Silver

Victorian Turquoise Blue Enamel, Gold, Diamond and Ruby Snake Bracelet
Located in Austin, TX
A stunning and elegant triple coiled snake bracelet in a gorgeous turquoise blue enamel over 18k
Category

Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Circa 1920s 14k White Gold, Cobalt Enamel Diamond Bar Pin
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1920s 14k white gold, cobalt enamel & diamond bar pin. 3" long. 5 grams total weight. 0.15
Category

1920s Art Deco Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Gold, Enamel

Victorian 18K Yellow Gold, Blue Enamel and 3.0 Carat Diamond Snake Wrap Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Blue Enamel and Old Mine Cut Diamond Snake Wrap Bracelet C.1880 Though it may come as a
Category

19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Edwardian Diamond, Sapphire and Blue Enamel Pendant Watch Pin
Located in Houston, TX
An Edwardian platinum pendant watch with a blue guilloché enamel back decorated with small rose-cut
Category

20th Century Edwardian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Platinum

Victorian Blue Enamel Diamond Woven Knot Ring Circa 1860 18K and 14K Gold
Located in Fairfield, CT
Victorian Blue Enamel Diamond Woven Knot Ring Circa 1860 18K and 14K Gold This exquisite Victorian
Category

1860s Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Antique Blue Enamel Gold Snake Necklace with Diamond and Pearl Accents
Located in New York, NY
An antique gold and blue enamel snake necklace set with diamonds, with an enamel and pearl pendant
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Blue Guilloché Enamel Gold and Diamond Cuff Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
This brilliant blue guilloché enamel bracelet is a work of art. Guilloché comes from the French
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Late Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

18k Gold

French 1890 Etui Sealing Wax Case Guilloche Blue Enamel in Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
four rows of garlands. Embellished with applications of light leaden blue color enamel and is fitted
Category

1890s French Neoclassical Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Art Deco 14K Gold Old European Cut Diamond and Blue Enamel Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Antique Art Deco 14K Gold Old European Cut Diamond & Blue Enamel Ring. The ring is in excellent
Category

1920s Art Deco Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian 15 Karat Yellow Gold Blue Enamel, Diamond, and Emerald Star Locket
Located in New York, NY
Victorian 15 Karat Yellow Gold Blue Enamel, Diamond, and Emerald Star Locket c.1880s
Category

1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 15k Gold

Art Deco Diamond Sapphire Gold Enamel Vanity Case
Located in Greenwich, CT
Looking as though it was cut from a perfect blue sky, this Art Deco, circa 1929, 18 carat gold
Category

1920s English Art Deco Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Blue Sapphire, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Late 19th Century French Blue Enamel and Rose Diamond Pendant Ball Watch
Located in New York, NY
An antique blue guilloché enamel ball pendant watch with star decoration and embellished with rose
Category

1890s French Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold, Diamond, Blue Enamel and Pearl Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Antique Victorian 14K Yellow Gold, Diamond, Royal Blue Enamel and Pearl Ring #R0015 Metal: 14K
Category

Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold

Antique Enamel and Diamond Snake Charm of 18k Gold
Located in Lewisburg, PA
1830–1850) is a finely wrought jewel of 18 karat gold, adorned in richly hued royal blue enamel and
Category

1830s Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel

Victorian Blue Enamel Natural Pearls Rose-Cut Diamonds Gold Flower Pendant, 1900
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Victorian British Gold Pendant with fine blue Enamel and Natural Pearls Rose-cut Diamonds. A great
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Enamel

Victorian Enamel Diamond and Pearl Ring of 14k Gold
Located in Lewisburg, PA
ring showcases intricate blue guilloche enamel, rose-cut diamonds, and lustrous half pearls. The face
Category

Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel

Antique Victorian 9K Gold Rose Cut Diamond Blue Enamel Etruscan Revival Brooch
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian diamond, blue enamel, and yellow gold brooch, set with five rose cut diamonds, with
Category

1870s British Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Antique Diamond and Enamel Platinum Set Yellow Gold Cufflinks
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive pair of antique 0.12 carat diamond and blue enamel, 14k yellow gold, platinum
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Victorian Blue Enamel, Pearl and Gold Locket, Dated 1874
Located in London, GB
-cut diamonds, on blue guilloche enamel, mounted in gold. There is a small piece of paper, used as a
Category

1870s British Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold

Antique Blue Enamel Pearl and Gold Snake Necklace with Heart Locket, circa 1850
Located in London, GB
half pearls, with diamond eyes, with a blue enamel heart drop suspended from its mouth, with a locket
Category

1850s British Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Enamel

Vintage 18ct Gold 1930s Royal Blue Enamel Rose Cut Diamond Buckle/Belt Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
18ct yellow gold belt ring, exquisitely adorned with royal blue enamel and a captivating rose-cut
Category

Early 20th Century English Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel

Victorian Enamel Diamond Gold Shield-Shaped Locket
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
in the later 1800s. Made of 14k yellow gold and decorated with richly hued cobalt blue enamel and a
Category

1880s Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel

Antique Wide Cobalt Blue Enamel Diamond Gold Belt Design Cuff Bracelet
Located in Miami, FL
enamel top, embellished with diamond-studded floral designs. The needle is decorated with black enamel
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Marcus Company Art Nouveau Sapphire, Diamond, Gold and Enamel Ring
Located in New York, NY
An American Art Nouveau 18 karat gold and enamel, sapphire and diamond ring by Marcus & Co. The
Category

Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold Blue Enamel and 1 Carat Rose Cut Diamond Locket Back Bangle
Located in New York, NY
Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Blue Enamel and 1 ct Rose Cut Diamond Locket Back Bangle c.1880s
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown High Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco Diamond Platinum Charm Bracelet with Gemstones and Enamel
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
addition to your jewelry collection. The bracelet is made of platinum (tested), encrusted with diamonds
Category

1920s Unknown Art Deco Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum

Antique French Diamond, Ruby, Gold and Enamel Serpent Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
A French Antique 18 kt gold and oxidized silver and blue enamel serpent bracelet with diamonds and
Category

1880s French Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique Diamond and Enamel 18 Carat Yellow Gold Art Deco Round Wristwatch
Located in London, GB
century! This breathtaking antique watch features a wonderful blend of blue enamel, old cut diamonds and
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

1920s Lapis Lazuli and Diamond, Enamel Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive antique Art Deco lapis lazuli and 0.03 carat diamond, blue enamel and 18 karat yellow
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Enamel Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Locket Circa 1900
Located in London, GB
yellow gold heart shape locket of pave set old cut diamonds with a lively blue enamel outer surround and
Category

Early 1900s British Late Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel

15 Karat Striking Victorian European Cut Diamond Enamel Floral Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
A stunning ring of 15 kt gold, lustrous medium blue enamel and a central diamond flower of antique
Category

Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Enamel

Antique Victorian Heart Pendant Guilloche Enamel Diamond Pearl 18k Gold Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
vivid cobalt blue guilloche enamel, with a pearl and diamonds set into a star design. The back of the
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Antique Russian Diamond Enamel Two Color Gold Cufflinks
Located in Chicago, IL
a pair of antique Russian pale blue guilloche enamel, diamond and white (18K) and rose (14K) gold
Category

Early 20th Century Russian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond

Antique 16k Yellow Gold and Enamel "L" Initial Ring with Rose Cut Diamond Halo
Located in New York, NY
diamonds.The diamonds are set in a delicate border around the enamel. The ring measures 18.5 mm in length and
Category

Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique Art Deco 18 Karat Yellow Gold Old Mine Cut Diamond Enamel Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
ring have blue enamel and the diamonds on the ring are chunky old mine cut stones in different shapes
Category

1920s Unknown Art Deco Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Victorian Pearl Enamel Diamond Gold Cross Pendant, circa 1880
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
enjoying the classic combination of natural colored pearls, rah blue enamel and rose cut diamonds. 2 3/4
Category

1880s English Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold

Art Nouveau 1910 Charms Bracelet In 14Kt Gold With Multi Gemstones And Enamels
Located in Miami, FL
and colors. Some of the charms are embellished with applications of color enamels. Gemstones: Mounted
Category

1910s English Art Nouveau Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Black Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Ru...

Art Nouveau Diamond Enamel 14 Karat Gold United States Patriotic Flag Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a United States Flag Featuring red and white enamel stripes with a field of blue
Category

1910s Art Nouveau Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Edwardian Art Nouveau 1900 Scarab Brooch Gold Silver Diamonds And Gemstones
Located in Miami, FL
applications of blue, red, black and green enamels and is mounted with a great selection of sixty-one earth
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Ye...

Gem Set Enamel Gold Snake Bangle Bracelet
Located in London, GB
An antique gold snake bangle, decorated with blue and white enamel, set with diamonds, rubies and
Category

Mid-19th Century American Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold

Antique French Pearl Cobalt Blue Guilloche 18k Yellow Gold Link Bracelet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
senaille cut diamond. Accented by 46 pearls. Crafted in 18 karat yellow gold with Cobalt blue enamel with
Category

1860s Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Edwardian 1.00ct Diamond Bow Necklace, c.1910s
Located in London, GB
below are two finely detailed 15 carat yellow gold acorn drops, adorned with vibrant blue enamel, golden
Category

1910s British Edwardian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

CARTIER Spectacular Art Deco Jade Diamond Set Clock
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
mother-of-pearl, with royal blue enamel details and diamond set hands, to a rock crystal bezel applied
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Jade, Rock Crystal, Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Snake Gold Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
Antique snake link bracelet in 18kt yellow gold, the head embellished with fine blue enamel work
Category

1890s Italian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Blue Enamel and Diamond ring 18 KT
Located in Napoli, IT
Victorian Memories Beautiful Victorian period cruciform decorated with Royal Blue enamelling and
Category

1890s European Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Enamel

Victorian Blue Enamel and Diamond Earrings
Located in London, GB
which have been expertly enamelled in a rich navy blue. A wonderful pair of earrings fit for any
Category

19th Century Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Enamel

Antique Blue Enamel and Diamond Band Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have a charming antique enamel and diamond band ring. The piece has been crafted from 15ct
Category

19th Century Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Enamel

Antique Blue Enamel and Diamond Snake Bangle, circa 1850
Located in London, GB
An antique snake bangle, with blue enamel on gold, with gold engravings either side of the four
Category

1850s Unknown Victorian Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold

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Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact antique blue enamel and diamond you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Enamel — can elevate any look. If you’re looking for an antique blue enamel and 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 19th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 20th Century. For this particular piece, are consistently popular carat weights. A rose cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also old european cut and old mine cut versions for sale. If you’re browsing our inventory for an antique blue enamel and diamond, 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 Antique Blue Enamel And Diamond?

On average, an antique blue enamel and diamond at 1stDibs sells for $4,425, while they’re typically $800 on the low end and $64,542 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.