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Antique Rings Europe 1900

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Victorian Three-Stone Diamond Engagement Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
This breath taking three stone diamond ring is a beautifully hand made ring dating back to the
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 3.65 Carat Diamond Three-Stone Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
ring centres an old cut diamonds weighing 1.85 carat. Adjacent on either side, the old cut diamonds
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Edwardian 18 Carat Gold and Platinum Diamond Three-Stone Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A stunning antique Edwardian three-stone ring set with wonderful old European cut white diamonds
Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Victorian 0.50 Carat Diamond and Sapphire Three-Stone Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
An old cut diamond and two old cut sapphires sparkle in this lovely Victorian engagement ring. The
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Vintage Diamond and 18 Carat Gold Three-Stone
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Sitting at the centre of this simple and fluid style three stone ring are a trio of diamonds
Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond Full Eternity Platinum Band
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A glorious antique late Victorian eternity band fully set with exquisite old European cut white
Category

Early 1900s British Late Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

White Diamond, Platinum

Antique Edwardian Spaulding and Co 18K Gold Platinum Old Euro Diamond Pearl Ring
By Spaulding And Co.
Located in Great Neck, NY
row of three natural pearls and is surrounded by beautiful white old European cut diamonds. The ring
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

Art Deco Diamantring in 18 Karat Gold
Located in Bad Kissingen, DE
Ring size 54.5 or 7 Weight 3 grams
Category

Early 1900s German Art Deco Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Edwardian 0.48 Carat Diamond Platinum-Topped 14 Karat Gold Hexagonal Engagement
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an old European cut diamond weighing approximately 0.48 carat; I color with SI1 clarity
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum

1905s Sapphire Diamond Gold Platinum
Located in Firenze, IT
BERNARDO ANTICHITÀ PONTE VECCHIO FLORENCE Coronet set with a round old cut diamond weighing approximately 1,00 cts and sapphire weighing approx. 0.90 cts, graduated diamonds along t...
Category

Early 1900s British Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

Antique 1900 Sapphire Old European Cut Diamond Round Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
Sapphire and diamond cluster ring in 18 ct yellow gold and platinum. Sapphire is surrounded by 11
Category

1920s British Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

1.20ct Old European Cut Platinum Diamond Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
sparkling beauty features a 1.20 carat Old European Cut Diamond, graded K/SI, centered amidst the perfect
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Diamond Crossover Ring, French, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
Antique diamond crossover ring. Set with two round old cut diamonds in open back claw settings with
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Edwardian Platinum 1.99ctw GIA European Diamond Etched Engagement Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This is an absolutely breathtaking antique engagement ring that was crafted from solid platinum
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Edwardian Platinum European Diamond Milgrain Filigree Long Dinner Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This incredible, all original, antique Edwardian period ring is crafted in solid platinum. The ring
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique 14k Gold Platinum 0.80ctw European Diamond Solitaire Swirl Bypass Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
engagement or right-hand ring! Enjoy :) -- Stone(s) -- (1) Natural Genuine Diamond - Old European Cut
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum

Antique Edwardian Single Stone Old European Cut Diamond 2.5ct Ring, in Platinum
Located in London, GB
An Edwardian platinum single stone diamond ring featuring a dazzling Old European cut diamond that
Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Engagement Platinum Gold And Diamond Ring 1900 s
Located in Firenze, IT
Antique 18K yellow gold and platinum Tourbillon ring set with lines of rose-cut diamonds and
Category

Early 1900s Italian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 14K Yellow Gold Old European Cut Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Addison, TX
center of the prong setting is a small but mighty old European cut diamond that gives the piece all its
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Art Noveau Old European Cut Diamond 14k Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Bernardsville, NJ
-twentieth century - circa 1900. A cluster of bright-white old european cut sparkling diamonds together
Category

Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Platinum Filigree 2.02 Ct Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Addison, TX
family. This ring can be sized up or down 3 sizes for no additional fee. If you wish to have a ring
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

1900 Emerald and 2.66 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning antique 1900's 0.55 carat emerald and 2.66 carat diamond, 15 carat and 22k gold dress
Category

Early 1900s British Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 15k Gold, 22k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Diamond 3 Stone Filigree Ring From The 1900 s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique 1900's Filigree 3 Stone Ring .60ct Brilliant Old European Cut Diamonds F-G Color SI-I
Category

Early 1900s Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Art Nouveau Ring Gold 585 Diamonds Emerald Vienna Austria, circa 1900
Located in Vienna, AT
Golden Art Nouveau Ring of most elegant appearance with many diamonds attached in decorative manner
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold

Art Nouveau Cluster Ring Diamonds 0.50 Carat Sapphire Vienna Austria, circa 1900
Located in Vienna, AT
QUALITY AND HIGH VALUE ! Vienna / Austria, made circa 1900 diameter of ring's middle part
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Antique Old Cut Diamond Two-Stone Twist Platinum on 18ct Gold Ring, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
This antique handmade two stone twist cross-over engagement ring features two round old cut
Category

Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

circa 1900 s Victorian 10K Yellow Gold Vintage Garnet and Diamond Statement Ring
Located in Addison, TX
wonderful addition to a vintage collection, given as a gift or used as a birthstone ring. (Metal has been
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Art Nouveau Saphire and Diamond Red Gold Ring, Austria, Around 1900
Located in Vienna, AT
Delicate antique old European cut ring, with a saphire and a diamond opposite each other, each
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold

Antique 10K Gold 0.76ctw European Diamond Solitaire Floral Sides Engagement Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This beautiful antique diamond solitaire ring was crafted in solid 10k yellow gold during the
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 10k Gold

ART NOUVEAU 1900 Floriated Scrolls Ring In Sculpted 14Kt Yellow Gold And Diamond
Located in Miami, FL
. The ring is flush set, with three natural European brilliant cut diamonds in millegrain platinum
Category

Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, 14k Gold

Marquise Shape Old Cut Diamond 18 Carat Gold Cluster Ring, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
An antique cluster ring grain set with 27 old cut diamonds in open back settings totalling to an
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Late Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian 14 Karat Gold GIA 1.36 Carat European Diamond Solitaire Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This breathtaking antique diamond solitaire engagement ring was crafted from 14k yellow gold during
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

1900s Sapphire and Old European Cut Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 7.5 Metal Type: 18k Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.5 grams
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Yellow Gold

1900 Platinum Full Diamond Eternity Band
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
approximately 5 points. Total diamond weight approximately 1 carat. Modelled in platinum circa 1900. Ring Size
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Late Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

1900s Edwardian GIA Certified 1.05 Carat Old European Brilliant Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Ring Size: 7.25 Metal Type: 18 Karat Yellow Gold & Platinum Head Weight: 3.2 grams
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Edwardian Bezel Set European Cut Diamond Sapphire Three Stone Engagement Ring
Located in Boston, MA
Aston Estate Jewelry Presents: An exquisite engagement ring showcasing a 0.75-carat European-cut
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian 10K Gold Vintage Three Stone Old European Cut Diamonds Engagement Ring
Located in Addison, TX
classic prong setting. In those prong settings sits three old European diamonds and four single cut
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian 14k Yellow Gold .80ct Old European Cut Diamond Stack Band Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
gold. It features four, large old European cut diamonds sitting across the top. The diamonds are fine
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian British Hallmarked 18k Old European Diamond and Sapphire Ring
Located in London, GB
1908, sponsor mark "JH" 2 X old European cut diamonds, approximate total weight 0.10 carats UK ring
Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

.52 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Edwardian Ring 14 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Greensboro, NC
A vintage engagement ring is a wonderful way to carry forward the time-honored values of true love
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique GIA 5.79 Carat Old European Fancy Brown-Yellow Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Antique GIA 5.79 Carat Old European Fancy Brown-Yellow Diamond Gold Cluster Ring. Featuring one
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Yellow Diamond, Brown Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Old Cut Diamond Five-Stone Platinum and 18 Carat Gold Ring, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
Antique five stone ring featuring 5 graduating old cut diamonds in six claw open back platinum
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

Circa 1900s Edwardian 18K Yellow Gold GIA 2.08ct Old European Diamond Engagement
Located in Hicksville, NY
Year: 1900s Item Details: Ring Size: 7.25 Metal Type: 18K Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Yellow Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco 14 Karat Yellow Gold Old European Diamond Sapphire Three-Stone Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Art Deco 14K Yellow Gold Old European Diamond Sapphire Three Stone Ring. This
Category

Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

1907 Antique European Ring solid 20K Gold Size Ø 6.5 US / 4.8 gr
Located in SE
Well preserved Antique Wedding Ring ring for Feminine hand. Solid 20K Yellow Gold. Hand
Category

Early 1900s Swedish Art Nouveau Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

22k Gold

Antique Circa 1900 Art Deco Platinum Natural Oval Cut Opal Solitaire Ring
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
In very good condition. Total weight is 5.2 grams. Totally is opal about 10 ct. Ring size is US
Category

1920s European Art Deco Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Opal, Platinum

EGL Certified 2.48 Carat Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
The old mine brilliant cut diamond engagement ring. Circa 1900’s old European center diamond
Category

Early 1900s Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Victorian 18ct Gold Diamond Snake Ring
Located in OVIEDO, AS
Antique Victorian Diamond Ruby Snake Ring 18ct Gold. This beautiful mid Victorian coiled snake ring
Category

Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Spider Ring 14K
Located in North Hollywood, CA
spider and made it into a ring. This spider ring is so unique you will NEVER see another. This
Category

Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique 0.50 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Cluster Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique 0.50 carat diamond and gold cluster engagement ring circa 1900. Centering upon an old
Category

Early 1900s Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Art Deco 2.3 Carat Old Euro Diamond and Platinum Ring
Located in New York, NY
A stunning diamond ring featuring an Old Euro cut diamond weighing 2.3 carats, with a color grade
Category

Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

.40 Carat Victorian Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ring Size: 6.5 Metal Type: 18K Yellow Gold, Platinum prongs [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 3.0
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Tiffany Co Antique 0.75ct Diamond Engagement Ring in 18 Karat Gold, Platinum
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Boston, MA
A stunning Tiffany & Company engagement ring featuring a 0.75 carat European cut diamond. The
Category

Early 1900s Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Circa 1900s 14k Gold natural Rose Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
is has H color and vs clarity. Ring size is US 9 (We offer free resizing) We can make any size. Acid
Category

Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique 1900s Diamond and Yellow Gold Five-Stone Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Old European cut diamonds, graduated in size. The elevated, flared ring shoulders integrate with the
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Circa 1900s 14k Gold Natural Diamond Decorated Ring
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
has I-J-K color and s2-s3-Pique1-Pique2. Ring size is US 5.8 (We offer free resizing) We can make any
Category

Early 1900s European Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique Diamond and Yellow Gold Snake Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive antique 1900s gent's 0.25 carat diamond and 14 karat yellow gold 'snake' ring; part
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Antique Rings Europe 1900 For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the antique rings europe 1900 you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Platinum. You’re likely to find the perfect antique rings europe 1900 among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 19th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 20th Century. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but .5 Carat and 1 Carat carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. Creating an antique rings europe 1900 has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Neil Lane Couture and Nikolai Nemirov-Kolodkin are consistently popular. Today, if you’re looking for an old european cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes round cut alternatives. When shopping for an antique rings europe 1900, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Antique Rings Europe 1900?

Prices for an antique rings europe 1900 can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $788 and can go as high as $65,112, while this accessory, on average, fetches $5,548.

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.