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Antique Rings Europe 1900

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Circa 1900s Old European Brilliant Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Circa 1900s Old European Brilliant Diamond Navette Ring - VEG#42b Item Details: Year: 1900s Ring
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian Platinum Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring - GIA
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Edwardian Platinum Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring - GIA. This gorgeous
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Edwardian 2.13 Carat Old European Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Era: Edwardian Estate Composition: 18K Yellow Gold & Platinum Primary Stone: Old European Diamond
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Circa 1900s Platinum GRANAT Co. Old European Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Year: 1900s Item Details: Ring Size: 8.25 Metal Type: Platinum [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 5.6
Category

Early 1900s Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Edwardian Platinum 1.48ctw Old European Diamond Bezel Engagement Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This magnificent antique engagement ring was crafted in solid platinum during the Edwardian period
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Edwardian Platinum 2.38ct GIA Old European Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This is an absolutely breathtaking, highly detailed, antique engagement ring that was crafted from
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Edwardian Platinum Old European Cut Diamond Filigree Engagement Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Edwardian Platinum Old European Cut Diamond Filigree Engagement Ring. This
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Edwardian 0.45ct Old European Cut Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Boston, MA
An original Edwardian period old European cut diamond ring in 14 karat yellow gold and platinum
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Colombian Emerald and diamond ring circa 1900
Located in Uccle, BE
Antique diamond and emerald ring circa 1900. Ring set with a center elongated cushion cut emerald
Category

Early 1900s European Belle Époque Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

Victorian 1.96 CT European Diamond 14K Gold Antique Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
talon prong mount Flanked by rounded shoulders Stamped for 14 karat gold Circa: 1900 Ring size: 5 3/4
Category

Early 1900s Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian GIA 4.0ctw Platinum OLD EUROPEAN Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian GIA Shy 4.0ctw OLD EUROPEAN Diamond Engagement Antique Platinum Ring Edwardian Rings
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

GIA 2.25 Carat Old European Diamond Engagement Wedding Platinum Ring
Located in New York, NY
Bezel set GIA Certified 1.19ct Old European Center diamond in J color and VS2 clarity (Near COLORLESS
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

GIA 2.30ct Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Platinum Antique Edwardian Ring
Located in New York, NY
beautiful UNIQUE Engagement or Anniversary Ring! A shimmering old European cut diamond forms the
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco Traub .20ctw Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
An Art Deco Traub old European cut diamond engagement ring. This antique orange blossom engagement
Category

Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Victorian 14k Gold European Diamond Repousse Domed Sides Engagement Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
Here we have a gorgeous and absolutely elegantly designed antique diamond ring crafted from solid
Category

Early 1900s Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian Buttercup Style 0.36 Carat Old European Cut Solitaire Diamond Ring
Located in Addison, TX
This ring is a breathtaking example of a Victorian era diamond solitaire ring. The 0.36 carat Old
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Fine Edwardian Platinum Diamond Ruby Crossover Toi et Moi Ring, C 1900
Located in Firenze, IT
engraved shoulders and good quality bright and nicely sparkling stones. This "Toi et Moi" platinum ring is
Category

Early 1900s European Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Victorian 1.81 Carat GIA Old European Cut Diamond Cluster Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A unique Victorian era 1.81 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Cluster Engagement Ring composed of 15k
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

French Victorian 2.43 Carat GIA Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French Victorian Era Old European Cut Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring composed of 18k yellow gold
Category

Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 18k Yellow Gold Old European Diamond Three Stone Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Gorgeous Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Old European Diamond Three Stone Ring. This ring
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian old European cut diamond emerald 18k yellow gold snake ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This Victorian snake ring coils gracefully around the finger, its expressive form brought to life
Category

Early 1900s Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

Victorian 1.43 Carat GIA Certified Old European Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Victorian era 1.43 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Cluster Ring composed of 14k yellow gold and
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Edwardian 2.00 Carat GIA Old European Cut Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early Edwardian era 2.00 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring composed of 18k
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Floral Diamond Belle Époque Ring, circa 1900
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
A Belle Époque diamond and yellow gold ring, ca. 1900s. The ring has a floral design with three
Category

Early 1900s Belle Époque Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian Burmese ruby and diamond coronet cluster ring, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
Victorian Burmese ruby and diamond coronet cluster ring. Set to centre with an oval old cut natural
Category

Early 1900s Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 1.60ct Old European Cut Platinum Diamond Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
phenomenal 1.60 carat Old European Cut Diamond set in a beautifully engraved ring featuring immaculate
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

1900s Old European Diamond Gold Platinum Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Diamonds have raised crowns and small tables. circa 1900-1910 12 Old European Diamonds H. SI .20 total
Category

Early 1900s Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, White Gold

Antique Edwardian 14K Gold and Platinum Old European Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Edwardian 14K Gold and Platinum Old European Diamond Engagement Ring. This
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

Antique Old European Cut Diamond 18 Karat Rose Gold Solitaire Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Antique Old European Cut Diamond 18 Karat Rose Gold Solitaire Ring. Featuring one old European
Category

Early 1900s Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Victorian ring with five old-cut diamonds, Great Britain, circa 1900.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Original old ring in the Victorian style made of 0.750 yellow gold and five round faceted diamonds
Category

Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Victorian Navette Shaped Opal Statement Ring with Old European Cut Diamonds
Located in Addison, TX
look. Accented by two European cut diamonds and floral engraved shanks this ring takes the cake. A
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Old European Cut Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Edwardian Platinum Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring 1.31CTW The height of Edwardian
Category

Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 10k Gold, Platinum

Old European Cut Diamond Ruby Cluster Ring, 18k Yellow Gold, Platinum
Located in McLeansville, NC
An Art Deco style platinum, 18 karat yellow gold, ruby and old European cut diamond cluster ring
Category

Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

Antique Old European Cut Diamond 14 Karat Rose Gold Buttercup Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Antique Old European Cut Diamond 14 Karat Rose Gold Buttercup Ring. Featuring one old European
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

1900s 14 Kara Yellow Gold .76 Carat Old European Brilliant Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Year: 1900s Item Details: Ring Size: 4.75 Metal Type: 14K Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested
Category

Early 1900s Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

1.00 CTW Old European Antique Diamond 14K Yellow Gold Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an old European cut diamond weighing approximately 1.00 carats total O/P color with VS2
Category

Early 1900s Late Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 1.28 Carat Old European Diamond Wedding Yellow Gold Ring EGL USA
Located in New York, NY
shaped 18k Yellow Gold Ring (tested), the Center Stone is EGL USA Certified 0.92ct OLD European Cut
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Classic art deco diamond engagement ring with old European cut 0.91 carat center stone. In 14k gold
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Late Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique Victorian 14K Rose Gold .59ct European Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This amazing antique diamond engagement ring was crafted during the Victorian period in solid 14k
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold

Victorian GIA 3.02 carat old European cut diamond 18k yellow gold cluster ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This magnificent Victorian ring showcases a 3.02 carat GIA-certified old European cut diamond
Category

Early 1900s Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Circa 1900s Arts Crafts Era Old European Diamond and Pearl Engagement Ring
Located in Hicksville, NY
Year: 1900s Item Details: Ring Size: 7.75 Metal Type: 14K Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested
Category

Early 1900s Russian Empire Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 0.60 CTW Old European Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
with pierced geometric motif profile Stamped for 18 karat gold Circa: 1900 Ring size: 8 and sizable
Category

Early 1900s Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

Antique Engagement Platinum Gold And Rose 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

Yellow and White Five-Stone Diamond 18 Karat Gold Engagement Ring Circa 1900
Located in London, GB
Yellow and White Five Stone Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring Circa 1900 An utterly beautiful and
Category

Early 1900s Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Edwardian 1.79 Carat Old European Cut Diamond 14k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Edwardian 1.79 Carat Old European Cut Diamond 14k Yellow Gold Solitaire Ring. Featuring one GIA
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

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

Antique GIA 2.25 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Yellow Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Antique GIA 2.25 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Yellow Gold Solitaire Engagement Ring
Category

Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian 3.32 CTW Old European Diamond Platinum Alternative Ring GIA
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an old European cut diamond weighing 3.32 carats, L color and SI2 clarity Top of the
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Edwardian Platinum European Diamond Milgrain Engraved Work Hexagon Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This is an absolutely breathtaking antique engagement or dinner ring that was crafted in solid
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Edwardian Platinum 1.71ct GIA Old European Diamond 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

Edwardian 1.60 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Platinum Dinner Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a square form with millegrain edges centering a bezel set old European cut diamond
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Diamond and Natural Saltwater Pearl Yellow Gold Twist Ring, circa 1900
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
, pavé set Old European cut diamonds displayed in the platinum set twist design ring shoulders. The
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian 14K/18K Gold and Platinum Old European Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Edwardian 14K/18K Gold and Platinum Old European Diamond Engagement Ring. This
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Platinum Old Cut Diamond Five Stone Ring Early 1900
Located in Firenze, IT
Designed as a graduated row centred by an old European-cut centre diamond with estimated weight
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Edwardian Old European Cut Diamonds Platinum Filigree Navette Dinner Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Edwardian Old European Cut Diamonds Platinum Filigree Navette Dinner Ring. Featuring 13 old
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

1900 s Victorian Two Tone 18K Antique Three Stone Ruby Shield Ring
Located in Addison, TX
Here we have a classic Victorian beauty, this three stone ruby ring is a beautiful work of art in
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

1900s Edwardian Old European Cut Diamond Half Hoop Ring in Platinum
Located in London, England
A truly unusual Edwardian Old European cut diamond half hoop ring set in platinum. With three
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Arts Crafts 1.95 CTW Old European Diamond Platinum Yellow Gold Antique Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
platinum Circa: 1900 Ring size: 6 1/4 and sizable Measures north to south 10.0 mm and sits 5.0 mm high
Category

Early 1900s Victorian Antique Rings Europe 1900

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

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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.