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Platinum Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Miami, FL
One natural cushion Ceylon sapphire that weighs 1ctw highlights in the center of this unique piece
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Oval Sapphire Diamond platinum cluster ring
Located in London, GB
This stylish natural Ceylon Sapphire ring is surrounded by Diamonds and calibrated cabochon
Category

Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Cushion-Cut Natural Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Sapphire and Diamond Ring. Natural Unheated Cushion-Cut Ceylon Sapphire with strong blue color
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

8 Carat Natural Oval Cut Sapphire Ring
Located in New Orleans, LA
Sapphire and Diamond Ring featuring an 8 Carat Unheated/Untreated Ceylon Sapphire in a Platinum
Category

Vintage 1980s French Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

18 Carat White Gold and Sapphire Cocktail Ring
Located in London, GB
A Modern 18 Carat White Gold & Ceylon Sapphire 2 Carat Cocktail Ring With 2 Carat Diamond (G-S1
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Sapphire

8.7 Carat Sapphire Diamond Cocktail Ring, Halo Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring, Montana
Category

2010s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

2.5 Carat Oval Cut Natural Green Sapphire Engagement Rings, Three-Stone Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring, Montana
Category

2010s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Green Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

2 Carat Green Sapphire and Spinel stone Engagement Rings Three-Stone Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring, Montana
Category

2010s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Green Sapphire, Spinel, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

2 Carat Trilliant Cut Sapphire Vintage Engagement Ring for her Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring, Montana
Category

2010s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Oval Yellow Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Ring in 18 karat white gold set with an oval cut Ceylon Yellow Sapphire (3.62 carat) and round
Category

2010s Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold

Gold Veronique 4.13 Carat Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Ring
By Cushla Whiting
Located in Melbourne, AU
Cushla Whiting's VERONIQUE engagement ring features a striking 4.13 carat Ceylon sapphire and a
Category

2010s Australian Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

2.67 Carat Sapphire and Diamond White Gold Engagement Ring Bridal Statement Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring, Montana
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Minimal 4.96 Carat Sapphire Diamond White Gold Engagement Ring Three-Stone Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring, Montana
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

5.68 Natural No-Heat Sapphire Green Beryl Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
, circa 1930s-40s, highlights a sumptuous Ceylon blue emerald-cut sapphire, weighing 5.68 carats, bearing
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

2 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring Set in 18K Gold, Cocktail Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Gold. Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring Symbol
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Certified 6 Carat Sapphire and Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring, Montana
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

12.03 Carat GIA Cert Natural No Heat Yellow Sapphire Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
Eternal sunshine on your finger! An entrancing, electric yellow, natural, no-heat Ceylon sapphire
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Platinum

2 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring Set in 18K Gold, Cocktail Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Gold. Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring Symbol
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold

4 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring Set in 18K Gold, Cocktail Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Gold. Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring Symbol
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

9 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring Set in 18K Gold, Cocktail Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Gold. Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring Symbol
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

GIA Certified Color Change Sapphire Ring, 1.81 ct Unheated Platinum 950
Located in Tampa, FL
New platinum color change sapphire ring set with an untreated oval cut Ceylon sapphire, violet
Category

2010s Sri Lankan Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

3 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring Set in 18K Gold, Cocktail Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Gold. Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring Symbol
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Art Deco Certified 42.8 Ct Natural Ceylon Sapphire Platinum Bracelet
Located in Napoli, IT
Magnificent Jewellery An exceptional Art Deco Diamond and Natural Sapphires bracelet – 1920 ca
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

French Deco 1.70 Ct Natural No Heat Sapphire 2.20 Carat Old Cut Diamond Platinum
Located in Napoli, IT
Classy Statement This beautiful and impressive Art Deco ring is French origin – stamped with
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

3 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring Set in 18K Gold, Cocktail Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
Gold. Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring Symbol
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Octagonal Sapphire Diamond Platinum Cluster Engagement Ring
By Nigel Milne
Located in London, GB
A stunning Art Deco style unheated cushion cut Ceylon sapphire weighing 2.73 carats and brilliant
Category

2010s British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire

GIA Certified Giant 5.06 Carat Asscher Cut Halo Diamond Sapphire Engagement Ring
Located in Orlando, Florida
GIA Certified Giant 5.06 Carat Asscher Cut Halo Diamond Sapphire Engagement Ring A stunning ring
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Platinum

Unique Emerald Cut Sapphire White Gold Wedding Band Modern Fashion Ring For Her
Located in Orlando, Florida
Vintage Sapphire engagement ring, Natural blue sapphire gold ring, Ceylon sapphire ring, Montana
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Wedding Rings

Materials

Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Kian Design Emerald, Sapphire and Diamond Cocktail Ring in 18 Carat Yellow Gold
By Kian Design
Located in South Perth, AU
, 3.30mm Round faceted sapphire: medium blue colour, lively stone, 3.30mm, Ceylon origin Round brilliant
Category

Early 2000s Australian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yell...

Gia Certified 3.08 Carat Padparadcha Sapphire Diamond Ring 14 Karat Rose Gold
Located in Barnsley, GB
This 3.08 Carat Padparadcha Sapphire Ring shows off a nice Orange color with 24 White Diamonds and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

3.07 Carat Ceylon Sapphire Hand Engraved Platinum Diamond Halo Engagement Ring
By Matthew Ely
Located in Woollahra, New South Wales
This Matthew Ely vintage style art deco inspired ring is handmade in Platinum and features an
Category

2010s Australian Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Boorma 18 Karat Yellow Gold 3.74 Carat Ceylon Sapphire Eternity Band Size 6
By Boorma Jewelry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
blue ceylon sapphires. The pictured ring is a standard US size 6 and is designed to sit tall and bulky
Category

2010s Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Sapphire, 18k Gold

Boorma 18 Karat White Gold 3.52 Carat Ceylon Sapphire Eternity Band Size 5
By Boorma Jewelry
Located in Los Angeles, CA
3.8 mm ceylon cornflower blue sapphires. Featuring a bulky and tall design our eternity rings are
Category

2010s Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Sapphire, 18k Gold

Art Deco Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
Art Deco Style Ring set with Ceylon Sapphire 2.00 Carat in the center and another 1.47 Carat Blue
Category

20th Century Thai Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Royal Blue Ceylon Sapphire Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Lovely 11 carat royal blue sapphire, set in a platinum Art Deco ring accented by diamonds. The
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Solitaire Rings

1920 s Art Deco No Heat Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Platinum Cluster Ring GIA
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cluster style ring centers an oval cut Ceylon sapphire weighing approximately 1.70 carats
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco 8.50 Carats No Heat Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Platinum Cluster Ring AGL
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an oval double cabochon Ceylon sapphire weighing approximately 7.00 carats Strongly
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco Style Yellow Ceylon Sapphire Diamonds Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
antique art deco rings, a gold-yellow sapphire degrees-cut is set with 4 flat claws on the top of this
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White...

Art Deco 5.12 Carat Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have an exquisite sapphire and diamond ring crafted during the Art Deco movement. This
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

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

1925 French Art Deco 4.26 Carat Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
sapphire. The story of this jewel: Outcome of the estate of Mrs de P, this art deco ring celebrated the
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Antique Art Deco Platinum Diamond and Ceylon Sapphire Engagement Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Unique Art Deco Platinum Diamond Engagement ring with an oval ceylon sapphire center. #R0187
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco GIA Certified Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Platinum Bypass Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An Art Deco study in geometry featuring diamonds, sapphires. This GIA certified sapphire diamond
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Deco More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco GIA 7.45 carat Ceylon sapphire diamond platinum ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This Art Deco platinum ring showcases a stunning 7.45 carat GIA-certified heated Ceylon sapphire in
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco Vintage Platinum Cabochon Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco Vintage Platinum Ring, featuring a mesmerizing 2.80-carat Cabochon Ceylon Sapphire and 0.08
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco, 18 Karat Gold, Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
An original Art Deco ring with diamonds and a central Ceylon sapphire set in 18 karat gold. This
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Art Deco GIA 2.79 Carat Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Art Deco GIA 2.79 Carat Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Platinum Ring. Featuring one GIA oval mixed cut
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

GIA Certified 11.46 Carat No Heat Ceylon Sapphire Art Deco Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
Lay witness to the jaw dropping beauty of this GIA certified antique sapphire Art Deco ring, a
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

3.60 Carat Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Platinum Art Deco Wedding Ring
Located in London, GB
Comments: This beautiful ring is from the Art Deco period. It is set with a vibrant light blue
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Wedding Rings

Art Deco GIA 7.05 Carat Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Art Deco GIA 7.05 Carat Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Platinum Ring. Featuring one GIA oval mixed
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco Enamel, Diamond + No-Heat Ceylon Sapphire Ring 5.63ct Center
Located in Narberth, PA
An incredible sapphire and diamond ring from the Art Deco (ca1930s) era! Crafted in 14kt yellow
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Enamel

Art Deco Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Ring, circa 1935
Located in London, GB
Art Deco Ceylon sapphire and diamond ring. Set to centre with a octagonal emerald-cut natural
Category

Vintage 1930s British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco Swedish 5.10 Carat Natural Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
A truly spectacular sapphire and diamond ring from the Art Deco (ca1925) era! This Swedish-made
Category

Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco GIA 2.76 carat Ceylon no heat sapphire diamond platinum ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This exquisite Art Deco ring showcases a 2.76 carat cushion cut sapphire of Ceylon origin
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Magnificent Art Deco Ring with 7.50ct No Heat Ceylon Sapphire GIA
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1930s, 14k, American. This gorgeous ring is stylishly Art Deco with hints of Retro style yet
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Art Deco French LFG Certificate No Heat Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Art Deco French LFG Certificate No Heat Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Platinum Filigree Ring
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Antique Art Deco Platinum Gubelin Ceylon No Heat Cabochon Sapphire Diamond Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This magnificent antique cocktail ring was crafted during the art deco period from solid platinum
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Art Deco GIA 2.41 Carat Ceylon No Heat Sapphire Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Art Deco GIA 2.41 Carat Ceylon No Heat Sapphire Diamond Platinum Ring. Featuring one GIA oval
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

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Art Deco Ceylon Sapphire Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the art deco ceylon sapphire ring you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Platinum, this item was constructed with great care. Find an antique version now, or shop for 115 vintage or 67 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. If you’re looking for an art deco ceylon sapphire ring from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 20th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular piece, 2.5 Carat and 3 Carat are consistently popular carat weights. An art deco ceylon sapphire ring from Dover Jewelry, Kian Design and Suzy Levian — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. Today, if you’re looking for an oval cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes cushion cut and emerald cut alternatives. When shopping for an art deco ceylon sapphire ring, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Art Deco Ceylon Sapphire Ring?

The price for an art deco ceylon sapphire ring starts at $428 and tops out at $290,000 with these rings, on average, selling for $12,000.

A Close Look at Art Deco Jewelry

Fascination with the Jazz Age is endless, and even today jewelry designers continue to be inspired by authentic Art Deco jewelry and watches.

The Art Deco period, encompassing the 1920s and ’30s, ushered in a very distinct look in the design of jewelry. There were many influences on the jewelry of the era that actually began to take shape prior to the 1920s. In 1909, Serge Diaghilev brought the Ballet Russes to Paris, and women went wild for the company’s exotic and vibrant costumes It’s no wonder, then, that jade, lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise and other bright gemstones became all the rage. There already existed a fascination with the East, particularly China and Japan, and motifs consisting of fans and masks started to show up in Art Deco jewelry.

However, the event that had the greatest influence on Deco was the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922. When the world saw what was hidden in Tut’s burial chamber, it sent just about everyone into a frenzy. Pierre Cartier wrote in 1923 that “the discovery of the tomb will bring some sweeping changes in fashion jewelry.” And he couldn’t have been more right. “Egyptomania” left an indelible mark on all of the major jewelry houses, from Cartier to Van Cleef Arpels, Boucheron and Georges Fouquet. (Cartier created some of the most iconic jewelry designs that defined this era.)

While a lot of Art Deco jewelry was black and white — the black coming from the use of onyx or black enamel and the white from rock crystal and diamonds — there is plenty of color in jewelry of the era. A perfect accent to diamonds in platinum settings were blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies, and these stones were also used in combination with each other.

Many designers employed coral, jade and lapis lazuli, too. In fact, some of the most important avant-garde jewelers of the period, like Jean Després and Jean Fouquet (son of Georges), would combine white gold with ebony and malachite for a jolt of color.

A lot of the jewelry produced during this time nodded to current fashion trends, and women often accessorized their accessories. The cloche hat was often accented with geometric diamond brooches or double-clip brooches. Backless evening dresses looked fabulous with sautoir necklaces, and long pearl necklaces that ended with tassels, popular during the Edwardian period, were favored by women everywhere, including Coco Chanel.

Find unique Art Deco necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other 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.

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.