Asher Cut Eternity Band

After they were awarded an exclusive contract for Louis Vuitton in 2007, Lili Jewelry’s parent company Lili Diamonds impressed Louis Vuitton jewelry director Albert Bensoussan to such an extent he believed that the manufacturer’s diamond cutters in Tel Aviv could cut Vuitton diamonds blindfolded, if asked. 

A brand owned and operated by Israel-based diamond company Lili Diamonds — which was originally called Siman-Tov Bros. at the time of its founding in 1981 — Lili Jewelry has facilities in Hong Kong and New York City and employs a global design team known worldwide for its trademarked original cuts and deep expertise of constantly morphing fashion and jewelry trends. 

Lili Diamonds’ cutters are extraordinarily seasoned in their field and knowledgeable of the ultra-cherished April birthstone, and two of Lili Jewelry’s five leading individual cuts — the Lily cut, Orchidea cut, Crisscut, Crisscut Cushion and Meteor cut — are only available to jewelry lovers as embedded into jewelry designs created by Lili Jewelry. 

The brand’s parent company still holds the worldwide patent for its flower-like Lily Cut, granted in 1996, but since the agreement between Louis Vuitton and Lily Diamonds was inked in 2007, all Lily cut diamonds are reserved for Louis Vuitton jewelry, which is an ideal pairing owing to the fact that the company’s monogram’s flowers so often appear on its trunks (the famous LV monogram was first used in 1896).

Along with worldwide recognition, Lili Jewelry has garnered accolades including being named one of the top ten diamond brands by the Rapaport Group. Former Miss Nevada Sarah Chapman once wore a $2M collection of Lili Jewelry designs to the Encore Beach Club and Surrender Nightclub at Encore Las Vegas in 2012. 

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Lili Jewelry rings, necklaces and earrings.

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 rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings. 

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Find memorable jewelry to mark your special day — a collection of antique and vintage wedding rings is waiting for you on 1stDibs.

Wedding rings have symbolized love and devotion for centuries. The pharaohs of Ancient Egypt believed that wedding rings were symbols of eternity. The “ouroboros” rings of the era, which depicted a serpent swallowing its own tail, represented renewal and eternal life — a motif at the center of the Serpenti collection from Italian fine jewelry house Bulgari. Preferred materials in the production of wedding bands have changed over time; metals such as iron in early Rome replaced the wedding rings of bone and ivory that came before them. But the circle has always symbolized an unending pledge of love to one’s partner.

In the case of Cartier’s Trinity wedding ring, the “trinity knot” depicts unity and eternity. The legendary French brand’s minimalist Love wedding band is inseparable from immutable love, in that it joined the iconic Love bracelet, which initially could only be unlocked with its accompanying gold-vermeil screwdriver. Wedding rings designed by Tiffany Co., one of the most prominent purveyors of luxury goods in the United States, have also long been popular for the newly betrothed.

Although wedding bands were traditionally given to women, the practice of men donning wedding rings became popular during the mid-20th century, as devoted husbands wanted to wear a symbol of their love when they shipped off to war. Wedding rings are often worn by both partners today, and men’s engagement rings are becoming more fashionable too (see our engagement ring buying guide).

On 1stDibs, shop diamond eternity bands, gold wedding rings, diamond wedding rings and other antique and vintage rings from the world’s best jewelry dealers.