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BOUCHERON Bold Rope Twist Diamond Bracelet
By Boucheron
Located in Atlanta, GA
This BOUCHERON bracelet features 18k yellow gold bracelet with 11 links and 14 carats of diamonds
Category

20th Century French Bangles

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

BOUCHERON Pink White Diamond Bow Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
These Boucheron clip earrings have an unusual double bow design that showcases a delicate balance
Category

Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold

BOUCHERON Coral, Diamond and Gold Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
These Boucheron clip earrings from the 1990's feature a uniquely shaped, rich red central coral
Category

1990s French Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, 15k Gold

Boucheron Pearl Coral and Diamond Necklace
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
A multi-strand pearl necklace set with a coral and diamond clasp, signed "Boucheron Paris 9577
Category

1990s French Contemporary Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron Paris Lapis Diamond Gold Ring
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
A spectacularly stylish Boucheron Paris 18k twisted gold work ring of a criss crossed shank design
Category

Vintage 1970s French Cocktail Rings

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron Sapphire And Diamond Bracelet
By Boucheron
Located in NY, NY
18KY BOUCHERON VINTAGE SAPPHIRE & DIAMOND BRACELET, 35.80 dwt., 5.00ct. TW MELEE, 30.00ct
Category

Vintage 1960s French More Bracelets

Materials

18k Gold

Boucheron Knot Diamond Double Clip brooch
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A 950/000 platinum and 750/000 white gold Boucheron clip in shape of a knot entirely paved with
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Boucheron Oval Ruby Diamond Gold Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
Yellow gold Boucheron ring set with a 1,70 carat oval ruby in the center of a pavé brilliant
Category

Vintage 1980s French Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Superb Boucheron Paris Diamond Necklace
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
A superb diamond necklace by Boucheron Paris formed of two rows of prong set diamonds meeting to
Category

French Choker Necklaces

Boucheron Pink and White Diamond Bow Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
Boucheron 18K gold bow earrings containing 3.85 cts. of natural intense pink diamonds and 4.52 cts
Category

French Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond

BOUCHERON, Paris Diamond Set Dome Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
Simply-chic ring with 5 rows of 18K gold set with diamonds presents a delicate dome-shape. A
Category

1990s French Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron " Camerisson " Gold, Sapphire Diamond Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
and face set with diamonds, and yellow and pink sapphires. The eyes are large gold-encircled emeralds
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary More Rings

Materials

Emerald, Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

BOUCHERON PARIS. A gold and diamond necklace.
By Boucheron
Located in London, GB
The snake link necklace separated by gold bars with brilliant cut diamond detail, to a central
Category

Vintage 1940s French Link Necklaces

Materials

Diamond

BOUCHERON Blue Enameled Platinum Diamond Flower Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
BOUCHERON Deep Cornflower Blue enameled platinum and diamond set stamens flower earclips
Category

Vintage 1950s French More Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

BOUCHERON PARIS Gold Onyx Diamond Link Bracelet
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
Chic Boucheron Paris gold open links bracelet set with onyx cabochons and diamonds
Category

French Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold

Boucheron Gold Diamond Ball-Shaped Demi Parure
By Boucheron
Located in London, GB
Gold & Diamond Ball-Shaped Demi Parure by Boucheron, comprising of necklace and clip-on earrings
Category

Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron Large Diamond White Gold Feather Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in Greenwich, CT
Diamond feather brooch, featuring a modern, graphic silhouette set with 176 round diamonds weighing
Category

1990s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Boucheron Serpent Boheme Diamond White Gold Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in Lambertville, NJ
approx. 0.50ctw in G/VS diamonds. Earrings are 24mm x 25mm, weigh 19.7 grams. Marked: Boucheron, or750
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French More Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron Paris Diamond Gold Serpent Bohême Necklace
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, FR
A 18k yellow gold necklace with 19 pear shape motifs set with brillant cut diamonds. This iconic
Category

Late 20th Century French More Bracelets

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Gold and diamond ring by Boucheron Paris
By Boucheron
Located in London, GB
Woven gold ring set with three diamonds weighing a total of approximately 2.5 carats to a mount of
Category

Vintage 1950s French Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Stunning Boucheron Ruby and Diamond Starburst Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
This gold bombe brooch is adorned with rubies and diamonds suggestive of a starburst. Designed by
Category

Vintage 1950s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

1970s Boucheron Paris diamond gold nugget bracelet
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
This highly flexible bracelet is composed of 18k yellow gold and diamonds totaling 1 carat. The
Category

Vintage 1970s French Link Bracelets

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron Emerald Diamond Gold Trouble Snake Pendant
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A Boucheron pendant, "Trouble" collection made with 750/ooo white gold of circular shape openwork
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron Serpent Boheme Collection Diamond Gold Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A 750/ooo yellow gold pair of earrings by Boucheron, "Serpent Bohème" collection, set with
Category

1990s French Contemporary Clip-on Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron Colored Stone Diamond "African" Cross Pendant
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
A large, grooved gold cross centering a cabochon ruby, surrounded by white diamonds, each arm
Category

Vintage 1980s French Drop Necklaces

Materials

Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold

BOUCHERON Canary Diamond and White Heart Shaped Diamond Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
A superb ring by Boucheron Paris designed as bombe pave dome of canary diamonds centered by a
Category

1990s French More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

BOUCHERON Fabulous Diamond Ruby Sapphire Chandelier Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
These stunning and dramatic contemporary Boucheron chandelier earrings are composed of three
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Chandelier Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold

Boucheron Large Gold and Diamond Leaf Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in Greenwich, CT
Stylized openwork leaf brooch, set with circular-cut diamonds weighing approximately 2.75 total
Category

20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

BOUCHERON Canary Diamond and White Heart Shaped Diamond Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
A superb ring by Boucheron Paris designed as bombe pave dome of canary diamonds centered by a
Category

Late 20th Century French More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

White Gold Boucheron Cufflinks "Ava" Collection, Diamonds
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
An 18 Kt white gold pair of Boucheron cufflinks, "Ava" collection. Square-shaped motif centered
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Cufflinks

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Boucheron "Quatre Radiant" Sautoir, Set with Diamonds
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A 18Kt yellow gold Boucheron sautoir necklace, "Quatre Radiant" collection, made with five chains
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

BOUCHERON Rock Crystal, Onyx Diamond Twin Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Greenwich, CT
, accented by ten full-cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.54 total carats, mounted in 18k yellow gold
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Rock Crystal, 18k Gold

Boucheron, "Trouble" Collection Pendant, Diamonds and Emeralds
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A 18Kt white gold Boucheron pendant, "Trouble" collection, figuring a snake enhanced with 330
Category

2010s French Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Yellow Gold Boucheron Sapphires and Diamonds Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A yellow gold Boucheron ring centered with an about 2,80 carats Sri lanka mined non heated sapphire
Category

Vintage 1980s French Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Boucheron Bracelet Set with Rubies and Diamonds
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A 18K yellow gold Boucheron bracelet, figuring a geometrical pattern. The three central links are
Category

Vintage 1980s French Modern Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Boucheron Large Diamond Pave Gold Cuff Bracelet
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
Large yellow gold Boucheron bracelet partially set on the top with a pavé of brilliants. Weight
Category

1990s French Contemporary Cuff Bracelets

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron Ruby Diamond Pink Sapphire Chandelier Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in Greenwich, CT
These stunning and dramatic chandelier earrings are composed of three graduated diamond-shaped
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Rose Gold, 18k Gold

Boucheron Brooch "Eglantine" Collection, Enamel and Diamonds
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A Boucheron brooch, "Eglantine" collection, made in 18Kt gold and platinum. This brooch is designed
Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Boucheron Pendant, "Trouble" Collection, Diamonds and Emeralds
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
An 18Kt white gold Boucheron pendant, "Trouble" collection, figuring a snake enhanced with 330
Category

2010s French Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Boucheron Onyx Coral and Diamond Bangle Bracelet
By Boucheron
Located in Atlanta, GA
two terminals set with two carved coral beads, accented by 20 round diamonds 0.60 carat, the bracelet
Category

Vintage 1960s French Bangles

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold

Boucheron Brooch "Eglantine" Collection, Enamel and Diamonds
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A beautiful Boucheron brooch "Eglantine" collection made in 18Kt gold and platinum. This brooch is
Category

Vintage 1970s French Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum, Enamel

Boucheron Twist Necklace
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
Boucheron 18K white gold necklace with elegant twist design encrusted with 26.24 cts. diamonds
Category

Late 20th Century French More Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Gold Diamond Boucheron Feather Dip Pen
By Boucheron
Located in Dublin, IE
Offering a very unusual piece:antique feather dip pen come with a large Boucheron box. Assume it
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Desk Accessories

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Diamond and Emerald Ring by Boucheron Paris
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
Modern and simple pave diamond gold ring center set with an oval emerald. May be bought with either
Category

French More Rings

Materials

Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold

Boucheron gold ring with pave diamonds
By Boucheron
Located in Mt. Kisco, NY
18kt gold ring with pave diamond center cluster by Boucheron France. Size 7. This ring is of good
Category

Vintage 1950s French Dome Rings

Boucheron Belle Époque Diamond Bowknot Tassel Necklace
By Boucheron
Located in Greenwich, CT
Belle Époque diamond bowknot motif necklace, the delicate twist ribbon mount set with 128 rose and
Category

20th Century French Belle Époque Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Diamond and Ruby Ring by Boucheron Paris
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
Modern and simple pave diamond gold ring center set with an oval ruby. May be bought with either
Category

1990s French More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Diamond and Sapphire Ring by Boucheron Paris
By Boucheron
Located in Southampton, NY
Modern and simple pave diamond gold ring center set with an oval sapphire. May be bought with
Category

1990s French More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Boucheron Ava Diamond Ring Size 50
By Boucheron
Located in Dubai, Al Qouz 2
Adorn your finger with this immaculately designed Ava ring by Boucheron. The label is known for
Category

2010s French Contemporary Fashion Rings

Boucheron Enamel Diamond Gold Platinum "Eglantine" Flower Brooch
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A Boucheron brooch "Eglantine" collection made in yellow gold and platinum. This brooch is designed
Category

Vintage 1960s French Contemporary Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold, Enamel

Boucheron 4.47 Carat Diamonds Gold Be Bop Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, FR
18kt yellow gold ring (quality mark: eagle's head) entirely set with modern cut diamonds, which
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Boucheron Paris Diamond and Gold Watch Pendant
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
Absolutely Stunning and Rare Platinum, Diamond and 18k Gold Watch Pendant.
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold

Boucheron Small ​Diamond White Gold Ma Jolie Pendant
By Boucheron
Located in Greenwich, CT
Small “Ma Jolie” openwork diamond pendant, centering a pavé diamond dome surrounded by an outer row
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Boucheron Paris Retro Large Diamond Gold Brooch Pin
By Boucheron
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An 18k yellow gold brooch set with 3 carats of G/VS diamonds. Crafted by Boucheron, the brooch
Category

Mid-20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

BOUCHERON. A Yellow Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet.
By Boucheron
Located in London, GB
segments alternately set with brilliant-cut diamonds and calibré-cut sapphires, signed Boucheron Paris
Category

Vintage 1940s French Retro Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

1970 s Boucheron yellow gold set with diamonds.
By Boucheron
Located in Paris, IDF
A yellow gold Boucheron set of Jewels "Flowers" composed with a broach and a pair of earrings
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

BOUCHERON Ballerina 6 Carat F/VS1 Diamond Ring
By Boucheron
Located in Lakewood, NJ
A 6.00 carat Old European cut diamond in F color VS1 clarity in a magnificent Boucheron ballerina
Category

Vintage 1950s French Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

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Boucheron Diamond For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact boucheron diamond you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. If you’re looking for a boucheron diamond from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 18th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular piece, .5 Carat and 1 Carat are consistently popular carat weights. See these pages for a round cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also brilliant cut cut and baguette cut cut versions available here, too. Finding a boucheron diamond for sale for women should be easy, but there are 155 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a Boucheron Diamond?

On average, a boucheron diamond at 1stDibs sells for $9,480, while they’re typically $715 on the low end and $950,000 for the highest priced versions of this item.

Boucheron for sale on 1stDibs

As the oldest high-end jewelry boutique on the legendary Place Vendôme in Paris, dating to 1893, Boucheron stands for history, sensuality and avant-garde style. The French fine jewelry house has created iconic rings, necklaces and other adornments over its more than 160-year history for royalty like the Russian imperial family, the Maharaja of Patiala and Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. It has also received popular acclaim for its modern designs and playful motifs such as serpents and cats.

Since its founding in 1858 by Frédéric Boucheron with a boutique at the Palais Royal arcades, the maison has sought to create unforgettably unique pieces, push the boundaries of innovations in jewelry design and celebrate the opulence of gold. Many of its pieces are sculpted in gold by expert goldsmiths so that the material becomes a design element in its own right.

At its best, Edwardian jewelry was all about the exquisite diamond, platinum and pearl creations made by such famous names as Cartier and Boucheron. Later, Frédéric’s son Louis became especially interested in the Art Deco style as well as accessories like cigarette holders, bags and belts.

Boucheron is most famously known for its sources of inspiration: nature, animals and the earth. Its iconic Serpent Bohème collection, introduced in 1968, references the curves and scales of the animal with pear-shaped motifs and coiled accents adorned with diamonds and other precious stones like turquoiselapis lazuli and malachite. (A 1960s-era Boucheron brooch featuring a lavish mound of artfully assembled round and baguette diamonds set in platinum is a dinner-party conversation starter from any angle.)

Frédéric Boucheron gave a serpent necklace to his wife as a symbol of love and protection. Leopards, hummingbirds, deer and hedgehogs are referenced in the Animaux de Collection, while high-end 3D technology in the Nature Triomphante meticulously re-creates flower petals, ivy branches and other organic forms.

Boucheron also pays homage to Paris, the city where it was founded. The octagonal shape of the Place Vendôme is translated into the geometric Liseré pieces, and the Clou de Paris motif — which is integral to the house's Quatre series — is inspired by the cobblestones on its streets. Since 1859, when Boucheron introduced a collection of pocket watches, the maison has also regularly created timepieces with the same elegance and refinement as its jewelry.

Despite having such a long legacy, Boucheron has always been ahead of its time. Its creative collections and bold jewelry remain coveted and cherished. In 2018, its flagship in the Place Vendôme reopened after a restoration under its current owner Kering.

Find antique and vintage Boucheron jewelry on 1stDibs.

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.