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Retro Green Tourmaline Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
This tourmaline and diamond engagement ring boasts a fascinating green tone, glowing with an
Category

Vintage 1980s Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Tourmaline, Platinum

Vintage Effy 5.25 carat tanzanite diamond 14k white gold cocktail ring
By Effy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage Effy ring from the 1980’s showcases a 5.25-carat emerald cut tanzanite, its vivid
Category

Vintage 1980s Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Italian Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Gold Snake Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Vintage Italian Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Gold Snake Ring. Featuring one emerald cut ruby weighing
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage GIA 6.76 carat sapphire diamond 14k white gold cocktail ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage 1980’s ring features a striking 6.76 carat Ceylon sapphire with vivid violetish blue
Category

Vintage 1980s Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold

Peridot Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Dallas, TX
14K White Gold 6.07CT Peridot Ring with 2.30CTW Diamonds
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Peridot, White Gold

Vintage 6.17 Carat Yellow Sapphire Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Vintage 6.17 Carat Yellow Sapphire Diamond Platinum Ring. Featuring one 6.17 carat emerald cut
Category

Vintage 1980s Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Yellow Sapphire, Platinum

GIA Certified 3 Cts D IF Winston Vintage Diamond Ring, Elongated with 1.78 Ratio
By Harry Winston
Located in Hong Kong, HK
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE HD VIDEO! Here is a classic branded three-stone diamond engagement ring by
Category

Vintage 1980s Hong Kong Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

No Heat Natural Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Classic Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Miami, FL
Want to get Engaged? Modern not your Style? This Classic 3 stone design Engagement Ring boasts of
Category

Vintage 1980s American Bridal Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Vintage 1.97 Carat Basaltic Sapphire 4.54 Carat Diamond White Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive emerald cut sapphire and diamond ring is supplied with an IDGL diamond grading report card. NOTE
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 15k Gold, White Gold

Sabbadini Diamond Yellow Gold Ring, 3.23 Carat GIA
By Sabbadini
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
square emerald cut diamond set in 18 karat (tested) yellow gold and framed with thirty-four baguette cut
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

White Gold Diamond and Aquamarine Cocktail Ring
Located in Dallas, TX
Stunning White Gold Setting with Diamonds and a fabulous Aquamarine Ring. A mixture of baguettes
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, White Gold

Estate 9.16cts Blue Aquamarine Diamond PLatinum Gold Ring
Located in Miami, FL
This Vibrant and Stately Diamond aquamarine  The ring was inspired in a classic design and crafted
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, Platinum

One-of-a-kind Massive Diamond Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
ring is set with brilliant white diamonds (4.50 carats of G color, VS clarity) of varying shapes and
Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

1980s Enamel Gemstone Diamond Gold Flower Cluster Ring
Located in New York, NY
yellow gold and prong-set with sparkling diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. The H-I VS2-SI1 diamonds weigh
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian More Rings

Materials

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

Marie Therese Walker Convertible Eternity Ring 18Kt Gold 5.13 Ct Diamonds Gems
Located in Miami, FL
either the emeralds or the diamonds alone, in this way you will have 6 combinations in one ring. By other
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modernist Band Rings

Materials

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

8.0 carats total weight Emerald Cut Diamond Platinum Eternity Band
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1980s, platinum. This exquisite diamond eternity band features eight carats of superb emerald
Category

Vintage 1980s Bridal Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Platinum

GIA Certified 4 Carat Sapphire Diamond Estate Engagement Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
This emerald cut 4.15 carat blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring embodies the reason why we
Category

Vintage 1980s Retro Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

18 Karat Gold Blackberry Dome Ring
Located in Dallas, TX
This 18k gold ring is packed with 1.20cts of Diamonds and 3.5cts of color. The ring, designed to
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold

Akoya Pearl and Diamond Bypass Platinum Ring
Located in Miami, FL
Intriguing pearl and diamond bypass ring crafted in platinum showcasing two 8.5mm Akoya pearls
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Modern More Rings

Materials

Pearl, Platinum

Marina B Aquamarine Peridot Diamond Yellow Gold Ring, 1980s
By Marina B
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Bold and chic cocktail ring created by Marina B in Italy in the 1980's. It definitely makes a
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat White Gold Aquamarine and Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Bishop s Stortford, Hertfordshire
This Ring features a square emerald cut Aquamarine with round brilliant cut Diamonds, made in 18k
Category

Vintage 1980s British Cocktail Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

14 Carat Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, IT
Yellow gold 14 carat and silver 925 carat mounted with diamonds,sapphires,emeralds,rubies and agate
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Agate, Carnelian, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise

Three-Stone Sapphire Trilliant Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Miami, FL
This sophisticated estate three stone sapphire and diamond ring is crafted in solid platinum
Category

Vintage 1980s Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Colorful Gemstone Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
emerald, blue sapphire to purple amethyst, pink tourmaline and white diamonds. Hand crafted in 18k gold
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Peridot, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold

Swiss Modern 8.0ct Aquamarine and Diamond Ring by Killer
Located in Litchfield, CT
vivid blue aquamarine accented by .25 carats of fine white diamonds (H color, SI1 clarity), this
Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Modernist Fashion Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Joan Boyce 18k Gold Precious Stone Cocktail Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Fifth Ave, this cocktail ring is crafted from 18k gold and features a thick band with an emerald cut
Category

Vintage 1980s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Iolite, 18k Gold

GIA Certified 20 Carat Natural Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Ring in Platinum
Located in Hicksville, NY
Circa: 1980 Metal Type: Platinum Weight: 15.4g Size: US 8.5, resizable Diamond Details: Carat
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Van Cleef Arpels Four Gemset and Gold Stacking Rings
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Four 18 carat gold stacking rings, each respectively set with five diamonds, rubies, emeralds and
Category

Vintage 1980s French Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

2.92 Carat Aquamarine and Diamond 18 Carat White Gold Engagement Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
This gorgeous engagement ring features a 2,92ct square emerald cut Aquamarine mounted in a four
Category

Vintage 1980s English Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Multi-Color Precious Stone and Diamond Cluster Dome Ring
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous dome of multi-color precious stone set in a gold ring. The colored stones are Sapphires
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Art Deco Dome Rings

Materials

Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Snake Ring by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany Co.
By Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
An 18 karat white and yellow three-coil gold snake ring with diamonds and emeralds by Jean
Category

Vintage 1980s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels 3.57 Carat Diamond Sapphire 18 Karat Gold French Unisex Ring
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an emerald cut sapphire and diamond, flush set side-by-side Flanked by channel set
Category

Vintage 1980s French Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

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

David Webb Sapphire Ring
By David Webb
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Elevate your evening look with this stunning David Webb Cocktail ring! This cocktail ring features
Category

Vintage 1980s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Vintage 0.95 Carat Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Three Stone Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an emerald cut sapphire weighing approximately 0.70 carat Basket set with split prongs
Category

Vintage 1980s Contemporary Three-Stone Rings

Materials

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

Vintage 9 Carat Gold Dearest Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This regard ring holds a Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Tourmaline which
Category

Vintage 1980s British Victorian More Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Gold

Art Deco Style Filigree Ring with Round Cut
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very nice Art deco style filigree ring with round cut diamond in approximately 0.09 ct
Category

Vintage 1980s American Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold

Vintage David Webb Ring 18k Gold Gemstone Estate Jewelry
By David Webb
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
important gemstones - diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire. The ring has wrap-around stylized snake
Category

Vintage 1980s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

18 Karat Yellow Gold Citrine and Diamod Cocktail Ring by Paul Binder, 1980s
By Paul Binder
Located in Zurich, CH
-colored citrine of circa 22 carats flanked by two diamond baguettes. The ring shoulders are decorated with
Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Modernist Cocktail Rings

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Gold 4.07 Carat Natural Emerald and Diamond Pendant, Earring Cocktail Ring Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A magnificent yellow gold natural emerald and diamond set. Included are the following (all grading
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold

Aquamarine Diamonds Ring, 1980
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Aquamarine Diamonds Ring. An essence of elegance, beautifully light blue colored Aquamarine
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Band Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond

Tutti Frutti Cocktail Ring Emeralds Sapphires Rubies Diamonds 5.5 Carat, 1980
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
The Tutti Frutti Cocktail Ring. A delicious combination of fine carved Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire and
Category

Vintage 1980s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire

Van Cleef Arpels Colombian Emerald and Diamond Ring, American, circa 1980
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in London, GB
Van Cleef & Arpels Colombian emerald and diamond ring. Centrally set with one rectangular emerald
Category

Vintage 1980s American Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Vintage 1980 s 7.35ct Emerald Cut Amethyst Ring with Diamonds
Located in Boston, MA
Vintage 1980's 7.35ct Emerald cut Amethyst Ring with Diamonds - the amethyst weighs approximately
Category

Vintage 1980s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond

Emerald Cut Colombian Emerald Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Emerald cut Colombian emerald baguette diamond platinum ring circa 1980. Love it because it caught
Category

Vintage 1980s Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Emerald Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
origin. Accented on either side by lively trapezoidal cut diamonds. Hand crafted in a platinum ring
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Gold, Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18 carat gold ring with a large emerald cut Colombian emerald (8.5 carats) around which are 48
Category

Vintage 1980s Dutch Solitaire Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Colombian Cabochon Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
Chic 1980s 18 Karat yellow gold diamond ring, centrally set with one forest green cabochon emerald
Category

Vintage 1980s Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Coral Emerald Diamond Rose Gold Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
enriched with 1.95 ct emeralds and 0.62 ct diamonds. Total weight g 14.10 Emeralds ct 1.95 Coral g 2
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold

Emerald and Diamond Dress Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
the central step-cut emerald set to each side with a row of baguette-cut diamonds Size 7 Weight
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Modernist Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Oval Colombian Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oval Colombian Emerald Diamond Gold Ring This oval ring is set with an oval Colombian Emerald
Category

Vintage 1980s Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Italian Emerald Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami, FL
, vis-a-vis juxtaposed scrolls, this exquisite translucent emerald ring is resplendent in 10 square-cut
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

JAR Diamond, Emerald, Ruby Ring
By JAR
Located in New York, NY
Diamond, Emerald, & Ruby Ring by JAR An 18 karat yellow gold ring set with a central round cut
Category

Vintage 1980s French Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

4.58 Zambian Emerald Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami, FL
This ring features a genuine, 4.58 carats Zambian Emerald and crafted in Luxurious Platinum. The
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Vintage Emerald 18 Karat White Gold Ring with Diamonds Cabochon Emerald Ring
Located in Brooklyn, NY
VINTAGE (very good condition) EMERALD & DIAMOND RING 18K WHITE GOLD 5.5 GRAMS SQUARE DESIGN
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Emerald Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Berkeley, CA
This is a simply stunning emerald cabachon (1.10 ct) ring with two accent diamonds (0.030ct each
Category

Vintage 1980s American Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Vintage Emerald and Diamond Platinum Solitaire Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The Emerald in this ring measures approx 70pts and is a great colour. The total diamond weight of
Category

Vintage 1980s British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

Diamonds Emeralds Onyx Rose Gold Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
plate of 3.00 g, enriched with 0.70 ct diamonds, and a beautiful central emerald with an octagonal cut
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 14k Gold

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Diamond Emerald Ring 1980 For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate diamond emerald ring 1980 for your needs in our varied inventory. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. If you’re looking for a diamond emerald ring 1980 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. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic diamond emerald ring 1980 over the years, but those made by Van Cleef Arpels, Cartier and Tiffany Co. are often thought to be among the most beautiful. An emerald cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also round cut and mixed cut versions for sale. Finding a diamond emerald ring 1980 for sale for women should be easy, but there are 180 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a Diamond Emerald Ring 1980?

Prices for a diamond emerald ring 1980 can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $245 and can go as high as $1,050,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $5,301.

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.