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ART DECO Necklace and pendant with rose cut diamonds up to 0.20 ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold necklace with a pendant set with rose cut diamonds 0.20ct – G/H – SI – 50 cm long
Category

Vintage 1910s Dutch Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Ring with sapphire up to 3.60ct and diamonds up to 3.60ct 14k gold 17.3 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
brilliant-cut diamond of up to 3.60 ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size US 6.5 - EU 17(53) Detailed description
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Necklace and pendant with rose cut diamond up to 0.30ct 18k gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold necklace and pendant of gold and silver set with rose cut diamonds totaling
Category

Antique 1880s Dutch High Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Ring alliance white gold 18k 10 natural diamonds, princes cut, 1.5 carat VS1-VS2
Located in Heemstede, NL
brilliant princess cut diamonds. A perfect blend of elegance and timeless style — designed to elevate your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Necklace and pendant with opal and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
brilliant cut diamonds up to. 1.50ct - G/H - VS/SI - 45 cm long detailed description: necklace is 45 cm
Category

1990s Dutch Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.33ct 18k white gold 2.8 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
Kissing Diamonds - 18k white gold ring set with brilliant cut diamond up to 0.33ct - F - VS - ring
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

RETRO ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.50ct 14k three-tone gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
RETRO 14k three-tone gold ring set with brilliant cut diamond 0.50 ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size US
Category

Vintage 1950s Dutch Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold

Ring with sapphire and single cut diamonds up to 0.25ct 18k bicolour gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolor gold ring set with sapphire and single cut diamond. 0.25ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

Early Victorian brooch with pearls and rose cut diamonds up to 0.05ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold brooch set with pearls and rose diamonds up to 0.05ct - G/H - SI detailed
Category

Antique 1880s Dutch Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold

Necklace and pendant with garnet and rose cut diamonds up to 0.20ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k gold necklace with pendant with garnet and rose cut diamond 0.20ct - H/I - SI - 50 cm Detailed
Category

Antique 1880s Dutch Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold

Victorian brooch with old mine and rose cut diamonds 18k gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
Victorian 18k rose gold and silver brooch with old mine cut and rose cut diamonds up to 0.60ct - G
Category

Antique 1880s Dutch Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Necklace with rose cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 6.8 grams 14k gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k red gold necklace with a gold and silver centerpiece set with a rose-cut diamond, totaling
Category

Antique 1880s Dutch Early Victorian Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

RETRO Brooch set with ruby and rose cut diamonds 14k pink gold 9.5 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k pink gold brooch set with rubies and rose cut diamonds. 0.03ct – F/G – VS/SI Detailed
Category

Vintage 1950s Dutch Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold

Earrings with sapphire and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct 14k white gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold earrings set with sapphire up to 4.00ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.50ct - F
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.43ct 18k white gold 3.9 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring with a central brilliant cut diamond up to 0.31ct – F/G – SI2 – and on the
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Neclace with single and brilliant cut diamonds up to1.75ct 18k gold and platinum
Located in The Hague, ZH
Platinum necklace with 18k white gold center piece set with brilliant and single cut diamonds up to
Category

Vintage 1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

RETRO ring with old mine cut diamonds up to 2.00ct 18k bicolour gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k rose gold ring with old mine cut diamonds set in white gold up to 2.00ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring
Category

Vintage 1950s Dutch Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

18K Gold Band Ring with Blue Diamonds
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A 14 carat white gold ring with 12 princess cut light blue colour treated diamonds (0.72 carat in
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Modern Band Rings

Materials

Blue Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.90ct 18k yellow gold 9.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k yellow gold ring set with brilliant cut diamond 0.90 ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 7 - EU
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Diamond and Yellow and Rose Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive antique Dutch 0.42 carat diamond and 14 karat rose and yellow gold, silver set bow
Category

Vintage 1920s Dutch Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

ART NOUVEAU Ring with old mine and rose cut diamonds up to 1.10ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold ring with old mine and rose-cut diamonds up to 1.10ct – G/H - SI - ring size US 4.5
Category

Vintage 1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Ring with Tahiti pearl and brilliant cut diamond up to 2.00ct 15.1 gram 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring set with a Tahitian pearl and a brilliant-cut diamond up to 2.00 ct - F/G - VS
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

RIng with oval cut diamond up to 0.50ct and emerald 18k gold 5.5 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring set with a central oval-cut diamond up to 0.50 ct – F/G – Pique 1 and emerald
Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Clusterring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.64ct 18k white gold 4. grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold entourage ring set with brilliant cut diamond 0.64 ct F/G-VS/SI- ring size US 5.25
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

ART NOUVEAU ring with old European and single cut diamonds up to 1.25ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring with an old European and single-cut diamond up to 1.25 ct – K/L, F/G – VS/SI
Category

Vintage 1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

18 Karat Gold Clip-on Earrings with Five Brilliant Cut Diamonds
Located in Arnhem, NL
A pair of 18 karat gold clip -on earrings, each set with five brilliant cut diamonds. The earrings
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Retro Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Ring with sapphire and brilliant cut diamond up to 0.45ct 14k gold 4.8 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold ring set with sapphire and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.45ct - F - US - ring size
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Band Ring 18k Yellow Gold with Square Facetted Rubies Diamonds ca 0.48 carat
Located in Heemstede, NL
A rare find that blends elegance and effortless charm — this vintage ruby and diamond band ring is
Category

Vintage 1980s Dutch Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ring with ruby and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.21ct 14k bicolour gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k bicolour gold ring set with ruby ​​and brilliant cut diamond 0.21 ct F/G VS/SI - ring size US
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold

ART DECO cufflinks with old mine and rose cut diamonds up to 0.45ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolor gold cufflinks set with old mine-cut and rose-cut diamonds up to 0.45 ct – G/H – SI
Category

Vintage 1910s Dutch Art Deco Cufflinks

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1950s Yellow Gold Cabochon Cut Frog Brooch with Emerald Ruby Garnet and Diamond
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive 0.22 carat diamond. 5.95 carat garnet, 0.10 carat ruby and emerald, and 14
Category

Vintage 1950s Dutch Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ring with baguette and brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.00ct 18k gold and platinum
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k tricolour platinum and gold ring set with baguette and brilliant cut diamond up to 1.00ct - F/G
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Ring with pearl and single cut diamonds up to 0.25ct 14k gold 5.6 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold entourage ring set with a central pearl and an entourage of single-cut diamonds up
Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold

VICTORIAN Brooch with pearl and rose cut diamonds 0.40ct 14k gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold and silver brooch set with pearls and rose diamonds. 0.40ct. - G/H - SI detailed
Category

Antique 1880s Dutch Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver

Necklace and pendant with pearl and old mine cut diamonds up to 0.70ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold necklace with pendant set with pearl and old mine cut diamond total approximately
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold

Necklace with pearl and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.50ct 14k white gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
not been investigated for this specific object.' - 12 x 1.7 mm - 2.7 mm brilliant cut diamond
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamond up to 0.75ct 14k yellow gold 10.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold ring with brilliant cut diamond up to 0.75ct – O/P - VS/SI - ring size US 9.25 – EU
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.20ct 6.6 grams 14k yellow gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k yellow gold ring set with brilliant cut diamond 0.20ct - G/H - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 6.5 - EU
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.25ct - 5.7 grams - 14k white gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold ring set with brilliant cut diamonds. 0.25ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size U.S. 7.25
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Antique Silver and 14 Karat Gold Floral Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Rotterdam, NL
flower, featuring an openwork silver structure adorned with a cluster of sparkling diamonds. Each diamond
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver

ART NOUVEAU brooch with pearl and diamonds up to 0.35ct 18k gold 7.3 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
ART NOUVEAU 18k yellow gold and platinum brooch with pearls and old European cut and rose diamond
Category

Vintage 1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Necklace and pendant with perl and old mine cut diamonds 18k gold and platinum
Located in The Hague, ZH
diamond up to 0.80 ct - F/G - SI/P - 40 cm long Detailed description The necklace is 40 cm long and 1.3
Category

Vintage 1920s Dutch Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Cocktail Ring with pearl and diamonds up to 1.50ct 14k white gold 10.5 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold ring set with a pearl and black brilliant cut and white single cut diamonds. 1.50ct
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold

ART NOUVEAU Solitaire ring with old mine cut diamond up to 0.50ct 14k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold solitaire ring set with an old mine-cut diamond up to 0.50 ct - G/H - P1 - ring size
Category

Vintage 1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Ring with triangle and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.22ct 18k gold and platinum
Located in The Hague, ZH
Gold with Platinum ring set with triangle shape and brilliant cut diamond up to 0.22ct - F/G - VS
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Brooch with old mine cut diamonds up to 6.00ct 14k gold and silver
Located in The Hague, ZH
Victorian 14k gold and silver brooch set with old mine-cut diamonds up to 6.00 ct - G/H – VS/SI
Category

Antique 1880s Dutch Early Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Ring with sapphire and old mine cut diamond up to 0.30ct 14k gold 5.6 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k bicolor gold ring set with a sapphire and an old mine-cut diamond, 0.30 ct - F/G - SI - ring
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Ring with topaz and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.40ct 18k gold 4.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring set with topaz and brilliant-cut diamonds up to 0.40 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring
Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Topaz, 18k Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.30ct 18k bicolour gold 3.6 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolour gold ring set with brilliant cut diamond up to 0.30ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US
Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

JASANI - Ring set with brilliant cut diamond up to 1.34ct 18k white gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
JASANI - 18k white gold ring set with fancy braun-colored brilliant-cut diamonds up to 1.34ct
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 1.00 ct 14k white gold 4.4 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k white gold ring set with brilliant cut diamond up to 1.00ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7.75
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Ring with ruby and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.05ct 14k gold 5.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k bicolor gold ring set with ruby ​​and brilliant-cut diamond up to 0.05 ct - F/G - VS - ring
Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Ring with agate and single cut diamonds up to 0.05ct 14k gold 8.5 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
14k bicolour gold ring set with pink agate and single cut diamond 0.05 ct F/G -VS/SI - ring size US
Category

Vintage 1950s Dutch Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Agate, Diamond, 14k Gold

Ring with turquoise and single cut diamonds up to 0.05ct 18k gold 13.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolor gold ring set with turquoise and single-cut diamonds up to 0.05 ct - F-G - VS/SI - ring
Category

1990s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold

Ring with emerald, sapphire, ruby and brilliant cut diamond 18k gold 12.0 grams
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k bicolour gold ring with emerald, sapphire, ruby ​​and brilliant cut diamond up to 0.15 ct - F/G
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Ring with brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.95ct - 11.1 gram - 18k white gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
18k white gold ring with brilliant cut diamond. 0.95ct – F/G – VS/SI – ring size U.S. 7.25 – EU
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Ring wioth ruby up to 0.90ct and brilliant cut diamonds up to 0.24ct 18k gold
Located in The Hague, ZH
-cut diamond up to 0.24 ct - F/G - VS/SI - ring size US 7.25 - EU 17.5 (55) Detailed description The
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

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Diamond Netherlands For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of diamond netherlands. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from gold, 18k gold and yellow gold — can elevate any look. Our selection of items includes 274 vintage examples as well as 400 contemporary versions. Our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and pieces in stock date back to the 18th Century while others were produced as recently as the 21st Century. Pieces in our collection of diamond netherlands made by contemporary jewelers — as well as those associated with modern — are very popular. Versions of these items have been a part of the life’s work for many jewelers, but those produced by Bibi van der Velden, Tears Undressed and Bonebakker are consistently popular. Browse our collection of 546 diamond versions today to add the perfect touch to your look. A selection of round cut, brilliant cut and rose cut can be found today on these pages. There aren’t many items for men in our collection of diamond netherlands, as most of the options available are for women.

How Much are Diamond Netherlands?

On average, diamond netherlands at 1stDibs sell for $3,810, while they’re typically $55 on the low end and $296,409 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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.