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Antique Old Mine-Cut Diamond and Ruby Navette Shaped Ring in Silver-Topped Gold
Located in New York, NY
An antique late Victorian period diamond and ruby ring of navette-shaped design, comprising old
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian diamond ruby emerald sapphire 18k yellow gold silver Navette ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This Victorian 18k yellow gold and silver ring shimmers with rose cut diamonds, rubies, emeralds
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

18 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Ring 0.50 Navette Rubies and 0.45ct White Diamonds
Located in Bergamo, BG
Ring made of 18kt yellow gold with navette-cut rubies for ct.0.50 and natural white brilliant-cut
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

A Continental Pearl, Diamond And Synthetic Ruby Navette Ring
Located in London, GB
A Continental Turn-of-the-last-century pearl, diamond and ruby navette ring, to the centre a round
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Belle Epoque Pearl, Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in London, GB
A Belle Epoque pearl, ruby and diamond navette-shaped ring, the old cushion-cut diamond estimated
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Navette Ruby and Diamond Ring, Ruby Marquise Ring, Engagement Ruby Ring
Located in Rottedam, NL
A beautiful navette Art Deco diamond ring! Set with natural diamonds and calibrated rubies this
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Ruby and Diamond Navette Ring, Ruby Marquise Ring, Engagement Ruby Ring
Located in Rottedam, NL
A beautiful navette Art Deco diamond ring! Set with natural diamonds and calibrated rubies this
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold

Victorian Ruby and Old Cut Diamond Navette Cluster Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
diamond navette ring is a Victorian classic; set with fourteen old mine cut diamond and centred with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Ruby and Diamond Navette Ring
Located in London, GB
Antique Victorian Ruby and Diamond Navette Ring. Ruby is approx 0.7cts and approx 1.1cts of old cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British High Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

18k Gold

French Gold Navette Ring with Ruby and Diamonds, circa 1980
Located in Paris, FR
Yellow gold navette ring (quality mark: eagle's head) with a central ruby, weight estimated around
Category

Vintage 1980s French Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Marina B Bulgari Diamond and Ruby Ring Bandeau 2 Navettes
By Marina B
Located in London, GB
, centred by an oval cabochon ruby and two marquise diamonds Signed Marina B, maker's mark, French hallmarks
Category

Vintage 1980s French Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

18 Carat Gold Antique Ruby and Diamond Navette Marquise Ring
Located in Perth, AU
18ct gold ruby (0.50ct) and diamond (2.20ct) ladies dress ring. Old mine cut diamonds. Measures 1cm
Category

Antique 1870s British Belle Époque Engagement Rings

18 Carat Gold Antique Ruby and Diamond Navette Marquise Ring
Located in Perth, AU
18ct gold ruby (0.50ct) and diamond (2.20ct) ladies dress ring. Old mine cut diamonds. Measures 1cm
Category

Antique 1870s British Belle Époque Engagement Rings

Edwardian White Gold Diamond and Ruby Navette Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
For sale is an original Edwardian 14k white gold diamond & ruby navette ring. 1 single cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold

Ruby Diamond Gold Navette Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This everyday navette style cocktail ring features two side-by-side flower clusters. The two
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Diamond Ruby Gold Navette Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
relevant today. Featuring numerous near colorless diamonds set between lovely pinkish-red rubies. Crafted
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Art Deco Ruby and Diamond Navette Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have a striking navette ring taken from the early stages of the 20th century. This antique
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Sapphire Diamond Ruby Gold Navette Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
rubies, blue sapphires and white diamonds aligned perfectly in 18k yellow gold. Ring size 5-1/4 and can
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Vintage Ruby and Diamond Navette Style Leaf Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a vintage 18ct yellow gold ruby and diamond navette ring. The centre of the ring is
Category

20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

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

10 Karat Yellow Gold, Ruby and Diamond Navette Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
A 10 karat yellow gold, ruby and diamond navette ring. This ring features a prong set, round cut
Category

Vintage 1980s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

1.15ctw Ruby Diamond Navette Ring, 14k White Gold, Ring Marquise
Located in McLeansville, NC
This beautiful ruby and diamond navette ring is the perfect way to add a hint of color to your
Category

Early 2000s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold

Ruby Diamond Navette Ring, 14K Yellow Gold, Ring Size 6.5, Diamond Statement
Located in McLeansville, NC
This vintage-inspired 0.40ctw Ruby Diamond Navette Ring is a true gem. Made with 14K yellow gold
Category

Early 2000s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

GIA Certified Antique French Victorian Ruby Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
features a navette (little boat in French) boasting a line of 5 rich, red rubies amounting to 1.15 carats
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

0.74ctw Ruby Diamond Navette Ring, 14k Yellow Gold, Ring Size 6.25
Located in McLeansville, NC
clarity rubies, 8 stones round 2.5 mm approximately .70 total carats Ring Size 6.25 Rise Off Of Finger
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian GIA ruby diamond 18k yellow gold navette ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This Edwardian 18k gold ring features a marquise ruby with rose and brilliant cut diamonds in an
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Yellow Gold, Diamond, Ruby Navette Style Cocktail Ring
Located in Addison, TX
diamonds that are set in a vibrant yellow gold. Set in the middle of two tapered shanks this Navette shape
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

14 Karat Victorian Ruby and Euro Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
14K Victorian Ruby & Euro Diamond Navette Ring Era: Victorian Composition: 14K Yellow Gold
Category

Antique 1830s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Ruby, 14k Gold

Antique Victorian 10K Rose Gold Diamond and Ruby Navette Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 10K Rose Gold Diamond and Ruby Navette Ring. This pretty dainty ring
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Rose Gold

Vintage 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Ruby Navette-Style Ring
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage 18K Yellow Gold Diamond & Ruby Navette-Style Ring This exquisite vintage navette-style
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Ruby and Diamond Navette Ring, 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in NEWARK, GB
An impeccable antique, late Victorian era Ruby and Diamond navette ring. This stunner features a
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

0.38ctw Ruby Diamond Navette Statement Ring, 14KT Bi Color Gold
Located in McLeansville, NC
A vintage 14 karat bi color gold ruby and diamond navette statement ring. This long dinner ring
Category

Vintage 1970s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 18ct Rose Gold Ruby Diamond Marquise Navette Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
& Diamond Marquise/Navette Shaped Ring. Set with Cushion Cut Natural Rubies & Centre Marquise Shaped
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Original Art Deco 18ct Gold Ruby Diamond Navette / Marquise Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Shaped Ring, Set with Calibrated Natural Rubies & Old Cut Diamonds Reeded Rose Gold Band Good Finger
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Edwardian Burma Ruby Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Antique Cluster Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a cushion cut ruby weighing approximately 1.16 carats - transparent medium purplish red
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Ruby Diamond Ring 18K Gold Cluster Navette Design - 1886
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer this superb Victorian 18ct gold ruby and diamond navette ring made in
Category

Antique 19th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Mid Century Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Navette Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Mid Century Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Navette Ring. One round brilliant ruby weighing
Category

Vintage 1950s American Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian GIA Burma Ruby Diamond Cluster 18 Karat Gold Navette Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Burma Ruby Damond Cluster Navette Ring. The ring features a GIA certified marquise cut ruby
Category

Vintage 1910s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian 0.55 Carat Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Navette Cluster Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering three cushion cut rubies bead set North to South in a navette shaped surround. Weighing
Category

Antique 1840s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian French 18k Gold Diamond and Ruby Cluster Ring Navette Marquise
Located in London, GB
A truly stunning French Victorian era ring dating to around 1895. This navette-shaped cluster is
Category

Antique 1890s French Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian 14 Karat Gold Synthetic Ruby and Diamond Navette Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
A victorian 14 karat yellow gold, synthetic ruby and diamond navette ring. A lozenge shape centered
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Other, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 1.20 CTW Ruby Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Antique Navette Cluster Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Prong set with a navette-shaped surround prong set with rose cut diamonds Clustered and weighing
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Old Mine Diamond and Ruby Navette Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Old Mine Diamond and Ruby Navette Ring. This incredible
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Victorian 0.62 CTW Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering three cushion cut rubies bead set north to south in a navette form Weighing approximately
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Victorian 3.74 CTW Diamond Ruby Silver 18 Karat Gold Checkerboard Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
diamonds Rubies are emerald cut and weigh approximately 2.88 carats total - transparent medium red in
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver

2.70 Carat Diamonds 4.66 Navette Rubies Emeralds Sapphires Rose Gold Silver Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
gold and silver and embellished with 4.66 ct of beautiful navette shape blue sapphires, rubies and
Category

Vintage 1950s Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Ruby Diamond 18K Gold Navette Cluster Ring, C.1880
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer this superb Victorian 18K gold ring with an intricate navette design
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Edwardian 1900 Navette 18kt Yellow Gold Ring with Rose Cuts Diamonds and Ruby
Located in Aventura, FL
 and the ring’s rich history. The combination of the ruby and the diamonds creates a beautiful contrast
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

French Old Mine Diamond Ruby Enamel 18 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Navette Ring
Located in Boca Raton, FL
diamonds are graded H-I color and SI clarity. Four ruby accents and black enamel complete the navette ring
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Victorian 3.65 CTW Burmese Ruby Old Mine Cut Diamond Navette Ring in 18K Gold
Located in Boston, MA
A victorian period No Heat Burmese ruby and old mine cut diamond navette form ring. Centered by
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian 3.10 CTW Ruby Emerald Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Rose Gold Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a navette shaped form centering a pear cut ruby, old mine cut diamond, and pear cut
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique Victorian French 18 Karat Gold Platinum Rose Cut and Ruby Navette Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
A gorgeous Antique Victorian French 18K Yellow Gold Platinum Rose Cut and Ruby Navette Ring that
Category

Antique 1890s French Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum

c. 1910 Navette Shaped Gemstone Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
. The yellow gold "snakes" are set with graduated rubies and emeralds, surrounded by rose cut diamonds
Category

20th Century Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold

Circa 1900 s Victorian Two Tone 18K Vintage Navette Shape Open Work Shield Ring
Located in Addison, TX
shanks hold the elongated Navette shape, surrounding the design are rose cut diamonds set in white gold
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Antique Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold, Rose Cut Diamond and Ruby Navette Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Antique Victorian 14K Yellow Gold, Rose Cut Diamond & Ruby Navette Ring #R0043 Metal: 14K Yellow
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Victorian Ruby Diamond and Rose Gold Navette Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
marquise shaped antique style is commonly referred to as a Navette ring. Navette loosely translates to
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

18K Gold Natural Diamond And Natural Ruby Navette Ring
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
rose cut diamond 0.70 ct. The diamond is has H-I color and vs-s1 clarity. Totally is ruby 0.85 ct. Ring
Category

2010s Asian Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Ruby Diamond Navette Ring, 14K Yellow Gold, Ring Size 6.5, Diamond Statement
Located in McLeansville, NC
Stones: - ruby, 1 stone - round cut - 3.5 mm - approximately .25 carat - diamonds, 2 stones
Category

Antique Early 1900s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Diamond Ruby Navette Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate diamond ruby navette ring for your needs in our varied inventory. Frequently made of Gold, Yellow Gold and 18k Gold, this item was constructed with great care. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. You’re likely to find the perfect diamond ruby navette ring among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 19th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Finding an appealing diamond ruby navette ring — no matter the origin — is easy, but Marina B each produced a popular version that is worth a look. Today, if you’re looking for an old mine cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes round cut and rose cut alternatives. If you’re browsing our inventory for a diamond ruby navette ring, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a Diamond Ruby Navette Ring?

The price for a diamond ruby navette ring starts at $245 and tops out at $24,500 with these rings, on average, selling for $2,290.

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.