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14K Gold, 3.50 Carat Diamond Ruby Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami, FL
: $12,000. Extremely gorgeous Diamond and Ruby Cocktail Ring.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Ruby and 2.13 Carat Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
set Old European cut diamond, integrating with the main setting and blending with the ribbed ring
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Certified 2.00 Carat Natural Burma Ruby Diamond Ring
Located in Miami, FL
This is a ring made of 14K yellow gold. In the middle, there's a 2.00 carat Burma ruby, which is a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Antique Art Nouveau Ruby Diamond 14K Gold Ring
Located in Munich, Bavaria
decorated with an oval ruby surrounded by eight diamonds. Four leaves enclose two smaller rubies. The
Category

Antique 1890s European Belle Époque Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold

Diamond and Ruby Engagement Ring in Platinum
By MOGULDIAM INC
Located in New York, NY
Gorgeous White European Cut Diamond And Ruby Ring hand crafted in platinum. Diamond weight : 0.85
Category

2010s American Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Antique 1910s Ruby Diamond Yellow Gold Twist Engagement Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
ring; part of our diverse antique jewelry collections. This fine and impressive ruby and diamond twist
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ruby Diamonds 18 Karat Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, IT
gem, small diamonds offer a subtle glitter, enhancing the ruby's natural beauty without overwhelming
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Edwardian Diamond and Ruby Cluster Ring, circa 1910
Located in London, GB
This wonderfully hand made Edwardian ring features three rub over set diamonds surrounded by a halo
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 1.00ct Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring, hallmarked 1900
Located in London, GB
This Victorian cluster ring features hallmarks dating to 1900. At its’s centre sits an old cut ruby
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Rose Cut Diamond Ruby Halo Engagement Ring
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco Rose Cut Diamond Ruby Halo Engagement Ring A striking blend of elegance and bold design
Category

20th Century Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian 1900s 18k Gold Natural Diamond And Cabochon Cut Ruby Ring
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
color and s1 clarity. Totally is ruby 0.19 ct. Ring size is US 6.75 We can make any size. The box is
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian 0.80ct Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
A deep red ruby takes centre stage in this Victorian cluster ring. The old cut ruby is 0.80 carat
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 15k Gold, Silver

Burmese ruby and diamond flank solitaire ring, circa 1950.
Located in London, GB
Burmese ruby and diamond flank solitaire ring. Set to centre with an oval old cut natural
Category

Vintage 1950s Retro Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Georgian Double Heart Diamond Burmese Ruby 18 KT Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
include diamonds for endurance, rubies for passion or love, and sapphires for fidelity Love and Passion
Category

Antique 1820s European Georgian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Sapphire Ruby and Diamond 18 Karat Gold Ring
By Claris-A
Located in Monte Carlo, MC
of high-quality diamonds in a pavé setting, the ring sparkles with every movement. Meticulously
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Dome Rings

Materials

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

Evil Eye Burma Ruby Diamond Ring 18K Gold
Located in Miami, FL
This ring is made of shiny 18-karat yellow gold. It has a beautiful 2-carat oval-shaped ruby from
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Medieval Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Edwardian diamond ruby 18k yellow gold 5 stone ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This elegant Edwardian five-stone ring features three sparkling old European cut diamonds and two
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Edwardian Diamond and Faux Ruby Ring
Located in Riverdale, NY
Edwardian Diamond and Faux Ruby Ring circa 1900. A diamond shaped motif is set with knife edge
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

1.70 Carat Old Euro Diamond and Ruby 18K Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
Discover refined elegance with our exquisite Ruby and Diamond Ring. This captivating piece
Category

20th Century Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Turquoise Diamond Ruby 18K Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami, FL
smaller diamonds on the sides, totaling 1.00 carat, with VS clarity and G color. Round-cut rubies are also
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Platinum Ring with 3 ct. Vivid Red Ruby 3.26 ct. Diamonds
Located in Antwerp, BE
Magnificent Platinum Ring with Vivid Red Ruby &3.26 ct. Diamonds. Ruby looks lik 4.5 to 5 Ct
Category

20th Century European Artisan Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Vintage 1920s Platinum Stamped, Diamond Ruby Buckle Style Cocktail Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
-style cocktail ring is adorned with natural Baguette-cut, Emerald cut, Old European cut and Square-cut
Category

Early 20th Century European Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

1950s Diamond and Ruby 15K Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
ring; part of our diverse antique jewelry collections. This fine and impressive ruby and diamond ring
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Ruby, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 15k Gold

Antique Art Deco 1930s 1.50 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in New York, NY
color, VS clarity, accented by Old European cut Diamonds and French cut Rubies. Circa 1930s Size 6 1/4
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Art Deco style 1.95 carat diamond ruby platinum target ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This modern Art Deco-inspired platinum ring features a 1.95 carat transitional cut diamond framed
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Old European Cut Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Old European Cut Diamond Flower Engagement Ring. This
Category

Antique 18th Century Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18KT and Platinum Edwardian Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in Lynchburg, VA
This ring is a part of our estate collection. It was purchased from a jeweler in Chartes, France
Category

Early 20th Century European Edwardian Fashion Rings

Materials

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

Three Stone Diamond and Natural Ruby Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
This is s rare Three Stone Diamond and Ruby Ring .with 80 Carat Old Mine cut diamond flanked by 2
Category

Vintage 1940s Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Art Deco Ruby and Diamond Plaque Ring
Located in London, GB
vertically in the centre. Surrounding these diamonds there is a layer of rich red calibrated rubies and then
Category

Vintage 1920s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

2.4ct Emerald, Ruby and Diamond Ring in 18k Gold
Located in Miami, FL
. 2.4ct emerald. 0.90cwt Ruby. 0.15cwt diamond. SI1, G color. Ring resizing available.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Fred, Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring, French, circa 1960
By Fred
Located in London, GB
Fred, ruby and diamond cluster ring. Set with twenty three round old cut natural unenhanced rubies
Category

Vintage 1960s French Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

C1820 18K Diamond Cluster Ring with a Ruby Center
Located in Baltimore, MD
the goldsmith. The ring has 8 diamonds oriented around a center ruby with three additional diamonds
Category

Antique 19th Century British Georgian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Silver, 18k Gold

Victorian Ruby and Diamond Five-Stone Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
Dating back to the Victorian era, this hand made ring is made up of two rubies and three diamonds
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Vintage 1940’s 18ct Gold Ruby Diamond Bombe Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
natural rubies & brilliant cut diamonds. Mounted on a yellow gold, split band. The ring is in excellent
Category

Mid-20th Century European Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique Ring natural Diamond Ruby 14K Yellow Gold Ring 8.75US / 3.8gr
Located in SE
Old Classic German cluster Ring decorated with three natural old European Diamond cut Diamonds and
Category

Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum

Edwardian 0.60ct Diamond and Ruby Target Ring, c.1910s
Located in London, GB
cut diamonds and baguette cut rubies. At its centre sits a trio of diamonds sat vertically. The
Category

Vintage 1910s British Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Diamond Ruby Platinum and Gold Plaque Ring
Located in New York, NY
An Art Deco platinum and 14 karat ring with diamonds and rubies. The ring is designed in a classic
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold

18K Gold, 0.92 Carat Diamond and Natural Ruby Ring
Located in Miami, FL
diamond ring. Gorgeous color and finish in the ruby. Beautiful shine and shimmer in the diamonds
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Vintage Circa 1980s 14k Gold Natural Diamond Sapphire Ruby Ring
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
-H color vvs-vs clarity. Totally is Sapphire and Ruby 0.30 carat. Ring size is US 8.9 We can make
Category

Vintage 1980s European Retro Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Edwardian 1.35ct Diamond and Ruby Target Ring, c.1910s
Located in London, GB
setting. Surrounding the diamond, a circle of unusual half moon rubies, totalling to 0.40 carat. are
Category

Vintage 1910s British Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Vintage Ruby Diamond 18 karat Gold Three Eternity Rings
Located in Rotterdam, NL
A gorgeous set of three stackable full alliance ruby and diamond eternity rings. The center ring is
Category

20th Century European Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold

Antique Ring solid 56 /14K Gold Diamonds Ruby ØUS5.5 / 3gr
Located in SE
Beautiful Antique Ring featuring crown decorated with oval cut natural Rubies and rose cut Diamonds
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Antique Natural Unenhanced Marquise Ruby Diamond Ring, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
Antique marquise ruby and diamond ring. Vertically set to the centre with two round old cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum

1.62 Ct Natural Burmese Ruby Diamond Ring, 1960 ca
Located in Napoli, IT
Marvelous mid century Diamond Ruby ring, 1960 ca. Hand crafted mount of solid 18 KT gold Platinum
Category

Vintage 1960s European Contemporary Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

French retro 18k rose gold diamond synthetic ruby tank ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This Retro 18k rose gold ring combines old European-cut diamonds with vibrant French-cut synthetic
Category

20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

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

3.25ct Emerald, Ruby Diamond Cocktail Ring in 14k Gold
Located in Miami, FL
and diamonds, this ring exudes opulence and elegance. With its gorgeous finish and shine, it's the
Category

2010s European Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

Peter Suchy .52 Carat Diamond Ruby Halo Platinum Engagement Ring
By Peter Suchy
Located in Stamford, CT
Diamond and sapphire engagement ring. EGL certified Old European round center diamond with a halo
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Ruby Sapphire Diamond Victorian Gold Textured Signet Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
one round ruby, round diamond and a round sapphire, in a 14k yellow gold setting. 1 old European cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Signet Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Edwardian Ruby and Diamond Five-Stone Ring, circa 1910
Located in London, GB
Sparkling pink rubies and white diamonds make up this five stone ring. The centre ruby weighs 0.40
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Vintage 2.00 ct Diamond Ruby 18K Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Miami, FL
ladies diamond and ruby ring
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

GIA Certified No Heat Burma Ruby Ring with Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
The ring is Victorian, circa 1890. It presents an old cut oval ruby with very good crystal
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

18 Kt Yellow Gold Ruby Tapered Baguette Cut Diamonds Ring
Located in Antwerp, BE
YELLOW GOLDEN RING WITH RUBY, TAPERED BAGUETTE & BRILLIANT CUT DIAMONDS MATERIAL: 18 kt yellow
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Artisan Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Antique Ring Diamond Ruby Sapphire solid 18K Gold ØUS8/ 2.5gr
Located in SE
Ring in solid 18K Yellow Gold decorated with a row of natural Rubies, Diamonds and a natural Blue
Category

Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold

1920s Ruby and Diamond Yellow Gold and Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive antique 0.38 carat ruby and 0.70 carat diamond, 15 karat yellow
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Ruby and Old Cut Diamond Navette Ring
Located in London, GB
This is an impressive Art Deco ruby and diamond navette ring. At the centre of an open marquise
Category

20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold

Handcraft Diamonds 9 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, IT
artisans assembled with ruby and old cut diamonds Ring total weight 3.50 grams Ruby weight 0.15 karat Old
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver, 9k Gold

Handcraft Diamonds 14 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, IT
artisans assembled with ruby and old cut diamonds Ring total weight 2.90 grams Ruby weight 0.37 karat Old
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

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European Diamond Ruby Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate european diamond ruby ring 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. You can easily find a 1219 antique edition and 143 modern creations to choose from as well. Finding the perfect european diamond ruby ring may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 18th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular piece, .5 carat and 1 carat are consistently popular carat weights. A european diamond ruby ring from Luigi Ferrara, Peter Suchy and Tiffany Co. — each of whom created a beautiful version of this treasured accessory — is worth considering. Today, if you’re looking for an old european cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes brilliant cut and round cut alternatives. Most of our european diamond ruby ring for sale are for women, but there are 338 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a European Diamond Ruby Ring?

Prices for a european diamond ruby ring can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $136 and can go as high as $495,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $4,073.

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.