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Gold Diamond Rings 1979

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14k White Gold Ring with Diamonds and Sapphires
Located in Berlin, BE
Introducing the epitome of glamour and sophistication, the 14k white gold cluster ring with
Category

Vintage 1970s German Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold

Rubies, Sapphires, Diamonds, 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring.
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Fashion ring in 18 kt yellow gold structure mounted with a flower of rubies and a flower of
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

An 18k Gold Bombé Ring with Old Cut Diamonds
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An 18-carat yellow gold bombé ring with 5 old cushion cut diamonds in various sizes, three a little
Category

Vintage 1970s French Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1970s 0.36 Carat Diamond 18k White Gold Half Eternity Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive vintage 1970s 0.36 carat diamond and 18 karat white gold half eternity ring; part of
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Ruby Diamonds 18 Karat Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, IT
This exquisite ring harmoniously blends 18-karat yellow gold with 800 silver to create a piece
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Vintage Diamond and 18 Carat Gold Cluster Panel Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This gorgeous panel holds a cluster of sparkling diamonds. The diamond total of the ring is 80pts
Category

Vintage 1970s British More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Platinum

Estate Colombian Emerald Diamond Onyx Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
A beautiful Cocktail t18k white Gold ring, featuring a 2.10 carat Natural Vivid Green Colombian
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold

18kt gold lapis lazuli diamond Double C logo ring
By Cartier
Located in Braintree, GB
A vintage Cartier 'Double C' logo ring, finely crafted in 18 karat yellow gold with a rich lapis
Category

Vintage 1970s French Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold

1 Carat Diamond Ring Guard in 14 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Hicksville, NY
diamond ring guard contains a total of 8 diamonds that is all set in 14 karat yellow gold. This ring has
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Rock Crystal, Diamonds, 14 Karat White Gold and Rose Gold Ring.
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
, between of them, structures in white gold with diamonds. This ring was totally handmade by Italian master
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Cluster Rings

Materials

Crystal, Diamond, Rock Crystal, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold

1970s Lapis Diamond Hand Crafted 14k Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1970s Lapis Diamond Hand Crafted 14k Yellow Gold Ring. The Lapis and Diamond Hand-Crafted 14k
Category

Vintage 1970s Modernist Signet Rings

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

18K White Gold Trillion Sapphire Ring with Channel Sapphires Diamond
Located in Miami, FL
A striking modern sapphire ring crafted in solid 18K white gold and set with a brilliant trillion
Category

Vintage 1970s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Brutalist Yellow Gold Emerald European Cut Diamond Fingermate Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
Inclusions - 2.0ctw (approx.) (1) Natural Genuine Diamond - Old European Cut - Prong Set - G Color - SI2
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Turquoise, Aquamarine, Diamonds, 14 Karat White Gold Ring.
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Elegant retrò ring in 14 kt white gold structure mounted with a central aquamarine surrounded by
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, Aquamarine, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 1970s 14KT Yellow Gold Cat Ring with Diamond Center
Located in New York, NY
A charming piece of 1970s vintage jewelry, this 14KT yellow gold ring features a detailed, sculpted
Category

Vintage 1970s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 1970s 14KT Yellow Gold Baguette Diamond Five-Stone Ring
Located in New York, NY
Clean lines and vintage edge define this 1970s ring, set in solid 14KT yellow gold with five
Category

Vintage 1970s Signet Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Paris Diamond Band Ring 18K Rose Gold Size 6
By Cartier
Located in Fairfield, CT
Cartier Paris Diamond Band Ring 18K Rose Gold Size 6 This exquisite Cartier band ring is made in
Category

Vintage 1970s French Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Vintage 18 kt White Gold Rosette Cluster Diamonds ring
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
– white gold 18 kt 2. Gemstones: Diamonds: natural 3. Design & Style: cluster, rosette 4. Cut & Shape
Category

Vintage 1970s European Retro Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Blue Topaz and Diamond 18 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Striking blue topaz set simply in platinum and the ring is modelled in 18carat yellow gold. The
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold

Vintage 18K Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
A striking vintage cocktail ring crafted in 18K yellow gold, centering a vivid emerald cut emerald
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Vintage Diamond Three-Stone 18 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This vintage 18 Carat Gold and platinum beauty holds three bright diamonds with a total weight of
Category

Vintage 1970s British Modern More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Vintage French 1970s Sapphire and Diamond White Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
and diamond cluster ring has been crafted in 18k white gold. The pierced decorated, oval shaped
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco 12 Carat Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
An exquisite genuine Art Deco style ring handcrafted in 18 kt gold by master jewelers, featuring an
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

1970s Italian 18k gold, enamel and diamond cocktail ring
Located in London, GB
This stunning 1970s 18k gold ring is designed as a latticework of diamonds and enamel. The ring
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel

1970s Cultured Pearl and Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique cultured pearl and 0.18 carat diamond, 18k white gold cocktail ring
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 1970s 3.05 Carat Emerald Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
white gold cocktail ring; part of our diverse vintage jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This
Category

Vintage 1970s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Baroque Pearl and Diamonds Cocktail Ring 14k Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Baroque Pearl and Diamonds Cocktail Ring 14k Gold. Very detailed designer copyrighted
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold

Coral Bead and Diamond Yellow Gold Kinetic Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
A fun vintage kinetic ring in 18 karat yellow gold with spring-mounted coral beads and diamonds
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Yellow Gold

Vintage 1.25 Carat Diamond and White Gold Full Eternity Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive vintage 1.25 carat diamond and 18 karat white gold full eternity ring; part
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 14k Yellow Gold Lapis Lazuli and Diamond Ring
Located in Houston, TX
This exquisite vintage ring is crafted in 14K yellow gold, featuring a striking cabochon-cut 16.5 x
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

1.46 ctw Diamond Opal Ring Vintage 14K White Gold
By Estate Jewelry
Located in East Brunswick, NJ
1.46 ctw Diamond Opal Ring Vintage 14K White Gold This estate ring is made in solid 14K White Gold
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Moonstone Cabochon Diamond 14K Yellow White Gold Ring
Located in Munich, Bavaria
diamonds held by settings designed as triangles. Looked at from both sides the white gold ring head
Category

Vintage 1970s Post-War Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Moonstone, 14k Gold, White Gold

David Thomas Diamond and 18K Gold Ring, c. 1973
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite diamond and 18 karat yellow gold ring was crafted by the renowned British modernist
Category

Vintage 1970s British Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

French Art Deco 18K Gold Emerald Diamond Ring (Circa 1940)
Located in Firenze, FI
A refined French ring crafted in 18K gold (9 grams), featuring a vibrant Colombian marquise-cut
Category

Vintage 1970s French Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Italian 18 Karat Gold Carved Coral Cameo Diamond Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Carved Coral Cameo & Diamond Ring composed of 18k yellow gold. The carved coral depicts a
Category

Vintage 1970s Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 10k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1970s Diamond White and Twisted Yellow Gold Dome Ring
Located in Miami Beach, FL
1970s 14K gold dome ring with diamonds set in white gold accented by yellow gold twisted edges
Category

Vintage 1970s Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Amethyst and Diamond Cocktail Ring in 18K Yellow Gold
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
saturation and excellent faceting, is set in warm 18K yellow gold, while the surrounding diamonds are prong
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

French 1970s Emerald Diamonds 18 Karat White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat white gold, eagle head hallmark. Characteristic of the cocktail rings of its era
Category

Vintage 1970s French Retro Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Vintage gold ring with rubies and diamonds, circa 1970s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Vintage ring set in 18-karat yellow gold (0.750 fineness). The geometric ring is decorated with
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Rubies, Enamel, Diamonds, 18 Karat White Gold Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Beautiful ring in 18 kt white gold structure mounted with a central ruby surrounded by a frame of
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Dome Rings

Materials

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

1970s 45.09 Carat Aquamarine Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning vintage 45.09 carat aquamarine and 0.96 carat diamond, 18 karat white gold cocktail ring
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Diamonds Emeralds Pearl White Rose Gold Fantastic Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Fantastic 14kt pink and white gold ring with diamonds, emeralds and a central Australian pearl of
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Pearl, Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

French 1970s Diamonds 18 Karat White Gold Retro Flake Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat white gold, eagle head hallmark. This enchanting vintage ring features a flake
Category

Vintage 1970s French Retro Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Vintage Diamond and 18 Carat White Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This cluster ring holds Diamonds totalling approx 78pts and are bright and sparkly. The ring is
Category

Vintage 1970s British Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, White Gold

Diamonds, Sapphires, Green Agate, Rose Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Vintage cocktail ring in 14k rose gold structure with flowery decorations on diamonds, blue
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Agate, Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

18K Yellow Gold Ring with Emerald and White Diamonds
By Olivo Micheletto
Located in Milano, Lombardia
This exquisite ring features a lush emerald at its center, framed by sparkling white diamonds, all
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian More Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 1.30 Carat Ruby and Diamonds Ring 14k Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage 1.30 Carat Ruby and Diamonds Ring. The ring features baguette cut Ruby gemstones along with
Category

Vintage 1970s Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Thin Diamond Wedding Band, 14K Yellow Gold, Ring, Stackable
Located in McLeansville, NC
A vintage 14 karat yellow gold thin diamond wedding band. The stackable band features a straight
Category

Vintage 1970s Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

French 1970s Aquamarine Diamonds 18 Karat White Gold Marquise Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18 karat white gold, eagle head hallmark. Important marquise ring, it is decorated with an
Category

Vintage 1970s French Retro Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Amethyst 16.98cts Diamond 14K Gold Halo Grooved Cocktail Ring
Located in Miami, FL
, set in lustrous white gold. The ring's design is further enhanced with intricately grooved, twisted
Category

Vintage 1970s Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold

Vintage 18KT White Gold Colombian Emerald Diamond Cluster Ring, 1970s
Located in Braintree, GB
A vintage 18KT white gold emerald ring from the 1970s, designed as a bold emerald cluster ring
Category

Vintage 1970s Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage 3.62Ct Diamond and 18k White Gold Eternity Ring Circa 1970
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive vintage 3.62 carat princess cut diamond and 18 karat white gold
Category

Vintage 1970s Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Emerald and Diamond 18K Gold Ring by Tiffany Co.
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This immaculate 18K yellow gold ring by Tiffany & Co. features a stunning 3.15-carat oval sugarloaf
Category

Vintage 1970s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Emeralds, Diamonds, Rose Gold and Silver Ladybug Shape Ring
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Gorgeous ladybug shape ring in 9 karat rose gold and silver structure mounted with two emeralds as
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Retro Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Natural 25 Carat Colombian Emerald Diamond White Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
crafted 18 karat white gold mounting. Triple prong set at each corner secure this center gem and it is
Category

Vintage 1970s Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Vintage 18k White Gold Cluster Ring Diamond Ruby 1.75ct Burma
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This vintage 18k white gold cluster ring showcases a vivid 1.75-carat natural ruby of Burma origin
Category

Vintage 1970s Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, White Gold, 18k Gold

French 1970s Emerald Diamonds 18 Karat White Gold Marquise Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
modern brilliant-cut diamonds. The ring, like the setting, is made of gold wire. Total weight of the
Category

Vintage 1970s French Retro Engagement Rings

Materials

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

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Gold Diamond Rings 1979 For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate gold diamond rings 1979 for your needs in our varied inventory. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. You can easily find a 3647 antique edition and 1 modern creations to choose from as well. Finding the perfect gold diamond rings 1979 may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th 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. Finding an appealing gold diamond rings 1979 — no matter the origin — is easy, but Van Cleef Arpels, Cartier and David Webb each produced a popular version that is worth a look. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes oval cut and emerald cut alternatives. Most of our gold diamond rings 1979 for sale are for women, but there are 603 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a Gold Diamond Rings 1979?

The price for a gold diamond rings 1979 starts at $100 and tops out at $495,000 with these rings, on average, selling for $3,688.

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.