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Picchiotti Invisibly Set Diamond and Sapphire Baguette Ring
By Picchiotti
Located in New York, NY
This stunning Picchiotti ring is composed of 1.76 carats of invisibly set baguette cut diamonds
Category

1990s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold

10.40 carats of Yellow Sapphires Invisibly Set Earrings
Located in Khet Bang Rak, 10
sapphire earrings featuring exquisitely cut princess yellow sapphires, masterfully set in an elegant
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Stud Earrings

Materials

Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pink Sapphire Diamond Invisible-Set 18K Gold Necklace
Located in Miami, FL
A masterful display of high jewelry technique, this wide collar necklace features square-cut
Category

1990s American Modern Choker Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold

Modernist Invisibly Set Sapphire Diamond and Gold Ring
Located in New York, NY
Modernist Invisibly Set Sapphire and Diamond Ring rendered in 18K Gold. Modern and streamline in
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modernist Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

Quadrillion Invisibly Set Diamond 1.36Ct Ruby 4.31Ct Ring
By Bez Ambar
Located in New York, NY
and 2 trillion diamonds weighing 0.30 carats. The pyramid style shank is invisibly set with 4.31
Category

1990s American Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Medium Invisibly-Set Sapphire Diamond Flower Earrings
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Invisibly-set sapphire and diamond five-petal flower earrings, designed with calibre-cut sapphire
Category

2010s Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Medium Invisibly-Set Ruby Diamond Flower Earrings
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Invisibly-set ruby and diamond five-petal flower earrings, designed with calibre-cut ruby petals
Category

2010s Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

Invisible Set Sapphire and Diamond Earrings, 18k
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Invisible Set Sapphire and Diamond Earrings made in 18k with appx. 4.50 carats of
Category

20th Century Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

White Gold Invisible Set Baguette Layered Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Indulge in the opulent elegance of our White Gold Invisible Set Baguette Layered Cocktail Ring
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

14 Karat White Princess Cut Invisible Set Earrings
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Material: 14k white gold Diamonds: 18 princess cut = 0.27cttw Color: H-I Clarity: SI1 Weight: 1.2 grams
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Invisible-Set Ruby Diamond 18K White Gold Bloom Flower Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
designer to pioneer this advanced setting technique where it appears the stones are “invisibly set
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

Tiffany Co Invisible Set Diamond Gold Stud Earrings
By Tiffany Co.
Located in New York, NY
earrings are with invisible set diamonds - approx. 1.44ctw G/VS. Measure 5/16 x 5/16". Come in T 7 Co box
Category

20th Century American Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Invisible-Set Ruby and Diamond Ring
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Invisible-Set Ruby and Diamond Ring Description: A striking Van Cleef & Arpels
Category

20th Century French Retro Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

French Invisibly-Set Ruby and Diamond Bombé Ring
Located in New York, NY
is invisibly-set with calibré-cut rubies edged with diamond baguettes, the shoulders highlighted with
Category

Late 20th Century French Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Aletto Brothers Invisibly-Set Ruby Diamond Flower Brooch, circa 1980
By Aletto Brothers
Located in New York, NY
Deco elegance, crafted in the 1980s. The piece showcases the Aletto family's mastery of the invisible
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Sapphire Diamond Invisible Set White Gold Pendant Necklace
Located in Stamford, CT
Sapphire and diamond pendant necklace. 22 calibre cut sapphires invisible set into a pear style 18k
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

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

Oscar Heyman Vintage Invisibly Set Diamond Platinum Bracelet
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Timeless in design and dazzling in execution, this vintage Oscar Heyman bracelet from circa 1960 is a true celebration of craftsmanship and glamour. Meticulously handcrafted in plati...
Category

20th Century American Retro Retro Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

1.50 Carat Diamond Invisible Set Gold Band Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Invisible set three row princess cut diamond 1.50ct domed band ring in 18k yellow gold. 42
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Art Deco Calvaire Invisibly Set Fish Earclips
By Calvaire
Located in New York, NY
Charming figural Calvaire invisibly set fish earclips with pink faux rubies and faux pearl bubbles
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Gold Plate, Base Metal, Gilt Metal

Sweetie rose flower invisible set ruby diamond earrings.
Located in New York, NY
five petals, each invisibly set with square cut rubies with total weight of 38.75ct. Centers set with
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Artist Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

6.65 Carat Invisible Set Princess Cut Diamonds Wide Band
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in platinum with invisible set Princess cut Diamonds weighing approximately a total
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Exquisite Invisible-Set Ruby Diamond Platinum Flexible Tennis Bracelet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
striking white contrast. The stones are “invisibly set”, which Van Cleef and Arpels was the first designer
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Invisible and Illusion Set Emerald Cut Diamond Earring
Located in New York, NY
Diamonds, highlighting all focus to the center. 2.06 Carats. Set in 18 Karat White Gold
Category

2010s Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Platinum Diamond and Invisible Set Blue Sapphire Ring
Located in Webster, NY
Vintage approximately 2.62CT Round Brilliant Cut diamond ring with blue sapphires set in a mosaic
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

18 Kt White Gold Ring Diamonds Sapphires Invisible Set
Located in Antwerp, BE
18 KT WHITE GOLD RING WITH BRILLIANT CUT DIAMONDS AND INVISIBLE SET PRINCESS CUT SAPPHIRES
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

White gold bracelet invisible set diamonds carrée cut vintage
Located in Milano, MI
carré cut diamonds invisibly set, a real work of art. Highlights - 18ct white gold - Carré cut
Category

20th Century European Tennis Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Oscar Heyman Day and Night Invisible Set Sapphire Earrings
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Oscar Heyman Day and Night Invisible Set Sapphire Earrings A pair of Oscar Heyman day and night
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Invisible set sapphire and diamond ring, French, circa 1940
Located in London, GB
Invisible set sapphire and diamond ring. Set with seventy six tapered baguette cut natural
Category

Vintage 1940s French Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Invisible-Set Diamond 14k White Gold Cross Pendant Necklace
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
include invisible-set princess-shape diamonds in the center with a border of round brilliant-cuts. Crafted
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

18K Gold 18Cttw Round White Diamonds Invisible Set Bracelet
Located in San Diego, CA
. Each one of these diamonds is invisibly set and when complete forms three rows. In an invisible
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Tennis Bracelets

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

18 Karat White Gold Invisible Set Diamond Bypass Ring
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Material: 18K white gold Diamond: 55 princess cut = 2.55cttw Color: H Clarity: SI1 – I1 Ring Size: 9.25 (please allow up to 2 additional business days for sizing requests) Weight: 19...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Piaget Enamel Invisible Set Sapphire Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring
By Piaget
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Invisible Set Sapphire Enamel Ring by Piaget. With 8 princess cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1970s Swiss Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

14 Karat White Gold Invisible Set Diamond Cigar Band
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Material: 14K white gold Diamond: 40 princess cut = 4.00cttw Color: G / H Clarity: SI1-2 Diamond: 10 baguette cut = 0.50cttw Color: H Clarity: SI1-2 Ring Size: 8.25 (please allow up ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Invisibly Set Ruby and Diamond Buckle Gold Earrings
Located in Darnestown, MD
Elegant and sparkly half hoop buckle earrings with invisibly set rubies and sapphires and outlined
Category

Vintage 1980s Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold

Invisible-Set Blue Sapphire Diamond 18k White Gold Flower Brooch Pendant
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
blue sapphires, weighing approximately 22.00 carats, in a vibrant blue color. The sapphires set with
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

18kt Yellow Gold Angelfish Brooch with Invisibly Set Ruby, Sapphires Diamonds
By Cellini
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful interpretation of an angelfish. This 18 karat yellow gold brooch has been invisibly set
Category

1990s Italian Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yello...

1.31 Ct 18 Karat Gold Invisible Set Heart Necklace
By Sebastian Bernard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Invisible Set (No Prong, No metal to obstruct the view of diamonds) Diamond necklace. Total Diamond Wright
Category

2010s American Neoclassical Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Geometric Invisibly Set Diamond Drop Dangle White Gold Earrings
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Impressive 1.10" long geometric 18k white gold earrings featuring three sections of invisible set
Category

Late 20th Century Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

4.49 Carat Invisible Set Sapphire Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Platinum cocktail ring, featuring 4.49ctw invisible set blue sapphires (few minor chips on multiple
Category

20th Century More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Estate 18K White Gold Invisible Set Sapphire Diamond Large Flower Brooch 23.70ct
Located in Winter Springs, FL
invisibly set with calibrated natural blue sapphires totaling approximately 22.00 carats. The sapphires are
Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

18k White Gold Sapphire Diamond Invisible Mystery Set Flower Brooch Pendant
Located in Montclair, NJ
Invisible Set - True Royal Blue Color (11) Natural Genuine Diamonds- Round Brilliant Cut - Prong Set - White
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Invisible-Set Princess-Cut Diamond White Gold Wedding Ring
By Claris-A
Located in Monte Carlo, MC
Claris.A Invisible-Set Princess-Cut Diamond wedding band. A double line of princess cut diamond
Category

2010s Contemporary Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

ARAYIAN 5.55 carats invisibly Set Rubies and Diamond earrings
Located in Khet Bang Rak, 10
invisibly set 5.55-carat ruby, framed by sparkling diamonds. Using a centuries-old French technique, the
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

Set in 18K Gold, Invisible set Rubies, Yellow Diamond Diamonds Engagement Ring
By JEWEL HUB
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Gold & natural Diamonds. The weight of the invisible set Rubies is 1.42 carats. The combined Diamonds
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Yellow Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Vintage Retro Period 18KT Yellow Gold Invisible-Set Diamond Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Setting: Invisible Set Weight: 23.8 Grams Condition: Vintage, Very Good
Category

20th Century Retro Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

14kyg "Invisible Set" Baguette Princess Cut Diamond Anniversary Ring 1.00cts.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
14kyg "Invisible Set" Baguette & Princess Cut Diamond Anniversary Ring 1.00cts. Specifications
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage invisibly set sapphire and diamond ring, circa 1950.
Located in London, GB
Vintage invisibly set sapphire and diamond ring. Centrally set with a cushion shape old cut natural
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Invisible Set Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring in 18K Gold
Located in Hong Kong, HK
therefore called invisible set diamonds. Channel setting involves making grooves in the pavilion area of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Invisible set Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Bypass Bombay Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2000 18k Yellow Gold Bombay Bypass ring, the top measures 7/8 inch wide X 5/8 inch, invisibly
Category

Early 2000s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage 1960s Oscar Heyman Invisible Set Ruby Earrings with Diamonds
By Oscar Heyman
Located in New York, NY
Finley crafted in platinum with invisible set Square cut Rubies weighing a total of 24.71 carats
Category

Vintage 1960s Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

A Van Cleef Arpels Invisibly-Set Mystery Ruby Diamond Platinum Bracelet
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in New York, NY
twentieth century. Great in demand by fine jewelry collectors, Van Cleef Arpels invisibly set jewels
Category

Vintage 1960s French Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

18 Karat Gold Frog Brooch, Invisibly Set Pink Sapphires, Diamonds and Emerald
By Cellini
Located in New York, NY
18 karat yellow gold frog brooch beautifully set with 6.12 carats of invisibly set square pink
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Brooches

Materials

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

Platinum Ring Matching Necklace/Pendant, Princess cut Invisible Set Diamonds
Located in Antwerp, BE
Platinum Ring & matching Necklace/Pendant, Princess cut Invisible Set Diamonds Necklace: 18 kt
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

14 Karat White Gold Channel Set Princess Cut Invisible Set Diamond Band
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: custom Material: 14K white gold Diamond: 20 princess cut = 1.00cttw Color: J Clarity: SI1-2 Ring size: 5.25 (please allow two additional shipping days for sizing requests) ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

Elegant Invisibly Set Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond Gold Buckle Pendant
Located in Darnestown, MD
Exquisitely designed and made 18 karat gold pendant with invisibly set rubies and sapphires framed
Category

Vintage 1980s Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold

18KT Yellow Gold Apple Pendant with 0.85Cts. Invisible Set Diamonds
By Cellini
Located in New York, NY
I Love New York 18 karat yellow gold apple pendant. The apple is invisibly set with 4 princess cut
Category

1990s North American Modern Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Picchiotti Invisibly Set Sapphire and Diamond 18 Karat Gold Bracelet
By Picchiotti
Located in New York, NY
Picchiotti 18 Karat yellow gold bracelet is Invisibly set with 34 graduating baguette cut sapphires
Category

1990s Italian Modern Bangles

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

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Invisible Set Jewelry For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the piece of invisible set jewelry you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and White Gold — can elevate any look. Find an antique version now, or shop for 215 vintage or 230 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Finding the perfect item from our selection of invisible set jewelry 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 accessory, there are many different carat weights to choose from, but .5 Carat and 1 Carat versions are of considerable interest. Creating a choice in our collection of invisible set jewelry has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Doves by Doron Paloma, Van Cleef Arpels and Aletto Brothers are consistently popular. While most can agree that any object in our assortment of invisible set jewelry from our collection can easily elevate most outfits, but the choice of a Diamond version from the 325 available is guaranteed to add a special touch to your ensemble. See these pages for a princess cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also round cut cut and square cut cut versions available here, too. Finding an option in this array of invisible set jewelry for sale for women should be easy, but there are 153 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a Invisible Set Jewelry?

On average, a piece of invisible set jewelry at 1stDibs sells for $5,920, while they’re typically $299 on the low end and $225,000 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.