Judith Ripka Onyx Ring

One of the first jewelers to harness the potential of television, Judith Ripka has built a following for her bold work through her frequent appearances on the televised shopping channel QVC. Her earrings, necklaces and other accessories often feature matte gold and large colored precious gemstones highlighted with a dazzle of diamonds — statement pieces that can be worn every day for a touch of glamour.

The New York–born daughter of a couturier, Ripka studied art at Hunter College and the Parsons School of Design before founding her brand in 1977 with an 18-karat gold collection. She started simple, selling the pieces in her living room, leading to the opening of her first store in Manhasset, New York.

Early on, Ripka recognized the power of advertising, taking out an ad in the New York Times that read, “Give your pearls a little culture,” and invited customers to bring in their old pearl necklaces and “see them transformed into a beautiful new necklace.” The updating of traditional styles that might be reserved only for special occasions into modern pieces for daily wear would become a touchstone of Ripka’s brand. By 1982, the jeweler was the proud recipient of the De Beers Award for Outstanding Jewelry Design.

After her QVC debut in 1997, Ripka’s jewelry company took off. A pioneer in selling luxury goods on television, she later appeared on the Shopping Channel, with Ripka herself as an engaging personality helping to drive the sales and popularity of her jewelry. Xcel Brands acquired her company in 2014 with the designs continuing to have an active presence on QVC.

Alongside her QVC-marketed jewelry, Ripka has designed custom pieces, such as the diamond, sapphire and ruby 18-karat gold brooch that Hillary Clinton wore at the 1997 inauguration for her husband, Bill Clinton. Talk-show host, author and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey has regularly sported her Eclipse earrings, which incorporate two tiers of precious stones, a design that can easily match outfits from day to night.

Other Ripka designs have brought high-end luxury to the masses, such as a 2010 line launched on QVC showcasing the designer’s take on famous jewels in the Smithsonian Institution. At every price point, Ripka’s jewelry has maintained its fine quality in the fresh interpretations of classic styles.

The Ripka brand continues to innovate its offerings, including branching into creative partnerships, such as a 2020 capsule collection with Italian architect Elena Manferdini as part of a series of collaborations with women artists and designers.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Judith Ripka jewelry and watches today.

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 rings, vintage 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.