Large Sapphires
Early 2000s American Retro Brooches
Crystal
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1960s English Cocktail Rings
9k Gold
Early 2000s Fashion Rings
Pearl, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Art Nouveau Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1910s Italian Art Deco Glass
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Brooches
Aquamarine, Garnet, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire,...
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s European Post-War Clip-on Earrings
Blue Sapphire
20th Century Art Nouveau Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k...
Early 2000s American Modern Brooches
Brown Diamond, Peridot, Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique 1870s American Victorian Link Bracelets
Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s French Drop Necklaces
Vintage 1980s French Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Link Bracelets
Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
Vintage 1950s American Artisan Beaded Bracelets
Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Diamond, White Diamond, Garnet, Rock Crystal, Silver, Gold, Whi...
Vintage 1980s French Byzantine Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate, Base Metal, Gilt Metal
Early 2000s Thai Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Persian Persian Rugs
Wool, Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Cocktail Rings
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Natural Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Swiss Contemporary Wrist Watches
Steel, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1950s French Anglo-Indian Brooches
Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Gilt Metal
1920s American Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Rhodium
Vintage 1950s American Chandelier Earrings
Silver Plate, Gilt Metal
1920s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1980s American Beaded Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1950s Egyptian Egyptian Revival Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Silver, Gold-filled
Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Multi-Strand Necklaces
Vintage 1980s Greek Classical Greek Clip-on Earrings
Citrine, Sapphire, 22k Gold
2010s British Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Vintage 1980s British Cluster Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique 1860s British Renaissance Revival Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold
American Retro Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby
1990s Thai Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique 1620s American Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century German Contemporary Brooches
Sapphire, Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Unknown Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Large Sapphires For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Large Sapphires?
The Legacy of Sapphire in Jewelry Design
On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry.
Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.
Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.
America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.
The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.
You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.
Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).
The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (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.)
Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.