Large Sapphires
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Dome Rings
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Hoop Earrings
Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
20th Century More Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
1990s Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Dangle Earrings
Cultured Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s American Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century American Artisan Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Vintage 1980s American Clip-on Earrings
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hoop Earrings
18k Gold, Vermeil
2010s American Artist Stud Earrings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
20th Century French More Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Moonstone, Sapphire, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1940s Unknown Brooches
14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
Vintage 1980s Modern Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Brooches
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Retro Cuff Bracelets
Chrysoberyl, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American More Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Late 20th Century American Cluster Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Bangles
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Coral, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Polish Art Deco Signet Rings
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Berlin Iron
2010s American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Citrine, Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
Antique 1860s Victorian Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Unknown Dangle Earrings
1990s Unknown Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century Thai Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Clip-on Earrings
Chalcedony, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Band Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Link Necklaces
Diamond, Quartz, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White 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.