Large Sapphires
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century American Artisan Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
Vintage 1980s Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Cocktail Rings
Opal, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings
Coral, Emerald, Pink Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Art Nouveau Stud Earrings
Pearl, Sapphire, Spinel, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s French Cuff Bracelets
Vintage 1970s Wall Mirrors
Glass
Early 20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
Clay
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Dangle Earrings
Garnet, Opal, Blue Sapphire, Black Opal, Multi-gemstone, Sapphire, Yello...
21st Century and Contemporary French Cocktail Rings
18k Gold
Vintage 1950s American Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Wall Mirrors
Glass
1990s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s Italian Hoop Earrings
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Sapphire, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s Wall Mirrors
Mirror
21st Century and Contemporary Cluster Rings
Pink Sapphire
Vintage 1940s Solitaire Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Star Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s American Clip-on Earrings
Gilt Metal
1990s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
1990s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
1990s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
2010s Dangle Earrings
Vintage 1970s Wall Mirrors
Glass
Vintage 1970s Wall Mirrors
Glass, Mirror
21st Century and Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Cluster Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Cufflinks
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Wall Mirrors
Glass
1990s Italian Modern Chain Necklaces
Sapphire, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Cluster Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary More Earrings
Diamond, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary More Jewelry
Diamond, Gold
Vintage 1980s French Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s French Early Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
1990s Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary American Fashion Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Rose Gold, Vermeil, Silver, Ster...
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Silver
Late 20th Century Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, Sapphire, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
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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.