Large Sapphires
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Agate, Diamond, Opal, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate...
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
American Bangles
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s French Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s French Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Star Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire
Vintage 1980s Unknown Retro Dome Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Swedish Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Polish Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
20th Century American Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Retro Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary North American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Art Nouveau Drop Earrings
Palladium
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Retro Clip-on Earrings
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Charm Bracelets
Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, P...
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Clip-on Earrings
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1910s American Art Nouveau More Jewelry
Citrine, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Vintage 1980s French More Necklaces
20th Century American Brooches
Vintage 1960s German Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
2010s Dangle Earrings
Vintage 1970s German Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s German Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Vintage 1970s German Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century Unknown Cluster Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Polish Belle Époque Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Gold Plate
Vintage 1980s European Modern Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s Unknown Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow ...
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
2010s British Brooches
Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century Swiss Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Link Bracelets
Citrine, Garnet, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches
Chrysoberyl, White Diamond, Garnet, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Garnet, Quartz, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Beaded Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Diamond, Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Gold, Silver, 18k Gold, Ye...
Vintage 1920s French Clamper Bracelets
18k Gold
Late 20th Century French More Necklaces
Vintage 1970s French Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Vintage 1980s French Link Necklaces
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Topaz, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Quartz, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate, Ster...
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Collectible Jewelry
Gold
Vintage 1950s French Multi-Strand Necklaces
Base Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Loose Gemstones
Spinel
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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.