Large Sapphires
Vintage 1960s American Cuff Bracelets
Gold Plate
Vintage 1920s American Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Gilt Metal
1990s Swiss Wrist Watches
Steel
Vintage 1940s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches
Diamond, Platinum
20th Century French Brooches
21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Mixed Metal
20th Century French Clip-on Earrings
2010s American Artisan Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1850s American Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Wall Mirrors
Glass, Mirror
Sapphire
Aquamarine, Diamond
2010s Indian Band Rings
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s Brooches
Sapphire, 14k Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown More Bracelets
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
American More Rings
20th Century American More Earrings
Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century French Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Portuguese Bangles
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century French Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
European Brooches
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Vases
Glass
Vintage 1950s French Dome Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Mid-20th Century American Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century American Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Platinum
20th Century British Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold
Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Cluster Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Engagement Rings
Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s Collectible Jewelry
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian More Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Unknown Belle Époque Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
American More Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Antique 1870s Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
French Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century More Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s American More Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Vintage 1960s Link Bracelets
Sapphire, 14k Gold
American Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire
Vintage 1980s More Earrings
Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century More Rings
Chalcedony, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s American Retro More Earrings
Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Clip-on Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rhodium, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian More Rings
Chalcedony, Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s More Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Swiss Cufflinks
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold
20th Century American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary More Rings
Citrine, Sapphire, Topaz, 18k Gold
1960s American Accessories
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French More Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Brooches
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary More Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k 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.