Large Sapphires
Late 20th Century More Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Italian More Rings
Vintage 1970s Swiss Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Necklace Enhancers
Crystal, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Quartz, Sapphire, Topaz, 18k...
American Cufflinks
21st Century and Contemporary British Stud Earrings
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Swiss Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Bangles
White Diamond, 15k Gold
Vintage 1970s Swiss Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Steel
Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Steel
Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Swiss Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, Vermeil, Silver
2010s American Contemporary Bangles
Garnet, Yellow Sapphire, Tourmaline, Zircon, Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1950s Link Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Steel, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, Gold, Steel, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1970s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Blue Sapphire, Gold Plate, Vermeil
Vintage 1940s American Retro Bracelets
Gold Plate
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Amethyst
European More Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century Wrist Watches
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
1990s French Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
American Brooches
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Antique 1890s Italian Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Egyptian Revival Link Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Fashion Rings
Diamond, Pink Diamond, Brown Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, 22k...
Mid-20th Century American More Bracelets
20th Century Dangle Earrings
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
18k Gold, White Gold
American Bangles
Unknown Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Cocktail Rings
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
18k Gold
Vintage 1940s Retro Bracelets
21st Century and Contemporary More Earrings
Yellow Gold
2010s Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
Rose Gold, 18k Gold
1940s Evening Bags and Minaudières
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
Gilt Metal
1990s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
White Diamond, Tanzanite, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Vintage 1960s American Choker Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Italian More Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Hoop Earrings
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass, Teak
Mid-20th Century More Earrings
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Dangle Earrings
Sapphire, 18k Gold
1990s Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Modern Brooches
Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Clip-on Earrings
Aquamarine, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 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.