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Navette Rings

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1870 s Etruscan Revival Turquoise Pearl 14 Karat Rose Gold Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Navette shaped mounting centers three belcher set pearls Well matched in white body color and
Category

Antique 1870s Etruscan Revival Cluster Rings

Materials

Pearl, Turquoise, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Art Deco Jade Natural Freshwater Pearl Enamel 14 Karat Gold Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a navette cabochon of jade measuring approximately 21.0 x 7.0 mm Translucent with
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Jade, Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Victorian 0.62 CTW Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering three cushion cut rubies bead set north to south in a navette form Weighing approximately
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Art Déco Rose Gold Diamond Cluster Navette Ring, Austria, Around 1920
Located in Vienna, AT
Antique navette-shaped old brilliant-cut diamond ring, fifteen old brilliant-cut diamonds in a
Category

Vintage 1920s Austrian Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Rose Gold, 14k Gold

Victorian Topaz Tourmaline Diamond 14 Karat Gold Five-Stone Dinner Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Dinner style ring with five well-matched pastel gemstones set vertically North to South in a
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Topaz, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian French 14k Gold Silver Rose Diamond Marquise Long Navette Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
This lovely antique ring was crafted in France during the early Victorian era in solid 14k gold
Category

Antique 1890s French Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Art Nouveau Turquoise Diamond Enamel Platinum-Topped 14 Karat Gold Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a navette turquoise cabochon measuring approximately 13.0 x 7.5 mm Opaque and uniform
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum...

French Edwardian 1.84 CTW Diamond Platinum 18K Gold Antique Navette Ring GIA
Located in Philadelphia, PA
platinum talon prongs floating above a navette shaped halo surround Prong and bead set throughout with old
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Esemco Vintage Victorian Revival Opal Tri-Colored 10 Karat Gold Navette Ring
By Esemco
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a navette opal cabochon measuring approximately 12.0 x 7.0 mm Opal is translucent white
Category

Vintage 1950s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Gold .75 Carat Emerald and Old European Cut Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Stone Carat Weight: Approximately 1.25 Carats Color/ Clarity: H-K VS2-I1 Ring Length: 22.72mm Rise
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Yellow Gold 1 Carat Natural No Heat Sapphire Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Diamonds Accent Stone Carat Weight: Approximately 1.75 Carats Color/ Clarity: G/H VS1/2 Ring Length
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Old European Cut Diamond Navette Ring in Palladium 1.75 Carats Total
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Ring size: 5.75 Incredible vintage diamond ring is the essence of old world glamour. The unique
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Palladium

Edwardian 18K Yellow Gold 1.25 Carat Ceylon Blue Sapphire Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Weight: 1.25 carat Shape: Old European Cut Ring Size: 6.5 Ring Weight: 4.19 grams Ring Condition
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco 5.70 CTW Aquamarine 18 Karat White Gold Vintage Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Ring Size: 7 3/4 and sizable Measures north to south 19.0 mm and sits 7.0 mm high Total Weight: 4.5
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

0.25ctw Small Diamond Navette Ring, 14K Yellow Gold, RingSize 6, Diamond Cluster
Located in McLeansville, NC
carats - G-H color, SI1-2 clarity Ring Size 6 Rise Off Of Finger: 5.6 mm Length: 10.6 mm Weight: 1.4
Category

1990s Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 3.74 CTW Diamond Ruby Silver 18 Karat Gold Checkerboard Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
tiered shoulders and shank Tested as 18 karat gold and silver Circa: 1880s Ring size: 8 3/4 and sizable
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver

Edwardian .18ctw Diamond Navette Ring, 14k Yellow and White Gold, Ring Size 4
Located in McLeansville, NC
, SI2-I1 clarity Ring Size 4 Length: 17.3 mm Weight: 1.5 dwts. / 2.4 grams Stamps: "14k" *Edwardian
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 0.96 CTW Old Mine Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a navette shaped form prong set with clustered old mine cut diamonds Prong set
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco 2.80 CTW Aquamarine Diamond 14 Karat White Gold Vintage Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a navette shaped form featuring four hexagonal cut aquamarines Transparent light blue
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

Edwardian 2.40 CTW No Heat Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Silver 18K Gold Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
with VS2 clarity - bead set in silver topped navette-shaped form With a pierced gallery and flanked by
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian 3.10 CTW Ruby Emerald Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Rose Gold Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a navette shaped form centering a pear cut ruby, old mine cut diamond, and pear cut
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

2.25ctw Blue Sapphire and Old Mine Cut Diamond Pave Gold Platinum Navette Ring
Located in Addison, TX
This is an exquisite example of a victorian navette marquise-shaped ring. It is crafted in yellow
Category

Early 20th Century Late Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Platinum

2.25ctw Blue Sapphire and Old Mine Cut Diamond Pave Gold Platinum Navette Ring
Located in Addison, TX
This is an exquisite example of a victorian navette marquise-shaped ring. It is crafted in yellow
Category

Early 20th Century Late Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Platinum

Vintage Art Deco Amethyst Navette Ring 18k White Gold Sz 6.5 Estate Fine Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
loupe). The stylish Art Deco era ring features a navette design with the amethyst securely set in a
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Victorian 3.65 CTW Burmese Ruby Old Mine Cut Diamond Navette Ring in 18K Gold
Located in Boston, MA
A victorian period No Heat Burmese ruby and old mine cut diamond navette form ring. Centered by
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Navette Style Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A long and lovely Navette ring featuring 2.13 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds. They are set
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Navette-Shaped Diamond Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
A classic filigree navette ring crafted in platinum and enhanced with six white old European cut
Category

Vintage 1930s More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

18K Gold Navette Jade Floral Filigree Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
A vintage 18 karat yellow gold jade filigree navette ring. This ring is centered on a marquise
Category

Vintage 1940s Fashion Rings

Materials

Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond Three Stone Navette Cluster Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This stunning navette ring holds three stunning blue sapphires totalling 1carat and is surrounded
Category

Vintage 1910s British Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

18W Horizontal Diamond Navette Cluster Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
A vintage 18 karat white gold diamond navette ring. This ring features a horizontal marquise design
Category

1990s Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage Ruby and Diamond Navette Style Leaf Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a vintage 18ct yellow gold ruby and diamond navette ring. The centre of the ring is
Category

20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Navette Blue Sapphire Diamond Platinum and Gold Ring
Located in Towson, MD
This enchanting Edwardian navette ring exudes vintage elegance with its delicate craftsmanship and
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum

1920s Navette Old Mine Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Cape May, NJ
Art Deco 18K White Gold 1.5 CTW Old Mine Cut Diamond Navette Ring. The ring is in excellent estate
Category

Vintage 1910s American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Navette Pinky Ring Opal Seed Pearls Vintage 14 Karat Gold
Located in Torrance, CA
Victorian era navette ring (circa 1880s to 1900s), crafted in 14 karat yellow gold. Opals graduate
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Platinum and 18K Yellow Gold 0.80ct Diamond and Sapphire Na
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
Expect the 18th-century charm of this navette ring to attract attention. This exquisite ring
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Platinum Old European Cut Natural Diamond Sapphire Cocktail Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
Art Deco Platinum Old European Cut Natural Diamond & Sapphire Cocktail Navette Ring Metal
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

French Antique Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
else in the world, withstanding the tough test of time. This navette ring features a vivacious blue
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian Diamond Ring 18k Yellow Gold Small Navette Sz 4 Fine Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
Stylish antique Victorian diamond navette ring (circa 1880s to 1900s) crafted in 18 karat yellow
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ruby and Old Cut Diamond 18 Carat Yellow Gold Marquise Shape Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
diamond weight of 0.80ct. A fantastic piece, true to the antique navette ring style, that gracefully
Category

Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

English Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond Navette Cluster Ring
Located in Fairfield, CT
This exquisite English Victorian navette ring is a captivating piece of historical jewelry. Crafted
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian Diamond Sapphire 18 Karat Yellow Gold Navette Filigree Dinner Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Edwardian Diamond Sapphire Platinum Yellow Gold Navette Filigree Dinner Ring. Featuring one old
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Russian Demantoid and Rose Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Hummelstown, PA
From the late 19th century Russia comes this graceful and finger elongating antique navette ring
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique Victorian Ruby Diamond Ring 18K Gold Cluster Navette Design - 1886
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer this superb Victorian 18ct gold ruby and diamond navette ring made in
Category

Antique 19th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Vintage Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
this Item: Have you been looking for the perfect Navette ring with a brilliant color contrast? A
Category

Vintage 1980s American Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Nouveau 1900s Ring in 18kt Gold with Diamonds and Sapphire
Located in Aventura, FL
Introducing a stunning Art Nouveau Navette Ring, meticulously crafted in 18kt yellow gold. This
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...

Old Mine Cut Diamond 18 Carat and Platinum Marquise Shape Cluster Ring, c1910
Located in London, GB
An absolutely magnificent antique navette ring, masterfully crafted in buttery 18ct yellow gold and
Category

Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

One Vintage GIA 1.04 Oval Cut Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
navette ring, this piece marries the sharp edges of a strong will with a soft and opulent elegance. A semi
Category

1990s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, White Gold

Navette Style Diamond Ring
Located in Webster, NY
Navette style round brilliant cut diamond ring crafted in 14k white gold. Gemstone: Diamond
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

10Y Filigree Navette Signet Ring
Located in McLeansville, NC
A vintage 10 karat yellow gold filigree navette signet ring. This ring features a navette shape
Category

Vintage 1970s Fashion Rings

Materials

Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Navette Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Navette Diamond Cluster Ring, circa 1930. This Vintage Navette Diamond Cluster Ring is a
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold

Georgian Navette Sepia Mourning Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
A spectacular antique Georgian mourning ring set with a stunning navette shaped sepia. The sepia
Category

Antique 1790s British Georgian More Rings

Materials

9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ultra-Long “Navette” Shaped Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
The elongated and feminine “navette” shape looks elegant on the finger, similar to an exaggerated
Category

Mid-20th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Vintage Navette Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamonds weighing approximately 1.50 carats total. Crafted in platinum. Ring size 4-1/2 and can easily be
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco Navette Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Greenwich, CT
An elegant navette shaped diamond ring epitomizes the glamour and romanticism of the Art Deco era
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Diamond Pave Navette-Style Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
diamonds which are pave-set over a long-stretched dome gold mounting, in a navette style. This lovely ring
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Antique Victorian Diamond Navette Dinner Ring
Located in Denver, CO
Six Old European cut diamonds glisten within a navette shaped plaque bordered by twelve single cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold

Navette Style Marquise Shaped Diamond Ring
Located in Webster, NY
Marquise shaped cluster halo diamond ring crafted in 14K yellow gold. Diamond Carat Weight
Category

20th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

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Navette Rings For Sale on 1stDibs

Browse a vast assortment of navette rings for sale on 1stDibs. All of the items for sale were constructed with extraordinary care, often using gold, 18k gold and yellow gold. Our selection of items includes 1514 vintage examples as well as 164 contemporary versions. Our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and pieces in stock date back to the 18th Century while others were produced as recently as the 21st Century. Our collection of navette rings includes designs that are universally popular, but Victorian and Art Deco styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but Luigi Ferrara, Mattioli and Cartier produced popular versions that are worth a look. While most can agree that any pick from our collection easily elevates most outfits, but the choice of diamond versions from the 1031 available is guaranteed to add a special touch to your ensemble. A selection of old european cut, round cut and brilliant cut can be found today on these pages. If you’re browsing the variety of navette rings for sale, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for men.

How Much are Navette Rings?

Prices for navette rings can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $95 and can go as high as $436,746, while navette rings, on average, fetch $2,996.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Finding the Right Rings for You

Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.

No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.

Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.

Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry

The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.

Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.

Questions About Navette Rings
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Navette is another word that describes the marquise shape of a gemstone. A navette is an elongated oval that’s pointed at both ends and is typically used to describe the curve of a gem rather than a faceted gemstone. You’ll find a variety of Navette-shaped jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.