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Antique Victorian 18ct Gold Ruby Diamond Marquise Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
/navette shaped ring. Set with a rectangular, natural ruby & beautiful natural diamonds. The stones are set
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Handcraft 9 Karat Yellow Gold Diamonds Cocktail Ring
Located in Marcianise, IT
This exquisite marquise-shaped (navette) cluster ring is a stunning blend of timeless elegance and
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 1880s Rose Cut Diamond Russian Gold Ring
Located in Cairo, EG
Antique imperial Russian era rose cut diamond ring in navette style with an estimate diamond weight
Category

Antique Early 1800s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

14k Gold

Vintage Citrine Crystal Statement Flower Ring 1950s
Located in Wilmslow, GB
A statement Vintage Crystal Ring. Featuring elongated navette citrine crystal stones with aurora
Category

Vintage 1950s Cocktail Rings

Boucheron, France Mid-Century Gold, Turquoise, and Diamond Cluster Ring
By Boucheron
Located in New York, NY
A Mid-Century turquoise, diamond, and gold navette shaped ring, centered by an oval cabochon
Category

Vintage 1950s French Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold

Art Deco Style Baguette Cut Emerald White Diamond White Gold Cocktail Ring
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
Brilliant Cut Diamonds. This Ring has 0.38 Carats Natural Zambia Navette Cut Emerald. This Ring is inspired
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold

Aquamarine Cluster Ring in Silver and Gold. Portuguese, late 18th century.
Located in London, GB
: 2.8 × 1.9 cm. Ring size: O (UK) / 7.25 (US) / 55 (EU). Weight: 8.3 grams. This fine navette-shaped
Category

Antique 18th Century Cluster Rings

Elongated Floral Design Statement Ring 18K Gold 15.9g V1104
Located in Osprey, FL
Make a statement with this bold, 18K gold navette-style ring, featuring a vibrant elongated floral
Category

2010s American Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Art Deco Emerald White Diamond Aquamarine White Gold Triple Cocktail Ring Set
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
Diamonds. This Ring has 0.55 Carats of Natural Zambia Navette Cut Emerald. This Ring has a 1.40 Carats Pear
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Aquamarine, White Gold, 18k Gold

Art Deco Emerald White Diamond Sapphire Yellow Gold Triple Cocktail Ring Set
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
Diamonds. This Ring has 0.50 Carats of Natural Zambia Navette Cut Emerald. This Ring has a 2.93 Carats
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yell...

Art Deco Style Emerald Diamond Aquamarine Yellow Gold Triple Cocktail Ring Set
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
Diamonds. This Ring has 0.20 Carats of Natural Zambia Navette Cut Emerald. This Ring has a 1.40 Carats Pear
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Aquamarine, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold

.925 Sterling Silver 1.0 Cttw Round Baguette-Cut Diamond Fashion Ring
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous navette shaped elongated cocktail ring is crafted in 92.5% sterling silver. One carat
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

.925 Sterling Silver 1.0 Cttw Round Baguette-Cut Diamond Fashion Ring
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous navette shaped elongated cocktail ring is crafted in 92.5% sterling silver. One carat
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

Antique 19th Century Portuguese Diamond Floral Ring Silver Gold Hallmarks Makers
Located in Lisbon, PT
. A poetic jewel from 19th-century Portugal, this navette-shaped floral ring is masterfully crafted in
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Portuguese Late Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Art Deco 10 Karat Tri-Tone Cameo Diamond Ring
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Art Deco 10 Karat Tri-Tone Yellow, Rose, and White Gold Cameo Diamond Ring. The navette-shaped ring
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Dome Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold

Impressive 34.75 Carats Diamonds Platinum 18 Kt. White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Rome, IT
Platinum and 18 kt. white gold ring with navette, baguettes and round-cut diamonds. Navette diamond
Category

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco 0.70 Carat Emerald and 2.42 Carat Diamond, Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
, platinum navette shaped cluster cocktail ring; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Platinum

14K Yellow Gold Large Scale Coral, and Diamond Ring
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This lovely and quite large vintage fashion ring features, at it's center. a bright orange
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Fashion Rings

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Art Deco 1.46Ct Diamond and Platinum Cluster Engagement Ring Circa 1920
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
. Condition This stunning antique diamond navette cocktail ring is excellent quality, set with two feature
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique 15ct Gold Victorian Diamond Enamel Crowned Heart Marquise Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Marquise Ring 15ct Gold Tested Circa 1850 Fabulous, early Victorian ring. Beautiful
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Multi-Gem Cluster Ring Diamonds Rubis Emeralds
Located in MONTMORENCY, FR
A stunning example of late Victorian jewelry design, this 18K yellow gold (750‰) navette-shaped
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Marquise-Shaped 18K Gold Ring with 0.70 ct Old-Mine Diamond 18 Old mine
Located in MONTMORENCY, FR
This striking navette-style ring, crafted in warm 18K yellow gold (750‰), features a bezel-set old
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

1932 Nordic Ring Diamonds solid 18K Gold Silver US6.75 / 3.96gr
Located in SE
Old Diamond ring with navette or boat shaped openwork crown with Silver clusters melted into solid
Category

Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Art Deco Diamond Dinner Ring
Located in Denver, CO
A trio of Old European-cut diamonds lines the center of this elongated navette-shaped Art Deco
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Vintage Diamond Eternity Ring Sz 4.75 Mid Century Platinum Band Bridal Wedding
Located in Torrance, CA
wave like pattern with navette stations. The ring is ideal worn alone as a statement band or stacked
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

.925 Sterling Silver 1-1/8 Cttw Diamond Cluster Triple Halo Knot Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless, this gorgeous 92.5% sterling silver and diamond cocktail ring features your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

.925 Sterling Silver 1-1/8 Cttw Diamond Cluster Triple Halo Knot Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless, this gorgeous 92.5% sterling silver and diamond cocktail ring features your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

.925 Sterling Silver 1-1/8 Cttw Diamond Cluster Triple Halo Knot Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless, this gorgeous 92.5% sterling silver and diamond cocktail ring features your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

.925 Sterling Silver 1-1/8 Cttw Diamond Cluster Triple Halo Knot Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless, this gorgeous 92.5% sterling silver and diamond cocktail ring features your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

.925 Sterling Silver 1-1/8 Cttw Diamond Cluster Triple Halo Knot Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless, this gorgeous 92.5% sterling silver and diamond cocktail ring features your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

.925 Sterling Silver 1-1/8 Cttw Diamond Cluster Triple Halo Knot Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless, this gorgeous 92.5% sterling silver and diamond cocktail ring features your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

.925 Sterling Silver 1-1/8 Cttw Diamond Cluster Triple Halo Knot Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless, this gorgeous 92.5% sterling silver and diamond cocktail ring features your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

.925 Sterling Silver 1-1/8 Cttw Diamond Cluster Triple Halo Knot Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless, this gorgeous 92.5% sterling silver and diamond cocktail ring features your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

.925 Sterling Silver 1-1/8 Cttw Diamond Cluster Triple Halo Knot Cocktail Ring
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and timeless, this gorgeous 92.5% sterling silver and diamond cocktail ring features your
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Rhodium

1923 Ring natural Sapphire Diamonds solid 18K Gold Platinum ØUS6.75 / 2.65gr
Located in SE
This ring has a navette or boat-shaped crown with top part in Platinum melted into a solid 18K
Category

Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Ring 1ct Sapphire 1 ctw Diamonds solid 14K Rose ØUS 5.5 / 3.4gr
Located in SE
This old ring has a navette or boat-shaped crown with a Silver top on solid 14K Rose Gold set with
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Silver, 14k Gold

1917 Halo Ring Natural 1ct Sapphire Diamonds solid 18K Gold Silver ØUS6 / 2.4gr
Located in SE
This ring has a navette or boat-shaped crown with Silver or White Gold clusters melted into a solid
Category

Vintage 1910s Swedish Art Nouveau Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Antique Ring 0.5ctw Sapphires 1ctw Diamonds solid 18K Green Gold ØUS 7.75 / 4gr
Located in SE
This old ring has navette or boat shaped crown with White Gold / or Platinum top on solid 18K Green
Category

Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

1938 Ring Natural 1ct. Sapphire Diamonds solid 18K Gold Platinum ØUS 6.5 / 3gr
Located in SE
This ring has navette or boat shaped crown with Platinum clusters melted into solid 18K Rose Gold
Category

Vintage 1930s European Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Halo Ring 1 ct Sapphire Diamonds solid 14K Rose Gold US 3.75 / 2.8gr
Located in SE
This ring has navette or boat shaped crown set with marquise cut natural Sapphire surrounded with
Category

Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Rose Gold, 14k Gold

W. A. Bolin, old marquise cut diamond approx. 1.50 ct, Stockholm 1943.
By BOLIN
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
jewelry. A 1950s navette-cut diamond ring set west to east is a striking and sophisticated piece that
Category

Vintage 1940s Swedish Art Deco Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

A Continental Pearl, Diamond And Synthetic Ruby Navette Ring
Located in London, GB
A Continental Turn-of-the-last-century pearl, diamond and ruby navette ring, to the centre a round
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Edwardian Natural Pearl and Diamond Navette-Shaped Ring
Located in London, GB
A Belle Epoque natural pearl and diamond navette-shaped ring, the pearl measuring 6.9-7.0 x 4.8mm
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum

Belle Epoque Pearl, Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in London, GB
A Belle Epoque pearl, ruby and diamond navette-shaped ring, the old cushion-cut diamond estimated
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Diamond and Enamel Navette Ring
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful five fine brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately .68ct) Navette ring. The ring is 14k
Category

Mid-20th Century American More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel

French Art Deco Navette Ring
Located in Houston, TX
This Art Deco navette ring is a stunning example of early 20th-century jewelry. Set with a dazzling
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Antique Victorian Ruby and Diamond Navette Ring
Located in London, GB
Antique Victorian Ruby and Diamond Navette Ring. Ruby is approx 0.7cts and approx 1.1cts of old cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British High Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

18k Gold

French Emerald Diamond Gold Navette Ring
Located in Paris, FR
Yellow gold navette ring (quality mark: eagle's head) with a central ruby, weight estimated around
Category

Vintage 1980s French Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique Gold Navette Ring with Old Cut Diamonds, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Stunning yellow 18 Kt gold navette ring (quality mark: owl) set with old mine cut diamonds, which
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

French Gold Navette Ring with Ruby and Diamonds, circa 1980
Located in Paris, FR
Yellow gold navette ring (quality mark: eagle's head) with a central ruby, weight estimated around
Category

Vintage 1980s French Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique 18 Karat White Gold and Diamond Navette Ring, 1930s
Located in Bologna, IT
This very elegant and beautiful navette ring is modelled in 18K white gold throughout and dates
Category

Vintage 1930s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Edwardian 4.75cts Diamonds Navette Ring on Gold and Platinum
Located in PARIS, FR
18Kt yellow gold and platinum Edwardian navette ring entirely paved with old mine cut diamonds
Category

Early 20th Century French Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Platinum

Victorian Malachite Navette Ring
Located in Austin, TX
Victorian malachite navette shaped ring, in rose gold. Large rich bright green malachite stone set
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Malachite, Gold

Antique Victorian Moonstone Diamond Navette Ring in 2.20ct Moonstone
Located in Kendal, GB
An exquisite antique Navette ring from the mid Victorian era crowned with a wonderful navette
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, Moonstone, Gold

Antique 2.90 Carat Rose Cut Diamond Large-Scale Navette Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
Magnificent, rare large scale navette ring from the Georgian period Crafted of solid 15 Carat rose
Category

Antique 1770s Georgian More Rings

Contemporary Silver Eye Navette Ring
By Angela Hubel
Located in Dublin 2, Dublin 2
Made by Angela Hubel, the Eye ring is crafted in sterling silver with a matte finish. Same as most
Category

2010s German Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Silver

Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond 1.5 Carat Navette Ring 18k 22k ring
Located in Joelton, TN
Stunning Nineteen (19) Old Mine Cut Diamonds clustered in a breathtaking Antique Victorian Navette
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, 22k 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.