Old European Cut Diamond Earrings
Antique 1860s British Early Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Drop Earrings
Diamond, Jade, Onyx, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1930s Egyptian Renaissance Revival Dangle Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1930s Unknown Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 15k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
20th Century Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Platinum
Antique 19th Century Victorian Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Sapphire, Platinum, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s English Victorian Stud Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, White Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Retro Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1920s British Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Emerald, Natural Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1950s Retro Drop Earrings
14k Gold
Vintage 1930s European Jugendstil Dangle Earrings
18k Gold
20th Century Cluster Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s European Retro Dangle Earrings
18k Gold
Antique 19th Century French Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Silver
Vintage 1930s Russian Art Deco Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1960s European Retro Dangle Earrings
22k Gold
Vintage 1930s European Art Deco Dangle Earrings
18k Gold
Vintage 1930s European Greek Revival Dangle Earrings
18k Gold
Vintage 1980s European Russian Revival Dangle Earrings
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1920s European Arts and Crafts Stud Earrings
Tourmaline, 14k Gold
Vintage 1960s European Retro Stud Earrings
Citrine, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Russian Art Nouveau Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
Vintage 1970s Austrian Retro Dangle Earrings
Garnet, 14k Gold
Vintage 1950s European Retro Dangle Earrings
Carnelian, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Chalcedony, 18k Gold
Vintage 1930s European Art Deco Lever-Back Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold
1990s Swedish Renaissance Revival Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
Vintage 1960s Asian Retro Dangle Earrings
Ruby, 22k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Clip-on Earrings
White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Drop Earrings
Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1930s Swedish Retro Dangle Earrings
Spinel, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century European Retro Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Finnish Retro Dangle Earrings
Spinel, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1950s Swedish Retro Dangle Earrings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s European Retro Lever-Back Earrings
Zircon, 14k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1870s European Etruscan Revival Dangle Earrings
18k Gold, 22k Gold
Vintage 1980s Swedish Retro Dangle Earrings
Chalcedony, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Finnish Retro Dangle Earrings
Spinel, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1950s European Retro Dangle Earrings
Coral, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s European Retro Stud Earrings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Antique 1770s Portuguese Georgian Dangle Earrings
Quartz, Rock Crystal, Silver
Vintage 1930s Swedish Retro Dangle Earrings
18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Ukrainian Art Nouveau Dangle Earrings
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1950s Swedish Jugendstil Dangle Earrings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1930s Finnish Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Spinel, 14k Gold
Vintage 1960s Retro Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, 18k Gold
Antique 1850s Swedish Arts and Crafts Stud Earrings
18k Gold
Antique 1870s Swedish Renaissance Revival Dangle Earrings
18k Gold
Antique 1860s Swedish Arts and Crafts Dangle Earrings
18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Russian Russian Revival Dangle Earrings
14k Gold
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Dangle Earrings
Spinel, 14k Gold
Vintage 1910s Russian Art Nouveau Hoop Earrings
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1960s Swedish Retro Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, 18k Gold
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Old European Cut Diamond Earrings For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Old European Cut Diamond Earrings?
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 rings, vintage 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 Earrings for You
In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.
Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.
Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.
While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023How old an old European-cut diamond is varies. The old European cut is a precursor to the modern round brilliant cut. The stone appears circular when looked at from the top (because of its low table or largest facet) and has a high crown (the part above the middle of the stone) with larger facets. The tip of the stone, or the culet, is flat instead of pointed. This style was used predominantly in the 19th century, hence the name. It is best to consult a certified appraiser for assistance with dating and identifying antique jewelry. On 1stDibs, find a variety of European-cut diamond jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Although old European cut diamonds are often priced lower than modern cuts, due to scarcity, they can sometimes be more valuable than modern cut diamonds.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Jewelry makers stopped using the old European cut for diamond and other gemstone jewelry around 1930. The style was common during the Art Deco period, but the brilliant cut became popular in the years that followed. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Old European cut diamond gemstone jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021Yes, old European cut diamonds can be worth more than many other cut diamonds as they are not produced anymore. This cut was developed and popularized between the years 1890 and 1930 and is likely to be found in an antique ring belonging to this period and featuring a round-cut diamond.
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