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Victorian 18k rose gold ruby diamond snake ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
: Approximately .20 carats Accent stone: Old mine cut diamond Weight: Approximately .10 carats Color: F Clarity
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Diamond Ruby 14 Karat Gold Lion Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Band ring is highly rendered to depict a roaring lion with a flowing mane With an old mine cut
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold

ART DECO 1930 American Geometric Ring Platinum With 2.45 Ctw Diamonds Rubies
Located in Miami, FL
mined natural gemstones, such; Burmese rubies and white colorless diamonds. The ring is designed with a
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, Platinum

Antique Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
0.50ct. Accented by eight old mine cut diamonds with a total weight of approximately 1.00 carat, graded I
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Important Victorian Natural Burmese Ruby 6 Carat and Diamond Ring, circa 1890s
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
spectacular natural unheated Burma Ruby of 6.38ct (SSEF certified), surrounded by a cluster of old-mine cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Silver

GIA Certified Black Enamel Ruby Diamond Platinum Cluster Cocktail Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Platinum ring with black enamel separating natural bright red Rubies and old mine brilliant cut
Category

2010s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Art Deco French Diamond Ruby 18 Karat White Gold Halo Target Engagement Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Target Ring. A dazzling old mine cut bezel set diamond is surrounded by an array of deep hot pink calibrè
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Victorian 2.50 Carat Natural Ruby Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
weighing 2.50 carats of outstanding color, light and clarity, surrounded by 9 Old Mine cut Diamonds each
Category

Antique 1890s English Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique Edwardian Ruby and Diamond Three Stone Trilogy Ring
Located in Hummelstown, PA
old mine-cut diamonds, wrapped in a curvaceous frame of sparkling old single-cut diamonds. Masterfully
Category

Early 20th Century Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Platinum

Antique Art Deco Bailey Banks and Biddle 18K Rose Gold Diamond and Ruby Band
By Bailey, Banks Biddle
Located in Great Neck, NY
incredible ring has a row of beautiful burmese rubies that are nice and bright with 2 rows of chunky old mine
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Ruby, Rose Gold

Antique Victorian 14K Yellow Gold Natural Ruby and Diamond Engagement Ring, GIA
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 14K Yellow Gold Natural Ruby and Diamond Engagement Ring. This
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Cartier Paris, Rare Ruby Diamond Swivelling Ring, C. 1910
By Cartier
Located in Paris, FR
century (C.1910) ring is set with three raws spaced with calibre rubies to one side and old mine cut
Category

Vintage 1910s French Belle Époque Fashion Rings

Materials

Ruby, Diamond, Platinum

Antique French Ruby Sapphire Emerald Diamond Band Ring
Located in London, GB
natural ruby, sapphire, emerald and old mine cut diamond; all of which is contained within a platinum rose
Category

Antique 1890s French Late Victorian Band Rings

Materials

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

ART DECO 1930 Cocktail Ring In Platinum With 2.82 Ctw Diamonds And Rubies
Located in Miami, FL
An art deco quadriform ring with rubies. Stupendous antique cocktail ring, created in America
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, Platinum

Victorian Ruby And Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Victorian Ruby And Old Mine-Cut Diamond Halo Ring There is something so sublime about a
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Edwardian 1.20 Carat Natural Untreated Burma Ruby Diamond Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
, displaying vivid natural color that is simply breathtaking in person! A border of old Mine cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

AGL Certified 1.32 Carat Natural Burmese Ruby Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
CTW H-I VS Old European/Mine cut diamonds Metal: 18k yellow gold Weight: 3.48 grams Size: 6 (US
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Edwardian Burma Ruby Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Antique Cluster Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a cushion cut ruby weighing approximately 1.16 carats - transparent medium purplish red
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Fashion Rings

Materials

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

Art Deco 2.60 Carat Burmese Ruby Diamond Gold Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
very fine natural non-heated Burma (Myanmar) ruby surrounded by old mine cut diamonds. The ring
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby

Victorian 0.51 Carat Diamond Ruby 14 Karat Gold Stackable Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Ring features alternating claw set rubies and diamonds Three old mine cut diamonds weighing
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

No-Heat Burma Ruby Diamond Ring AGL Certified 4.5 Carats
Located in Northampton, MA
approximately .72 carats. West and east we have a beautiful part of chunky old-mine cut stones. These weigh
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

French Antique 1.07 Carat Burmese Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
edge by a circulating array of chunky old mine cut diamonds. A single perfectly matched diamond can be
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Ruby and Diamond Cluster ring 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Fairfield, CT
in person - just something to note. Surrounding the central ruby are .3 carats of old mine cut
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Regard Ring, circa 1860
Located in London, GB
Victorian 'Regard' ring. Horizontally set with two cushion shape old cut natural unenhanced Burmese
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Yellow Gold

The Best Antique Victorian No Heat 1.86 Carat Burmese Ruby Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
Carat Weight: 1.86 Cut: Cushion Color: Purplish Red Clarity: Transparent Accent Diamonds: 4 Old Mine
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vivid D F Victorian 2.05 Carat Diamond Ruby 18 Karat Gold Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
red to red, and old mine cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.80 CTW, GHI color and VS to SI clarity
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Antique Edwardian GIA Burma Ruby Diamond Cluster 18 Karat Gold Navette Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Burma Ruby Damond Cluster Navette Ring. The ring features a GIA certified marquise cut ruby
Category

Vintage 1910s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

1940s Retro 1.20 Carat Diamond Ruby 14 Karat Rose Gold Buckle Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Band style ring designed as a buckle with round cut rubies weighing approximately 0.50 carat
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Retro Band Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold

Edwardian 3.39 CTW No Heat Burma Ruby Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Cluster Ring GIA
Located in Philadelphia, PA
set old mine cut diamonds Weighing approximately 1.50 carats total H to J in color with VS2 clarity
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Georgian Diamond Ruby 14 Karat Gold Silver Cluster Ring, circa 1870
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cluster style ring centering a cushion cut ruby weighing approximately 0.75 carat total, graver set
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Georgian Fashion Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian 0.89 Carat Ruby Diamond Platinum-Topped 18 Karat Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cluster style ring centering a round cut ruby weighing approximately 0.54 carat, vividly red in
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Byzantine-Inspired 18K Gold Ring with Heliodor, Diamonds Ruby in 18 Karat Gold
By Eytan Brandes
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
Eytan Brandes nabbed a few details from ancient Byzantine jewelry for this ring -- the ruby cab on
Category

2010s American Contemporary Solitaire Rings

Materials

Beryl, Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Beryl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yello...

Victorian H.W.L. 0.40 Carat Diamond Ruby 18 Karat Gold Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set to the front with alternating diamonds and rubies 3 old mine cut diamonds weighing
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Belle Époque French Ruby and Diamond 14k Rose Gold Tiara Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Belle Époque French Ruby and Diamond 14k Rose Gold Tiara Ring. Featuring one pear cut ruby
Category

Antique Early 1900s Belle Époque Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Victorian Ruby and Diamond Jacket Ring in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Fairfield, CT
elegance and craftsmanship of the Victorian era. The combination of rich, oval-cut rubies and luminous old
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Band Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Ruby Diamond Cocktail Ring 1.35ct Antique Yellow Gold Original 1890 s
Located in Dearborn, MI
Gold Features a Genuine Natural .75ct Oval Ruby Center Gemstone 2 Old Mine Cushion Cut Diamonds on
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

GIA Certified .95 Carat Ruby Diamond Halo Rose Gold Victorian Engagement Ring
Located in Stamford, CT
Original red ruby diamond halo engagement ring. Circa 1880-1889 with old mine halo of diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

1950 s Vintage 4.53 CTW Thai Ruby Diamond Platinum Burst Cluster Ring GIA
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering an oval cut ruby weighing 2.17 carats - transparent medium purplish red in color Natural
Category

Vintage 1950s Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Victorian Ruby Diamond 14K Rose Gold Antique Lovers Knot Snake Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
total - cushion cut transparent medium red Diamonds are old mine and rose cut - weighing approximately
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Victorian 1.82 Carats Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Cluster Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
, juicy-colored ruby nestled amongst glittering old mine cut diamonds in a cluster-style mounting. Cluster
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 1.82 Carats Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Cluster Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
, juicy-colored ruby nestled amongst glittering old mine cut diamonds in a cluster-style mounting. Cluster
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

GIA Certified No Heat Burma Carved Ruby Diamond Cocktail Rose Gold Ring
By OGI Ltd
Located in New York, NY
14 karat rose gold ring set with no heat carved Burma Ruby with foliate motif Ruby weighing 4.34
Category

2010s American Contemporary Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

1890 s Victorian 2.00 Carats Star Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
. Surrounded by old mine and old European cut diamonds. Weighing in total approximately 0.40 carat - G to I
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Star Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian GCS Burma No Heat Ruby Diamond 18K Gold Silver Cluster Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
of bright white and sparkling old mine cut diamonds. Crafted in 18 karat yellow gold, this ring is
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

1900 Victorian 1.30 Carats Ruby Diamond 14 Karat Gold Toi Et Moi Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Me' With an old mine cut diamond weighing approximately 0.55 carat with K color and SI2 clarity
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Victorian 1.10 CTW Ruby Emerald Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
set and flanked east to west by cushion cut rubies and old mine cut diamonds Rubies weigh
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Arts Crafts 3.73 CTW Ruby Emerald Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
sapphire weighing approximately 1.20 carats Transparent dark blue in color - set below an old pear cut ruby
Category

Antique Early 1900s Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Edwardian Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Five Stone Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
rubies with a total weight of approximately 0.35 carat. Accented by two old mine cut diamonds with a
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold

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

Antique Victorian 14k Gold GIA NO HEAT Oval BURMA Red Ruby Diamond Halo Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
) Natural Genuine Diamonds - Old Mine & Old Single Cut - Prong Set - G-J Color - VS2-I1 Clarity - 0.20ctw
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Synthetic Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
by four calibrè cut synthetic rubies alternating with old mine cut diamonds create an geometrically
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Edwardian English 18K Gold Diamond Ruby Gypsy Ring circa 1911
Located in Cape May, NJ
makers mark which is WKK with each letter inside of the a shield. The center stone is a old mine cut
Category

Vintage 1910s British Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Belle Époque French AGL 1.55 Carat Burma No Heat Ruby Diamond Gold Bypass Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
European and old mine cut diamonds with a radiant glow surround the ruby that creates a visual spectacle
Category

Vintage 1910s French Belle Époque Engagement Rings

Materials

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

AGL Certified Unheated Gem Burma Ruby, 4.71 Cts., and Diamond Plat, Ring c. 1950
Located in Aspen, CO
red spot in its center. This ruby is from "old mine" Burma is an undeniable rarity - just the way the
Category

Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Antique English Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Three Stone Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
brilliant cut ruby weighing approximately 0.35 carat. Accented by two old mine cut diamonds with a total
Category

Antique 1890s English Late Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Circa 1920s GIA Art Deco 1 Carat Ruby and Diamond Ring in 14 Karat Gold
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: This lovely antique ring features a center ruby surrounded by a halo of old cut
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

An 18 Carat Gold French Art Nouveau Ring by André Rambour
Located in Amsterdam, NL
ten rose cut diamond and on top with two old cut diamonds and an emerald in her hair are two flowers
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Fashion Rings

Materials

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

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Old Mine Cut Ruby Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the old mine cut ruby ring you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Frequently made of Gold, Platinum and 18k Gold, this item was constructed with great care. You can easily find a 30 antique edition and 6 modern creations to choose from as well. If you’re looking for an old mine cut ruby ring from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 19th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but 2 Carat and 2.5 Carat carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. See these pages for an old mine cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also old european cut cut and cushion cut cut versions available here, too. Most of our old mine cut ruby ring for sale are for women, but there are 7 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is an Old Mine Cut Ruby Ring?

On average, an old mine cut ruby ring at 1stDibs sells for $3,970, while they’re typically $950 on the low end and $33,276 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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.