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Pair of Early Victorian Ruby and Diamond Cluster Earrings
Located in London, GB
A pair of early Victorian ruby and diamond cluster earrings, each earring set with a central
Category

Antique 1850s British Early Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 15k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

A pair of late Victorian diamond cluster drop earrings
Located in London, GB
A pair of late Victorian diamond cluster drop earrings, each earring featuring an old-cut diamond
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Late Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Pair of Late Victorian Coral and Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in London, GB
A pair of late Victorian coral and diamond drop earrings, the top of each set with a round coral
Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold

A pair of late 19th century diamond-set bow earrings
Located in London, GB
A pair of late 19th century diamond-set bow earrings, each bow set with twenty-one small old mine
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Victorian Garnet, Diamond and Gold Suite
Located in London, GB
A Victorian garnet, diamond and gold suite, the necklace with five graduating cabochon-cut round
Category

Antique 1860s British Victorian Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond Dangle Earrings
Located in Joelton, TN
Antique Victorian Dangle Old Mine Cut Diamond Earrings with new lever back. .60 diamond ctw. CIRCA
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond Dangle Earrings
Located in Atlanta, GA
These Victorian earrings feature 18 old mine cut diamonds in a small dangle earring. They have a
Category

American Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian Old-Mine Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Victorian old-mine diamond drop earrings in a crimped blackened silver and gold setting.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sterling Silver, 15k Gold

Antique Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A fine pair of Victorian diamond earrings, each one set with a beautiful half carat old mine cut
Category

Antique 19th Century English Late Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 15k Gold

Old Mine Cut Diamond Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
3.50ctw IJ/SI3 old Mine cut diamonds set in vintage 14k rose gold mountings. Circa 1890.
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian Gold, Silver and Old Mine Cut Diamonds Stud Drop Earrings
Located in Pamplona, Navarra
silver. Condition: Good. Old mine cut diamonds. Total approximate diamond carat weight: 1.2 carats
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Victorian 2.0 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond Rare Floret Daisy Earrings
Located in Napoli, IT
Drop from Heaven! A rare and delightful authentic Victorian Diamond drop earrings overwhelmed by
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian 18 Karat and Silver Emeralds and Old Mine Cut Diamond Earrings
Located in Miami, FL
2.75ctw. • 26 old mine cut diamonds H-I/VS2 4.25ctw. Earrings measure: 36mm by 16mm by 5mm Total weight
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

Intricate Victorian Mine Cut Diamond Gold Earrings
Located in Lambertville, NJ
old mine cut diamonds totaling approx 1.0cts. Touch marks on the original ear wires that can not be
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Chandelier Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Gorgeous Victorian Salt Water Natural Pearl .75 CT Old Mine Cut Diamond Earrings
Located in Napoli, IT
– not marked Boasting a selection of 24 old mine cut Diamonds totalling approx .75 CT on both earrings
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Victorian 18ct Gold Pearl and Old Cut Diamond Drop Earrings, Circa 1870
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
Victorian earrings have long been a highly sought after antique jewellery staple and these 18ct
Category

Antique 1870s High Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Victorian Ruby Diamond Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Square French Cut Rubies Approximately 1.00 TCW surrounded by 16 old mine cut diamond 1.50 TCW
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian 2.80 Carat Old Cut Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in Napoli, IT
life from a line of old mine cut Diamonds leading to the main flower head richly set with Diamonds
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian 18 Karat Gold Diamonds Earrings
Located in Miami, FL
Unique and fabulous in style, this lovely pair of earrings is centered with 2 old mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique French Enamel Natural Pearl Old Mine Cut Diamond Gold Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
with four Old Mine Cut Diamonds and two suspended Burma Rubies Enhancing the earrings a delicate, well
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French High Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond Flower Earrings
Located in San Francisco, CA
motif. Each centers an old mine-cut diamond over one carat in size, the petals encrusted with old mine
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold Diamond Earrings
Located in Miami, FL
Period: Victorian (1836-1901) Composition: 18K gold and silver. Stones: • 2 Old mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian More Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Old Cut Diamond gold Leverback Earrings
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A stunning pair of Victorian 18k gold earrings, set with old mine cut diamonds. They have been
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian 1.50 Carat Double Stud Old Cut Diamond Gold Earrings
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
The most charming, quirky and beautiful earrings. A double diamond drop with a high white old cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Brown Diamond, Diamond, 9k Gold

Victorian 18 Karat Gold and Silver Diamonds Earrings
Located in Miami, FL
This fascinating design is centered with 2 old mine cut diamonds of H-SI2 quality that weigh 0.8ctw
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian Style Diamond Set Stud Earrings, Circa 1960
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A sweet pair of 9ct gold vintage Victorian style earrings set with two star set Old Cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1960s Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 2.55 Carat Old Cut Diamond and Black Enamel Cluster Earrings
Located in Essex, GB
An astoundingly beautiful pair of antique diamond earrings. Each earring is set with a old cut
Category

Early 20th Century French Clip-on Earrings

Materials

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

Victorian Antique 18 Karat Gold and Silver Diamond Earrings
Located in Miami, FL
Period: Victorian (1836-1900) Composition: 18k gold and Silver • 2 old mine cut diamonds H-SI2
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian More Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian .80 Carat Diamond Solitaire Pretty Target Earrings
Located in Napoli, IT
Prettiest Victorian Target Earrings A pair of Diamond solitaire earrings authentic Victorian
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond Floral Earrings
Located in Atlanta, GA
14k yellow gold earrings with 2 old mine cut diamonds weighing 1.50 carats and 20 rose cut diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian Diamond Cluster Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Old Mine and Old European Cut diamonds (41 diamonds in each earring) which total approximately 4
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Amethyst and Diamond Victorian Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Amethyst earrings surrounded by chunky Old mine cut diamonds, 1.50 carats. The Amethyst
Victorian Natural Pearl and Old Cut Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Essex, GB
, with the articulated bottom part of the earrings featuring an old cut diamond set crescent and a
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Diamond Gold Cluster Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Victorian diamond cluster earrings with 18 Old Mine Cut diamonds, approximately 1.50
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian circa 1850 Certified 3.82 Carat Diamond Enamel Chandelier Earrings
Located in Berlin, Berlin
four carats of old mine cut diamonds are set into high carat gold, enameled in the coveted forget-me
Category

Antique 1850s Unknown High Victorian Chandelier Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Diamond Cluster Gold Earrings
Located in Madison area, WI
old mine-, single-, and Swiss-cut diamonds for a total weight of .74 carats (total weight is for both
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique, 19th Century, Early Victorian, Large Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in Rochford, Essex
of 19th century diamond earrings set with old mine cut diamonds. These earrings are exquisite
Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian diamond earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
pair of old mine cut diamond and 18k gold earrings
Victorian Emerald Diamond Gold Cluster Earrings
Located in Chestnut Hill, MA
emeralds having an approximate total weight of 1.50 carats surrounded by 16 Old Mine Cut diamonds, 8 in
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Rare Victorian Emerald and Diamond Earrings
Located in Atlanta, GA
scintillating old mine and rose-cut diamonds all within a darkened silver background in an "inside/outside
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Diamond Chandelier Earrings
Located in San Francisco, CA
, old mine and antique pear cut diamonds cascade from the ear in these pagoda style original Victorian
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Chandelier Earrings

Materials

Diamond

Antique Victorian Moonstone Diamond Crescent Stud Earring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A cool Victorian Crescent Moon single stud earring. Set with old mine cut diamonds and a central
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Moonstone, 15k Gold, Silver

Late 19th Century Victorian Drop Diamond Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
earrings are filled with rose cut and mine cut diamonds. The top is a single flower of these diamonds that
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Lovely Victorian Revival Opal Diamond Yellow Gold Earrings
Located in Lombard, IL
Lovely Victorian Revival opal diamond and yellow gold earrings, pendant style, set with two heart
Category

Vintage 1930s Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold

Victorian Silver Topped Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Victorian silver topped diamond drop earrings pinched collet and bead set with Old Mine cut & early
Category

Antique 1860s Unknown Victorian Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Victorian Diamond Earrings
Located in West Hollywood, CA
9K YG with silver prong settings & 3 graduated sizes old mine cut diamonds approx 1.30cts total
Antique Victorian 2.50 Carat Diamond Gold Silver Stud Earrings
Located in Napoli, IT
Terrific pair of antique Diamond solitaire ear studs. Boasting 2 old mine cut Diamonds totalling
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian 1.49 Carat Diamond and 2.88 Carat Sapphire Earrings
Located in Essex, GB
A sensational pair of antique earrings. Each cluster is set with an (approx.) 0.65 carat old mine
Category

Early 20th Century French Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Si...

Antique Sapphire Diamond Gold Dangle Earrings
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Beautiful 18K yellow gold earrings featuring sapphires, rose cut and old mine cut diamonds. Old
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Cobble Stone Diamond Cluster Earrings
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A fine pair of old mine cut diamond cluster earrings with lever backs. Approximately a carat of
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Rose Gold Diamond Flower Earrings
Located in Sale, Cheshire
The prettiest pair of diamond flower earrings... dating from the late Victorian era they're
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Victorian Lever-Back Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Early Victorian 5.45 Carat Diamond Rare Drop Earrings, circa 1840
Located in Napoli, IT
Rare Heirloom Breathtaking stunning pair of early Victorian Diamond drop earrings, 1840 ca Classy
Category

Antique 1840s Early Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian diamond earring and ring set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing 18k gold and old mine cut diamond earring and ring set, 8.80 carats in total. The bigger
Late Victorian Diamond, Pearl Antique Earrings 18 Karat Gold and Sterling Silver
Located in Tampa, FL
Magnificent Late Victorian Diamond and Assembled Cultured Blister Pearl dangle Antique earrings
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Late Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian Non-Heated Natural Pearl Sapphire Diamond Silver Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Calabasas, CA
Exquisite Victorian pendant earrings, all original. Each earring is backed in 15 karat gold, topped
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Pearl, Sapphire, White Diamond, Gold, Sterling Silver

Opal and Diamond Earrings
Located in Atlanta, GA
surmounted by lines of old mine diamonds. A nice wearable pair of opal earrings that compliment any outfit
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Emerald Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
emerald-cut emerald mounted in 18-carat gold claws, surrounded by 12 old mine-cut diamonds to form an oval
Category

Early 20th Century British Late Victorian Dangle Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

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Old Mine Diamond Earrings Victorian For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the old mine diamond earrings victorian you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using gold, 18k gold and silver. You can easily find a 575 antique edition and 28 modern creations to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect old mine diamond earrings victorian among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 18th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Finding an appealing old mine diamond earrings victorian — no matter the origin — is easy, but Antinori Fine Jewels, Mindi Mond and Fred Leighton each produced a popular version that is worth a look. Today, if you’re looking for an old mine cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes old european cut and round cut alternatives. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking an old mine diamond earrings victorian, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is an Old Mine Diamond Earrings Victorian?

The price for an old mine diamond earrings victorian starts at $254 and tops out at $495,000 with these earrings, on average, selling for $6,508.

A Close Look at Victorian Jewelry

The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.

Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.

The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.

Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.

Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs. 

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 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.