Rare Sapphire
1990s Modern Wrist Watches
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Wrist Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary More Jewelry
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass
Vintage 1950s Turkish Tribal Turkish Rugs
Wool
Vintage 1980s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s French Clip-on Earrings
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1980s French Cuff Bracelets
Bronze
2010s British Contemporary Chain Bracelets
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Brooches
Gilt Metal
2010s British Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Garnet, Sterling Silver
2010s Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Padparadscha Sapphire , 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Stud Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Loose Gemstones
Padparadscha Sapphire
2010s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Pink Sapphire, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Retro More Rings
Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s Sri Lankan Engagement Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Bridal Rings
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Drop Earrings
Pearl, Sapphire, White Gold
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Multi-Strand Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, Gold
2010s Sri Lankan Modern Engagement Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Sri Lankan Loose Gemstones
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Cluster Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique 1890s Victorian Link Bracelets
Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire , 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1930s Italian Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Brooches
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Loose Gemstones
Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary Loose Gemstones
Sapphire
Vintage 1980s English Bangles
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Art Deco Hoop Earrings
Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire , 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Art Deco Hoop Earrings
Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire , 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1820s French Cluster Rings
Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Loose Gemstones
Sapphire
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Sri Lankan Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Georgian More Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Late 20th Century Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Solitaire Rings
Yellow Sapphire, Palladium
2010s Wrist Watches
Diamond
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Engagement Rings
Blue Sapphire, Platinum
2010s Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
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Rare Sapphire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Rare Sapphire?
The Legacy of Sapphire in Jewelry Design
On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry.
Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.
Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.
America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.
The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.
You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.
Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).
The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (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.)
Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire jewelry on 1stDibs.
- Is a star sapphire rare?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023Yes, a star sapphire is rarer than other types of sapphires. The gemstones get their name from the natural starburst effect that appears on their faces when you view them under a single overhead light. On 1stDibs, shop a range of star sapphire gemstone jewelry.
- Are purple star sapphires rare?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Yes, natural purple star sapphires are rarer than sapphires of other colors like blue. Natural purple star sapphires come in a variety of hues from light lavender to deep violet. Sapphires can even be colorless, or white, although examples are very rare, since the corundum from which they are formed has to have been untouched by any other element. Non-blue colored sapphires are referred to as “fancy sapphires” and can be pink, purple, orange, yellow or green. Shop a collection of vintage and modern sapphire jewelry from some of the world’s top jewelers on 1stDibs.