Rough Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Link Bracelets
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Mixed Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Romantic Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
Vintage 1960s British Brooches
Sapphire, Gold
Early 20th Century Signet Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Chain Necklaces
Sapphire, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
20th Century Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1910s Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire
2010s American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary More Rings
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century British Stud Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1940s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, White Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Link Bracelets
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Platinum, 18k Gold
1990s Unknown Retro Multi-Strand Necklaces
Chalcedony, Diamond, Hematite, Malachite, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold...
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Yellow...
2010s Italian Band Rings
Green Sapphire, Sterling Silver, Yellow Gold
2010s American Artist Pendant Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Iolite, Sapphire, Rhodium, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Beaded Bracelets
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold, White Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Figurines and Sculptures
Amber, Jade, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
20th Century Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, Turquoise, Blue Sapphire, White Gold
2010s Indian Artist Frames
Carnelian, Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire
2010s Russian Contemporary Figurines and Sculptures
Amethyst, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Quartz, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, ...
2010s Russian Contemporary Figurines and Sculptures
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Amethyst, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Quartz, ...
2010s American Engagement Rings
Sapphire, Tourmaline, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Opal, Pink Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Yellow...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Emerald, Jade, Black Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Vermeil, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary More Bracelets
Amber, Citrine, Yellow Sapphire, Topaz, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Solitaire Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Modern Bracelets
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Mixed Metal
2010s American Artisan Cuff Bracelets
Sapphire, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Dangle Earrings
Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Spanish Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
2010s Australian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Swiss Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Citrine, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Beaded Necklaces
Black Pearl, Iolite, Sapphire, Platinum, White Gold
2010s Italian Band Rings
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire
2010s Italian Modern Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire
2010s Indian Artist Frames
Carnelian, Emerald, Garnet, Yellow Sapphire
2010s Indian Artisan Frames
Carnelian, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire
2010s Indian Artisan Frames
Emerald, Garnet, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Stud Earrings
Yellow Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, ...
2010s Indian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose...
2010s French Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s American Artist Stud Earrings
Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s American Artist Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian More Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Modern Cluster Rings
Black Diamond, Labradorite, Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k...
Early 2000s American Modern Brooches
Amethyst, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Swiss Contemporary Wrist Watches
Sapphire, Steel, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, Pearl, Vermeil, Sterling Silver, Gold
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Rough Sapphire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Rough 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.