Russian Sapphire
Early 20th Century Russian Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire
2010s Russian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary More Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary More Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s Russian Victorian Bangles
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1890s Russian Victorian Boxes and Cases
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Russian Empire Clip-on Earrings
Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Russian Empire Dinnerware and Flat...
Silver
Vintage 1920s Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
2010s Russian Contemporary Models and Miniatures
Jade, Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
Vintage 1910s Russian Brooches
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1890s Russian Late Victorian Boxes and Cases
Agate, Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, En...
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Contemporary Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1880s Russian Art Nouveau Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Vintage 1910s Russian Band Rings
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Russian Edwardian Drop Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Russian Russian Empire Bangles
White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Russian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau More Jewelry
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Russian Victorian Cluster Rings
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Russian Late Victorian Bangles
White Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
20th Century Russian Necklace Enhancers
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
Antique 1890s Russian Russian Empire Chain Bracelets
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Russian More Objets d Art and Vertu
Antique Late 19th Century Russian Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Brooches
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Bangles
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Russian Drop Earrings
Sapphire, Diamond
Russian Cufflinks
Antique Late 19th Century Russian Edwardian Boxes and Cases
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Chain Bracelets
Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Russian Russian Revival More Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, White Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Brooches
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Russian Contemporary Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1910s Russian Russian Empire Boxes and Cases
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Russian Art Nouveau Boxes and Cases
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Silver
20th Century Russian More Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Russian Dangle Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Russian Drop Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Russian Drop Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Russian Russian Empire Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Gold, Silver, Enamel, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Russian Drop Necklaces
Star Sapphire, 14k Gold
Antique 1870s Brooches
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Rose Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Centerpieces and Tazzas
Diamond, Sapphire, Sterling Silver
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Russian Sapphire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Russian 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.