Sapphire Beads
Late 20th Century Multi-Strand Necklaces
Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, Ruby, Stainless Steel
2010s Hong Kong Retro Chandelier Earrings
Citrine, Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Dangle Earrings
Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Multi-Strand Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1990s Unknown Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Citrine, Diamond, Sapphire, Tiger s Eye, 14k Gold, Silver
2010s American Modern Fashion Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Necklace Enhancers
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rhodium
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Band Rings
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Pendant Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Fres...
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Dangle Earrings
South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Contemporary Fashion Rings
Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
2010s Hong Kong Modern Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Stud Earrings
South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Silver, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Dangle Earrings
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
2010s Australian Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Star Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches
Diamond, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches
Diamond, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches
Diamond, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches
Diamond, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches
Diamond, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches
Diamond, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Band Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Drop Earrings
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Retro Link Bracelets
White Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Go...
Vintage 1980s French Modern Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Hematite, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Band Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Wedding Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Early 2000s Fashion Rings
14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Sapphire, Turquoise, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Jade, Emerald, Sapphire, 9k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Cocktail Rings
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
20th Century French Hollywood Regency Candelabras
Crystal
2010s Indian Artisan Frames
Carnelian, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire
Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches
Diamond, Sapphire, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1980s Wrist Watches
Diamond, Sapphire, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Link Necklaces
Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century Charm Bracelets
Chalcedony, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Go...
20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Chandelier Earrings
Citrine, Diamond, Gold, Silver
20th Century French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Onyx, Opal, Sapphire, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
1990s French Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Onyx, Opal, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Baroque Revival Cocktail Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s American Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Blue Diamond, Iolite, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Drop Necklaces
Base Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Wrist Watches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Swiss Wrist Watches
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Sapphire Beads For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Sapphire Beads?
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.