Sapphire Beads
Late 20th Century Italian Dangle Earrings
Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, Blue ...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, Blue ...
Vintage 1970s French Modern Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Beaded Bracelets
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Beaded Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
Vintage 1980s British Modern Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, 9k Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
1990s American Art Deco Beaded Bracelets
Silver
Late 20th Century Beaded Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Bracelets
White Diamond, Black Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Beaded Bracelets
Aquamarine, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Tanzanite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Russian Russian Empire Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Gold, Silver, Enamel, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Unknown Link Bracelets
Peridot, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Vintage 1930s American Art Nouveau More Jewelry
2010s Italian Artisan More Bracelets
Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Silver
Early 20th Century French Aesthetic Evening Dresses
1920s French Aesthetic Evening Dresses
2010s Italian Artisan Dangle Earrings
Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, Coral, Silver
2010s Italian Artisan More Bracelets
Pearl, Ruby, Green Sapphire, Tsavorite, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings
Onyx, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s British Choker Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, 9k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Blue Sapphire, Green Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Contemporary Drop Earrings
Coral, White Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Quartz, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Link Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Oriental Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sa...
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Early 2000s Collectible Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Link Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Oriental Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Sapphire, Black P...
21st Century and Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century British Art Deco Brooches
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Israeli Link Necklaces
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century English Edwardian Band Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold
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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.