Sapphire Beads
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Emerald, Jade, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Link Necklaces
Sapphire, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Link Bracelets
Purple Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Blue Sa...
2010s Italian Romantic Chain Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Modernist Brooches
Black Star, Aventurine, 10k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Beryl, Yellow Gold, 18k...
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, W...
Vintage 1980s Clamper Bracelets
Emerald, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Chain Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Modern Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Aquamarine, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Modern Bracelets
Diamond, Sapphire, Silver
20th Century American Modern Clip-on Earrings
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Band Rings
Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Band Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Band Rings
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Band Rings
Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Contemporary Band Rings
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Charm Bracelets
Agate, Chalcedony, Malachite, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s Unknown Art Deco Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Multi-Strand Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1920s Cocktail Dresses
Late 20th Century Modernist Chain Necklaces
Crystal, Diamond, Sapphire, Sterling Silver, Silver
1990s Formal Gowns
2010s American Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Thai Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
1940s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
2010s American Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Band Rings
Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Chain Bracelets
Sapphire, Yellow Gold
1990s Chain Necklaces
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire
2010s American Modern Fashion Rings
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary North American Artisan Dangle Earrings
Cultured Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 10k Gold, 22k...
Vintage 1970s North American Cufflinks
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
1940s Unknown Skirt Suits
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Evening Gowns
Early 2000s American Drop Necklaces
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Sapphire
2010s Indian Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
1990s Italian Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Drop Necklaces
Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern More Necklaces
Multi-gemstone, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Yellow ...
21st Century and Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
2010s Italian Drop Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Vintage 1970s Wrist Watches
Diamond, Sapphire, Stainless Steel
2010s Australian Contemporary Stud Earrings
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Post-War Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Drop Earrings
Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, 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.