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Late Victorian 14k/Sterling Silver Ruby and Diamond Engagement Ring 1.50ct
Located in Narberth, PA
. The diamonds are bezel set in sterling silver and display H/I color and VS-SI. Accenting the stones is
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Late Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian 14K Gold and Silver Top Old Mine Diamond Engagement Ring - GIA
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 14K Gold and Silver Top Old Mine Diamond Engagement Ring - GIA. This
Category

Antique Early 1800s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
you look into the heart of this Antique Sapphire Diamond Yellow Gold Silver Ring. Crafted in the 1890s
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have a captivating five-stone ring. Crafted from silver, this antique piece features a
Category

Vintage 1930s Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Silver

Antique Victorian 14K Yellow Gold Silver Top Old Cut Diamond Ruby Sapphire Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Victorian 14K Yellow Gold Silver Top Old Cut Diamond Ruby Sapphire Ring. This
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique French Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1880s, 18k/Silver, French. Sapphire and diamonds are the most classic look in the jewelry
Category

Antique 1880s French Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian 0.58 CTW Diamond Ruby Opal Silver 14 Karat Gold Antique Cluster Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
-split shoulders Accented by grooved detail Tested as silver and 14 karat gold Circa: 1870s Ring Size: 4
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Pearl Diamond Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
clarity 14k rose gold and silver topped Victorian circa 1890s Ring size 5 and can be resized 2.2 grams
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

Impressive Antique Victorian Amethyst Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in New York, NY
with silver-topped gold as well, set with numerous square and round antique cut diamonds in ornate
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Antique Old Cut Diamond Single Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have a unique single stone diamond ring. This striking widespread piece features a
Category

Vintage 1920s Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Silver

Art Nouveau 0.74 CTW Diamond Amethyst Silver 14 Karat Gold Antique Heart Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
set in a silver-topped heart form with a clustered surround of rose cut diamonds Bead set and weighing
Category

Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Cluster Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

An Antique Emerald Ruby Diamond Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Designed as a flower set with round cut emeralds at the top, diamonds and square cut ruby
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique English Diamond Gold Five Stone Ring
Located in New York, NY
An English Antique 18 karat gold ring with diamonds. The ring has five old European-cut diamonds
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Engagement Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Late Georgian Old Mine Cut Diamond Silver-Topped 14 Karat Gold Antique Band Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Featuring nine graduated old mine cut diamonds set to front in silver collete bezels Weighing
Category

Antique 1830s Georgian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Georgian Half Hoop Two-Row Antique Cut Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
Antique Georgian 15k gold and silver old cut diamond stacking ring, circa 1800. This wearable band
Category

Antique Early 1800s Unknown Georgian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Persian Turquoise Diamond Heart Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
An absolutely stunning turquoise and diamond ring from the Victorian (ca1880) era! This fabulous
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 15k Gold, Sterling Silver

1820s Antique 1.28 Carat Diamond and Yellow Gold Silver Set Cluster Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive Georgian 1.28 carat diamond and 18 carat yellow gold, silver set cluster style ring
Category

Antique 1820s Unknown Georgian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 2.70 Carat Diamond Pearl Cluster Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
. The ring is made of solid 18k yellow gold and Silver. CONDITION: Pre-owned - Excellent METAL: 18k
Category

Early 20th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Seven Rose Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Half hoop ring in silver and gold adorned with a falling line of diamonds cut into crowned roses
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Style Rose Cut Diamond and Ruby Skull Ring in 14k Yellow Gold and Silver
Located in London, GB
A interesting antique style diamond and ruby skull ring, set in silver on 14k yellow gold.  The
Category

Early 2000s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Rare Antique Blue Enamel Diamond Ring c. 1780
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1780 This rare late 18th century ring is finely crafted in gold and silver. The ring
Category

Antique 1780s Georgian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Silver, Enamel

French Antique Jade Rose Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
Ring in 18K yellow gold, and silver, mixed hallmark. The head of the ring is dominated by a flower
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, Silver, Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Ring with Fancy Cut Amethysts and Diamonds
Located in Aspen, CO
Heart shaped antique ring in gold and silver (which was the classic metals used in the 19th century
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Victorian Nine-Stone Diamond Ring
Located in London, GB
Diamond Details: Colour: G-J, Clarity: VS-SI Tested As: 18ct Gold & Silver Box: The Vintage Jeweller Ring
Category

Antique 19th Century Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Old Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we a delightful diamond cluster ring. The piece originally dates back to the Victorian period
Category

Antique 19th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique 1840s 2.16 Carat Diamond and Yellow Gold, Silver Set Seven-Stone Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique 2.16 carat diamond 18 karat yellow gold, silver set seven stone ring
Category

Antique 1840s Early Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold and Silver Top 3-Stone Diamond Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Gorgeous Victorian 3-stone engagement ring in 14K Yellow gold silver topped. The center stone is an
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

14 Karat Gold, Sterling Silver, Amethyst Diamond Ring
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
. Marked - '14K' for gold purity and '.925' for silver purity Ring Size - 54/N Total diamond weight
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver

Victorian French Diamond Sapphire Gold Ring Antique
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
. Total weight of the accent diamonds is 0.03 carat. The ring size 6.5, re-sizable. The ring top measures
Category

Early 20th Century French Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver

19th Century Antique Rose Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
in silver over gold. Diameter of the diamond cluster is 23 mm (7/8 in.) The ring is marked with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Dutch Rose Cut Diamond Crowned Heart Ring
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A 14- carat gold ring. The central, large heart- shaped rose cut diamond (app. 1.2 carat which has
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Victorian Antique Rose Cut Diamond Serpent Snake Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
This antique Victorian snake ring is an heirloom to be treasured, crafted with silver topped 14
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver

1910s Antique Amethyst Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
gold and silver set dress ring; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Cluster Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique 5.31 Carat Pear Cut Champagne Diamond Ring
By Belrose Estate Jewelers
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
its finest crafted with 15k white gold and silver. 10 rose cut diamonds encircling the solitaire in
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Georgian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver

Antique Ox Blood Coral Diamond Dome Cocktail Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
18K yellow gold and silver, this original antique ring is statement worthy with a regal presence
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Diamond and Demantoid Garnet Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Cushion cut Demantoid Garnet, approximately 1 Carat in size set between old European cut Diamonds
Category

Unknown Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique 7.32 Carat Unheated Sapphire Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
Antique 18k yellow Gold/silver Sapphire and Diamond cluster ring. This important ring is centered
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver

Georgian Diamond Cluster Ring, circa 1830
Located in London, GB
Georgian diamond cluster ring. Set with a cushion shape old cut diamond to centre in a closed back
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Georgian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Georgian Rose Cut Diamond Cluster Ring in Silver on Gold
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Georgian rose cut diamond cluster ring, set in silver on gold. This exquisite
Category

Antique 1790s European Georgian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Green Emerald Rose Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Composed of 14 karat yellow gold and topped with silver. Centering a rose cut diamond, followed by
Category

Antique 1890s English Revival Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Triple Cluster Diamond 1.60 Carat Ring, Circa 1870
Located in London, GB
An antique triple cluster diamond ring, set with three old-cut diamonds, surrounded by a triple
Category

Antique 1870s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Antique Marquise Shaped Gold, Enamel and Diamond Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
, mounted in 15K ring with a plaque of royal blue guilloche enamel surmounted with old cut diamonds set in a
Category

Antique Early 1800s English Georgian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver, Enamel, Gold

Antique Old Mine Cut Diamond Fleur de Lis Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1880 This Belle Epoque fleur-de-lis motif ring is handcrafted in 14K gold and silver. The
Category

Antique 1880s Belle Époque Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver

Georgian Antique Rose-Cut Diamond Ring Circa 1790
Located in Firenze, IT
The round-shaped rose-cut diamond in silver and gold closed-back setting and engraved gold shank
Category

Antique 1790s British George III Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique daisy ring with old brilliant-cut diamonds 1.10ct
Located in Chorzów, PL
sterling silver between a delicate band of 14-karat yellow gold (0.585 fineness). An antique ring with old
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

19th Century Antique Clover Shape Natural Pearl Diamonds Ring
Located in Poitiers, FR
, this delicate antique ring is set on its top with 4 natural pearls surrounded by rose cut diamonds. On
Category

Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold,...

Antique Looking Carved Emerald Ring with Black and White Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
diamonds in silver and gold on shank. Ring Size: 7 ( can be sized ) 18k:2.36g Diamond: 2.42ct Slv
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Artisan Cocktail Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Black Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

GIA Certified Antique French Victorian Ruby Diamond Navette Ring
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
, encircled by 21 antique rose-cut diamonds. Crafted in 18 karat yellow gold and silver, this is a rarity of
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique 7.32 Carat Natural Sapphire Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
18k yellow Gold Silver Sapphire and Diamond Ring, set in the center with a Vivid Light Blue Ceylon
Category

Antique 1890s Early Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver, Gold

Antique 4.00ct emerald and diamond ring, Austria, circa 1900.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Old ring with emerald and diamonds, made of yellow 14-karat gold (approx. 0.580 fineness) Origin
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Edwardian Diamond Ruby 14 Karat Gold Bypass Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
If the word "antique" makes your heart tremble, you will love wearing this Antique Diamond Ruby 14k
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Synthetic Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Antique Synthetic Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Yellow GoldRing. Featuring one round brilliant cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Solitaire Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique 3 Carat Star Sapphire Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
total weight of 2.50 carat. The ring is set in a 12k gold and silver mounting. Always pleasant see the
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Star Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver

Antique Austrian Sapphire Diamond 14 Karat Gold Navette Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Antique Austrian Sapphire Diamond Gold Navette Ring. Featuring one oval shaped sapphire of
Category

Antique 1880s Austrian Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver

Antique Golden Ring with Pearl and Diamonds, circa 1900s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Elegant gold ring with diamonds and pearl Ring size: 57 Made of 0.710 yellow gold and 0.900
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Georgian 18k Yellow Gold and Silver Old Cut Diamond Band
Located in Great Neck, NY
Amazing Antique Georgian 18K Yellow Gold and Silver Old Mine Cut Diamond Band. This gorgeous
Category

Antique Early 1800s Unknown Georgian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond Ruby Half Hoop Ring
Located in New York, NY
This handsome ruby and diamond ring has the illusion of a stacked band, but it is an antique half
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Early Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

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Silver Antique Diamond Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the silver antique diamond ring you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, Silver and 18k Gold. Our collection of these items for sale includes 367 vintage editions and 22 modern creations to choose from as well. If you’re looking for a silver antique diamond ring from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 18th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. Creating a silver antique diamond ring has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Artisan NYC, Meghna Jewels and Alexey Gabilo are consistently popular. A rose cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also old mine cut and antique cushion cut versions for sale. If you’re browsing our inventory for a silver antique diamond ring, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a Silver Antique Diamond Ring?

Prices for a silver antique diamond ring can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $321 and can go as high as $287,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $4,503.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Finding the Right Rings for You

Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.

No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.

Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.

Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry

The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.

Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.

Questions About Silver Antique Diamond Ring
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    Real diamonds are not usually put in sterling silver rings because the metal is too soft. As a result, cubic zirconia stones are often used instead of a real diamond. This will be marked with “CZ”.
    1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021
    No, they usually do not put real diamonds in silver rings. Sterling silver is too soft, and would not be a good metal to hold diamonds. Most people use cubic zirconia stones (CZ) in sterling silver. Find a variety of diamond rings on 1stDibs.