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Antique Victorian Old Mine Diamond Emerald Ring 18 Karat Gold Vintage Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian era ring set with emeralds & old mine cut diamonds (circa 1880s
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

English Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond Navette Cluster Ring
Located in Fairfield, CT
from rich 18k yellow gold, the ring features a marquise-shaped face that is emblematic of the navette
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 1.10 Carat Emerald and Diamond Three-Stone Ring, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
This gorgeous Victorian ring showcases a vibrant 1.10 carat emerald. The emerald is lovely quality
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian 2.78 Carat Cushion Cut Colombian Emerald Diamond 18 Karat Gold Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
with Dutch hallmarks for 18 karat gold. Circa: 1860's. Ring size: 7 1/2 and sizable. Measures: North to
Category

Antique 1860s Danish Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 1.10ct Emerald and Diamond Carved Shank Ring, hallmarked 1891
Located in London, GB
match in quality at G in colour and VS2 in clarity. Hand crafted in 18 carat yellow gold this ring
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Emerald Diamond Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Southampton, PA
of 18K yellow gold and boasts a vividly colored ~3.20ct emerald main stone. Lastly, a halo of ~2.85ct
Category

20th Century More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 0.75 Carat Emerald and Diamond Three Stone Ring, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
dates back to the Victorian era, has been hand crafted entirely in 18ct yellow gold. Gemstone: Emerald
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian 0.40 Carat Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
This beautiful Victorian ring features alternating emeralds and diamonds set in 18 carat yellow
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian 18K Gold and Silver and 1.0 Carat Emerald and 1.50 Carat Diamond Halo
Located in New York, NY
Victorian 18k Yellow Gold Colombian Emerald and Diamond Halo Ring c.1850. The very picture of
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, Silver, 18k Gold

Acrostic ADORE Ring Victorian 18ct Gold Amethyst Diamond Opal Ruby and Emerald
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Adore Ring 18ct Yellow Gold Hallmarked Birmingham 1857 Makers Mark F G Introducing
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Victorian Emerald and Diamond Three Stone Ring, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
handmade, 18 carat yellow gold ring, which dates from the 1880s. Gemstone: Diamond, Emerald Stone Shape
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian 0.50ct Emerald and Diamond Trilogy Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
A luscious green emerald is flanked by old cut diamonds in this classic Victorian carved shank ring
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 4.28 CTW Colombian Emerald Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Halo Ring GIA
Located in Philadelphia, PA
belcher style prongs Flanked by tri-split foliate motif shoulders Tested as 18 karat gold Circa: 1860s
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Late Victorian Emerald and Old Cut Diamond 18ct Gold Cluster Ring, Circa 1890
Located in London, GB
Natural emerald and diamond cluster ring featuring an oval shaped vibrant emerald in the center
Category

Antique 1890s French Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 18 Karat Gold Emerald Seed Pearl Cocktail Ring
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a Victorian ring crafted in 18K gold. Circa 1870. The piece features 1 emerald and 2 seed
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold

Victorian 0.40 Emerald and Diamond Three Stone Ring, c.1900s
Located in London, GB
A vibrant green Emerald is flanked by a pair of old cut diamonds in this stunning Victorian ring
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Early Victorian 18kt/Sterling Colombian Emerald + Diamond Cluster Ring 9ctw
Located in Narberth, PA
A breathtaking emerald and diamond cluster ring from the Early Victorian (ca1850s) era! Crafted in
Category

Antique 1850s Unknown Early Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Antique Circa 1900s 18k Gold Natural Rose Cut Diamond And Emerald Decorated Rİng
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
diamond about 0.35 carat. The diamond is has H-I-J-K-L color and s1-s2-s3. Totally is emerald 0.78 carat
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique 18k Gold Platinum 2.02ct GIA European Diamond w/ Emerald 3 Stone Ring
Located in Montclair, NJ
.) - 3.1mm (approx.) Total Carat Weight: 2.02 (approx.) Material: Solid 18k Yellow Gold w/ Platinum Top
Category

20th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 3.10 CTW Ruby Emerald Diamond Platinum 18 Karat Rose Gold Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
gold shoulders Tested as platinum and 18 karat gold Circa: 1900 Ring size: 7 1/4 and sizable Measures
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Russian Emerald Diamond Yellow Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
). It is made of yellow gold, and features a 4.65-carat oval faceted emerald framed with ten cushion cut
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Russian Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique GIA 1.95 Carat Shield Cut Emerald Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Scroll Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
.20 carats, graded H in color and VS in clarity. Crafted in rich 18K yellow gold, this ring embodies
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Emerald Diamond Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
brilliant white diamonds, to the polished yellow gold landscape of the settings, this antique ring is
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

French 19th Century 18K Gold Ring with Emerald and Old Mine Cut Diamonds
Located in London, GB
This stunning navette-shaped French gold ring dates to the second half of the 19th century. In the
Category

Antique 19th Century French Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique Colombian Emerald Diamond Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Giving new meaning to the term "cluster ring", this spectacular Colombian emerald and diamond ring
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Edwardian Columbian Emerald and Diamond Gold Heart Ring
Located in London, England
A vibrant Victorian style Columbian emerald and diamond twin heart ring, set in silver on gold
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Early Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Emerald Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Bangkok, TH
This vintage style ring was made in 18K Gold. The ring consists of... Natural Emerald 1.65 ct
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Late Victorian 0.50ct Emerald and Diamond Cluster Ring, c.1900s
Located in London, GB
green emerald. The 0.50 carat emerald is classically emerald cut and set within 18 carat yellow gold
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Late Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian 0.90ct Emerald and Diamond Three Stone Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
& Old European Cut Carat Weight: 0.90ct Emerald + 0.80ct Diamond Metal: 18ct Yellow Gold Age: 1880s
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Studio Rêves Crane Ring in 18K Gold and Diamonds with Emeralds and Tsavorites
By Studio Rêves
Located in Mumbai, Maharashtra
Diamonds, Emeralds, Tsavorites and Pink Sapphire Cocktail Ring This cocktail ring is all you need
Category

2010s Indian Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pink Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow...

Emerald and Diamond-Set Gold Ring
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1950s, 18k, American. This beautiful Victorian-inspired ring features 1.0 carats of fine
Category

Vintage 1950s American Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique Emerald and Diamond Ring in Yellow Gold
Located in Lucerne, CH
Antique filigree ring with lots of charme. The Emerald Cabochon weighs approx. 2.40 ct, has a
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Large Antique Emerald Diamond Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Mid-Victorian Silver, 18K Yellow Gold, Emerald & Diamond Ring. Fabulous detailed handmade ring
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Emerald, Diamond, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold

Victorian 2.11 CTW Cushion Cut Colombian Emerald Old European Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
. Stamped 18 for 18 karat gold. Circa: 1880's. Ring size: 6 1/4 and sizable. Measures North to South 12.5 mm
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Emerald, 18k Gold

Emerald 1ct Diamond Bypass Ring Vintage 18k White Gold Estate Fine Cocktail
Located in Torrance, CA
Vintage emerald & diamond bypass ring (circa 1960s to 1970s) crafted in 18 karat white gold. Two
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Pink Tourmaline Emerald Cut Ring with Diamonds in 18K Yellow Gold
By Merkaba
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Art Deco 4.68 Carat Pink Tourmaline Emerald Cut Ring with Diamonds in 18K Yellow Gold by Merkaba
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...

1865 Antique Emerald and Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique 0.33 carat emerald and 0.66 carat diamond, 18k yellow gold dress ring
Category

Antique 1860s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Emerald and Diamond Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
European-cut diamond surround, mounted in silver and gold, circa 1850 Size: 6 1/2 Weight: 5,2gr.
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Marquise Ring, Emerald and Diamonds
Located in PARIS, FR
timeless brilliance of precious stones, this 18-carat gold marquise ring with an emerald probably from
Category

Antique 1880s French Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Colombian Emerald Diamond Cluster Engagement Ring
Located in Banbury, GB
An beautiful vintage 18K gold emerald diamond engagement ring is centered with an oval cut natural
Category

Vintage 1960s French Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique English Emerald Diamond Hand Carved Gold Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
by two old European cut diamonds. These emeralds have a rich intensity not captured in the photos and
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique French 18 Karat Gold Colombia Emerald Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Banbury, GB
An impressive Colombia Emerald and diamond cluster ring made in 1860. It is typical of good French
Category

Antique 1860s French Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold

French Antique Emerald Diamond Silver Gold Ring with Female Figures
Located in New York, NY
An antique gold, diamond, and emerald cluster ring centering on a pear shaped faceted emerald
Category

Antique 1830s French Early Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique 1900s Emerald and Diamond Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive emerald and diamond cocktail ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold and platinum. The pierced
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Rose-Cut Diamond Ring with Emeralds
Located in New York, NY
This shield shape rosecut diamond ring with emerald in center is sweet and very attractive. Ring
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Emerald Diamond Openwork Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
circa 1900 A silver topped 18K gold ring is centered with a rhombus shape step cut emerald (9.1
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald

Antique Emerald and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
antique piece has been crafted from a rich 18ct yellow gold and showcases a lively electric green emerald
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Colombian Emerald and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
In 18ct yellow gold, set with a rectangular trp cut emerald 1,5 carats in a cluster of old cut
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Colombian Emerald and Diamond Three-Stone, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
made collets. The diamonds are set within platinum, whilst the Emerald is in 18 carat yellow gold
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum

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

Victorian 2.00ct Diamond Cluster Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This stunning Victorian cluster ring features a glittering 1.00ct old mine cut diamond at the
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Vintage Emerald and Diamond Five Stone 18 Karat Yellow Gold Engagement Ring
Located in London, GB
A vintage emerald and diamond five stone 18 karat yellow gold engagement ring. A beautiful emerald
Category

Vintage 1980s European High Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Citrine and Old Cut Diamond Ring, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
diamonds with a total carat weight of 1.40, handmade in 18 carat yellow gold during the 1880s. The ring
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Acrostic Fede Ring 18 Karat Yellow Gold Band Ring
Located in Fairfield, CT
Antique Victorian Acrostic Fede Ring 18 Karat Yellow Gold Band Ring Step into the elegance of the
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Art Deco 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Emerald Five Stone Band
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Art Deco 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Emerald Five Stone Band. This beautiful ring
Category

Antique 1870s Late Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

Late Victorian Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
This late Victorian era ring was handmade in 18 carat yellow gold to feature four emerald cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

18K Emerald Diamond Ring Pendant Vintage Tiffany Co Necklace GIA Fine 7.02 Cts
Located in Sylvania, GA
Old South Jewels proudly presents INTAGE LUXURY. HUGE 18K GIA CERTIFIED GREEN EMERALD & DIAMOND
Category

20th Century Unknown Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Victorian 18k Gold Emerald Diamond Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate victorian 18k gold emerald diamond ring for your needs in our varied inventory. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. Making the right choice when shopping for a victorian 18k gold emerald diamond ring may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 18th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. Creating a victorian 18k gold emerald diamond ring has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Paris Precious Craft House, Effy and Studio Rêves are consistently popular. An emerald cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also old european cut and oval cut versions for sale. If you’re browsing our inventory for a victorian 18k gold emerald 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 Victorian 18k Gold Emerald Diamond Ring?

On average, a victorian 18k gold emerald diamond ring at 1stDibs sells for $5,795, while they’re typically $380 on the low end and $300,000 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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.