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Antique Victorian 5 Opal Ring 14 Karat Gold Vintage Natural Gemstone Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian 5 opal ring (circa 1880s to 1900s), crafted in 14 karat rose gold
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Opal, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Victorian 18 Karat Gold 0.37 Carat Ruby 0.16 Carat Diamond Three Stone Ring
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a Victorian three stone gypsy ring crafted in 18K yellow gold. The piece features oval ruby
Category

Early 20th Century French Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Victorian Mine Cut Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
An exquisite diamond cluster ring from the Victorian era (ca1880)! This gorgeous ring is crafted in
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Gemstone 14k Yellow Gold Acrostic “Regard” Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Victorian Gemstone 14k Yellow Gold Acrostic “Regard” Ring. Featuring two cushion mixed cut
Category

Antique 1870s Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Diamond Cluster Ring Vintage 18 Karat Gold Platinum Fine
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian diamond cluster ring set with old mine cut diamonds (circa 1880s
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian Navette Ring Ruby Doublet Seed Pearl 14 Karat Gold Vintage
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian era ring (circa 1880s to 1900s) crafted in 14k yellow gold
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Pearl, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Red Paste Seed Pearl Ring Vintage 10 Karat Yellow Gold Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian era ring (circa 1880s to 1900s) crafted in 14k yellow gold. Two
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Turquoise Diamond Ring Vintage 10 Karat Gold Rose Cut Halo
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian era turquoise & diamond ring (circa 1880s to 1900s) crafted in
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Navette Ring Old Rose Cut Diamond Turquoise 14k Gold Vintage
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian turquoise & diamond ring (circa 1880s to 1900s), crafted in 14k
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Antique Victorian Ring Turquoise Mine Diamond Cluster 14k Yellow Gold Halo 5.75
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed antique Victorian era cluster ring (circa 1880s to 1900s) crafted in 14k yellow
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Coin Ring British Victorian Sovereign solid 14K Gold Ø8.5/ US7gr
Located in SE
resizing or customization any stone on the ring becomes loose, if any deformation occurs in general or if
Category

Vintage 1920s English Art Nouveau Signet Rings

Materials

14k Gold

Antique Necklace 13 Natural 14ctw Gems solid 14/ 18K Gold / 5.8gr
Located in SE
5. Single dark Red Garnet 8 mm x 5 mm x 3 mm / ca.1ct Total weight of the stones involved: ca.14ct
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Citrine, Garnet, Sapphire, Spinel, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, 14k Gold, Silver

18th cent. Cross Crucifix 12K Gold Gilt Silver Cut Steel Diamonds / 10 gr
Located in SE
different light and weather conditions and time of the day, both indoors and outdoors. Stones of the rings
Category

Antique Late 18th Century European Renaissance Revival Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, Silver, Cut Steel

Antique Victorian Certified 5 Carat Burma Ruby Cluster Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A superb antique Burma ruby and diamond cluster ring dating from the late Victorian period. It's
Category

Antique 19th Century English Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian Five-Stone 2 Carat Diamonds Rose Gold Ring
Located in Middleton, WI
artisanal stones have such a personality and life of their own. This Victorian five stone diamond ring was
Category

Antique 1870s English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Five-Stone Diamond Ring, circa 1900
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
A stunning antique vintage diamond ring set with five old cut diamonds all in claw settings to
Category

Early 20th Century Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Emerald Ring Diamond Trilogy Ring, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
and old brilliant cut Diamond ring is Victorian, Circa 1900. This particular Emerald is approx 0.80ct
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

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

Antique Victorian 1.62 Carat Old Cut Diamonds Five Stone Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
classic diamond half hoop ring, perfect as a wedding band or an engagement ring. Ring size: 6.75. 5 old
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian Five-Stone Almandine Garnet Ring 18 Carat Gold
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
To read more please click continue reading below- This fabulous Victorian antique five stone
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Garnet, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Carat Gold and 0.70 Carat Old Cut Diamond Trilogy Engagement Stack Ring
Located in St Helens, GB
An 18ct Gold and Diamond three stone ring. SIZE ; J 1/2 UK, 5 US Designed with three natural old
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mid-Victorian Old Cut Diamond Five-Stone Band
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A beautiful Victorian 5-stone ring set with a full carat of old European cut diamonds. The ornate
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Edwardian 1920s 18 Carat I-J Colour Diamond 5-Stone
Located in Brisbane City, Queensland
Original diamond 5-stone in 18ct yellow and white gold. Dating back to the Edwardian era through to
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Opal 18 Carat Gold Ring
Located in ALTRINCHAM, GB
Classic Victorian opal 5 stone half hoop ring with diamond accents, set in 18ct gold.  The opals
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Opal, 18k Gold

Antique GIA Cert Natural Pearl 1.25 Carats Diamonds Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Tampa, FL
A rare antique engagement ring featuring a natural white pearl (as indicated by the G.I.A
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Cluster Ring, 1893, England
Located in Sydney, NSW
A Victorian diamond ring featuring an old cushion cut stone of 1.16cts eight claw set with four
Category

Antique 1890s English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Emerald Diamond Trilogy Ring 18 Carat Gold, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This Victorian Emerald and Diamond trilogy ring is set in 18ct Gold, Circa 1900. The beautiful
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond and Cat s Eye Chrysoberyl Ring
Located in Austin, TX
Old mine cut diamond set on an unusual two band ring with a natural cat's eye chrysoberyl stone
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Art Deco 0.85 Carat Old Cut Diamond Gold Platinum Engagement Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
cut diamond leading to a sturdy yellow gold band. A ring that is at once delicate and robust – and
Category

Mid-20th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Vs 0.60 Carat Old Cut Diamond 18 Carat White Gold Solitaire Ring
Located in St Helens, GB
A beautiful Victorian period diamond solitaire ring. A natural old cut diamond measuring 5.0mm x
Category

20th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique, Edwardian, 18 Carat White Gold, Ruby and Diamond Five-Stone Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
Diamond and ruby ring, early 20th century. This classic five-stone ring is set with a line of three
Category

Early 20th Century British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold

Vintage circa 1970, 4.30 Carat No Heat Blue Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Berlin, Berlin
The blue sapphire and diamond entourage ring is a classic in the world of engagement rings
Category

Vintage 1970s Retro Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Opal and Diamond Gold Ring with Scrolled Gallery
Located in Madison area, WI
- Classic Vintage 5-Stone Opal Ring with Scrolled Gallery and Diamond Accents - dated 1981 - 18k
Category

Vintage 1980s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold

French Antique Emerald and Diamond Heart Ring
Located in QLD , AU
ring - a ring that could work as both engagement and wedding band. Many couples these days are choosing
Category

20th Century French Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique Victorian 18 Carat Gold Natural ‘Cornflower’ Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond
Located in Rochford, Essex
for an antique engagement ring. MARK French import assay mark for 18 carat gold (owl) METAL 18 carat
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

Georgian Design Large Natural Citrine and 9ct Gold Statement Solitaire Ring
Located in St Helens, GB
An impressive Citrine statement ring. Victorian or Georgian era design, vintage example c1930
Category

20th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Citrine, Gold

Antique Old Cut Diamond and Emerald Toi et Moi 14 Carat Gold Ring
Located in St Helens, GB
WIDE TO FRONT. SIZE K 1/2 UK, 5 1/4 US. 2.4 GRAMS. GOOD EXCELLENT CONDITION. SECURELY SET STONES
Category

20th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Yellow Diamond P, Q, R Color G-I Color Old-Mine Cut Daisy Ring
Located in Brisbane City, Queensland
Original 15ct rose gold antique diamond cluster ring set with a combination of Old European and old
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 15k Gold

Antique Victorian Old Cut Diamond 5-Stone Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A classic antique 5-stone diamond ring dating from the turn of the 20th Century. It's set with
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Late Victorian Band Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond 5-Stone Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
fantastic antique engagement ring, or worn as part of a daily stack. STONES Old Mine Cut Diamonds Total
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Band Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Natural Blue Sapphire and Rose Cut Diamond Crossover Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
Victorian romance Gorgeous over beliefs, this authentic Victorian era Cross over ring, perfect for
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver

Victorian Enamel 0.90 Carat Old Oval Cut Diamond Band Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
striking and versatile. It could easily work as either an engagement ring for someone looking for something
Category

Early 20th Century French Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique, Art Deco, 18 Carat Gold, Black Opal and Diamond Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
rings available, from Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Retro/Vintage. Lots of vintage and
Category

Early 20th Century British Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Gold

Antique, Art Deco, 18 Carat White Gold, Black Opal and Diamond Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
Kingdom Stone Type Natural Black Opal: 5 carat (calculated) Diamonds: Approx. 0.35 carats (total
Category

Early 20th Century British Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, White Gold

Antique Victorian 3.06 Carat Old European Cut Diamond 5-Stone Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A stunning antique 5-stone ring set with gorgeous old European cut diamonds totaling 3.06 carats
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Circa 1890 Antique Diamond Three-Stone Yellow Gold Engagement Ring
Located in QLD , AU
A beautiful antique diamond three stone ring. Set with a cushion shape old cut diamond to the
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Three-Stone Diamond 18 Karat Gypsy Ring, circa 1900
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A super 18 karat yello gold, three stone diamond ring that displays three bright Old Mine Cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Late Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mid-Victorian 1.75 Carat Diamond Five-Stone Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
An especially nice quality mid-Victorian diamond 5-stone ring, with beautiful scrolled detailing to
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Cushion Cut Diamond Solitaire White Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Rottedam, NL
A very rare antique French engagement ring featuring a circa 0.5 carat old cushion cut diamond. The
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold

Pear Opal and Diamond Halo Unique Victorian Vintage Inspired Engagement Ring Zoe
Located in Hertsliya, IL
This pear opal halo engagement ring is a stunning piece of jewelry. It features a pear-shaped opal
Category

2010s Israeli Art Deco Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Blue Topaz Gold Ring 5 Carat
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
ornate gallery which compliments the beautiful stone. This will make a perfect engagement ring. It
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Topaz, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Gold Silver Diamond Heart Ring
Located in Boston, Lincolnshire
A Lovely Victorian old cut Diamond Heart ring. The stones in Silver setting on later 18 Carat Gold
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Suffragette Ring Amethyst Peridot Diamond 18 Carat Gold
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
For more details please click continue reading down below... This fabulous Victorian Suffragette
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Emerald Diamond Ring 18 Carat Gold 2 Carat Emerald
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
Please click continue reading below..... This antique Victorian Emerald and Diamond ring is
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian Style Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Old Cut Diamonds 1.88 Carat
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
A very imposing sapphire and diamond 5 stone ring in a typical Victorian style navette setting
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Ring, 19th Century Emerald and Gold Carved Half Hoop , circa 1880
Located in London, GB
A fine quality columbian emerald 5 stone half hoop ring with carved gallery,and set with rose cut
Category

Antique 1870s British Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Emerald

Antique, Art Deco, French, Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire Bombé Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
AVAILABLE We have a huge range of antique rings available, from Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco
Category

Early 20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum

Old European Cut Early 20th Century English Diamond Daisy Cluster
Located in Brisbane City, Queensland
, Approximately size 5 1/2, Approximately 50 1/4 in EU. Stone/s assessed in setting
Category

Early 20th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

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Victorian 5 Stone Engagement Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact victorian 5 stone engagement ring you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Platinum. You can easily find a 213 antique edition and 12 modern creations to choose from as well. Making the right choice when shopping for a victorian 5 stone engagement ring may mean carefully reviewing examples of this item dating from different eras — you can find an early iteration of this piece from the 19th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. As it relates to this specific piece, our collection includes designs that are universally popular, but .5 Carat and 1 Carat carat weights, specifically, are sought with frequency. There have been many well-made iterations of the classic victorian 5 stone engagement ring over the years, but those made by Single Stone, Five Star Jewelry and Tacori are often thought to be among the most beautiful. See these pages for an old european cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also old mine cut cut and emerald cut cut versions available here, too. There aren’t many items for men if you’re seeking a victorian 5 stone engagement ring, as most of the options available are for women and unisex.

How Much is a Victorian 5 Stone Engagement Ring?

Prices for a victorian 5 stone engagement ring can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $536 and can go as high as $74,763, while this accessory, on average, fetches $4,955.

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.