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Victorian Antique "English Carved" Style Diamond Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
18k yellow gold with five stones, 1.65 carats in total of old European cut diamonds, set in a
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Diamond and Yellow Gold Five-Stone Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique Victorian 0.73 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold, five stone
Category

Antique 1890s English Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful 18ct yellow gold Victorian diamond five stone ring ring. The diamonds are
Category

Antique 19th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Ruby Diamond 18 Karat Gold Five-Stone Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Band ring is claw set to front with rubies and diamonds, alternating Rubies are round and oval cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 14k Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in Narberth, PA
A gorgeous diamond ring from the Victorian era (ca1880s)! Crafted in 14k vibrant yellow gold, this
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

14k Gold

Classic Victorian Five-Stone Antique Diamond Ring
Located in Banbury, GB
A stunning Victorian diamond quintet line ring, liner set with five graduated old irregular cushion
Category

Antique 19th Century British Early Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Five Stone Ruby and Diamond Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have a 18ct yellow gold Victorian five stone ring. The piece showcases five round faceted
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Spinel Diamond gold Five Stone Ring
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
This is an elegant Victorian ring from the 1900s set in the center with a gem quality natural Burma
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Spinel, Yellow Gold

Victorian diamond five stone ring, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
Victorian diamond five stone ring. Set to centre with one cushion shape old mine diamond in an open
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Victorian Opal Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
This is a truly wonderful antique opal and diamond five stone ring. The ring is crafted in 18ct
Category

Antique 19th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Opal, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Old Cut Diamond Five-Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
Here we have a splendid five-stone diamond ring taken from the later stages of the Victorian period
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian Diamond Five-Stone 18 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Sparkling five stone diamond ring, total diamond weight being 1.72carat. Modelled in 18ct gold with
Category

Antique 1830s Unknown Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

1840s Victorian Emerald and Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in London, England
A stunning example of an early Victorian emerald and diamond five stone ring inspired by the
Category

Antique 1840s Unknown Early Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian Five-Stone Diamond Emerald Half Hoop Ring
Located in New York, NY
A bright Victorian emerald and Old Mine cut diamond half hoop five stone ring dating to about 1880
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Late Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Victorian 1.40ct Diamond Five Stone Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
A beautiful piece of Victorian design, this five stone ring showcases a sparkling collection of old
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Five-Stone Diamond Engagement Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
Five old cut diamonds sparkle in this Victorian engagement ring. The centre diamond is the largest
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 1.50ct Diamond Five Stone Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This Victorian ring is stunning, featuring five old cut diamonds in a wonderfully carved setting
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Early Victorian Five-Stone Rose Cut Diamond Ring
Located in New York, NY
A lovely early Victorian five stone Rose cut diamond band ring circa 1850. The band is set with 5
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown High Victorian Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

Victorian Old Cut Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in London, GB
This is an 18ct yellow gold Victorian diamond five stone ring. The diamonds are bright white old
Category

Antique 19th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian 2.90ct Five Stone Diamond Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
An exceptional Victorian diamond ring, featuring five old cushion cut diamonds. Starting in the
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian 1.35ct Five Stone Diamond Ring, C.1880s
Located in London, GB
This Victorian ring features five old cut diamonds graduating in sizes. To the centre sits the
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 1.00ct Diamond Five Stone Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This exquisite ring from the 1880s showcases a row of five diamonds, graduated in size. At the
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian 0.80ct Diamond Five Stone Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
Five old cushion cut diamond glisten in this gorgeous ring from the 1880s. The central diamond is
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian 1.30ct Diamond Five Stone Ring, Hallmarked 1905
Located in London, GB
Five old cut diamonds sparkle in this wonderful Victorian ring hallmarked 1905. The largest of the
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 18ct Gold Victorian Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Diamond Ring 18ct Gold Birmingham Stamped Circa 1880 Pretty, Victorian diamond ring
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Victorian Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Made of 18 karat yellow gold, this ring builds on the classic three stone style and continues
Category

Antique Early 1900s Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian emerald diamond 18k yellow gold five stone ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This Victorian five stone ring brings together the lush green glow of emeralds and the gentle
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Jelly Opal Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Five Stone Antique Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Five stone ring centers a prong set 5.0 mm cushion shaped opal cabochon. Flanked by prong set round
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 1.10 Carat Diamond Five-Stone Ring, circa 1864
Located in London, GB
This beautiful five stone ring dates to the middle of the Victorian era. The old cut diamonds were
Category

Antique 1860s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Five-Stone Old Cut Diamond Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
This ornate five stone ring shows off old cut diamonds totalling 1.30 carat. These stones are then
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Five-Stone Platinum 1.46 Carat Diamond Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This antique Victorian diamond and platinum ring was handcrafted in England around 1890. This
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Victorian 2.15 Carat Diamond Five Stone Ring, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
Five old cut diamonds sparkle in this wonderful Victorian ring. Starting in the centre is a 0.75
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Five-Stone Old Cut Diamond Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
This ring dates to the 1900s and is a classic Victorian style. The old cut diamonds graduate in
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Topaz Tourmaline Diamond 14 Karat Gold Five-Stone Dinner Navette Ring
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Dinner style ring with five well-matched pastel gemstones set vertically North to South in a
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Topaz, Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Five-Stone Diamond Carved Shank Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
A carved shank ring with five sparkling old cut diamonds. The centre diamond weighs 0.25 carat and
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Diamond and 18 Carat Gold Five-Stone Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This striking beauty holds a centre diamond measuring 55pts and the next stones measuring 35pts and
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Old Mine Cut Diamond Five Stone Gold Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Victorian old mine cut diamonds and yellow gold five-stone gold ring circa 1900. * ABOUT THIS ITEM
Category

Antique Early 1900s Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold

Victorian Ruby and Diamond Five-Stone Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
Dating back to the 1900s, this stunning Victorian ring is made entirely from 18 carat yellow gold
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Vintage Victorian Revival Diamond Sapphire Five Stone Gold Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Vintage Victorian Revival Diamond Sapphire Five Stone Gold Ring. Featuring one 0.58 carat old
Category

Vintage 1950s Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Antique Victorian Diamond 18 Karat Gold Five Stone Ring
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
beauty. This Antique Victorian Diamond 18k Gold Five Stone Ring is a wonderful addition to your jewelry
Category

Antique 1890s English Victorian Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Ruby and Diamond Five-Stone Ring, circa 1870s
Located in London, GB
This hand made Victorian ring is made up of three rubies and two diamonds. The rubies have a
Category

Antique 1870s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian English Carved Five Stone Opal Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
18 karat yellow gold ring, classic “English Carved” style, set with five cabochon opals and rose
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold

Victorian Five-Stone Diamond Carved Shank Ring, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
This beautiful diamond ring dates back to the Victorian era and is all handmade. The centre diamond
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Late Victorian 1.30ct Diamond Five Stone Ring, c.1890s
Located in London, GB
A sparkling array of five old cut diamonds are on display in this beautiful late Victorian ring. In
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold

Victorian Five-Stone Ruby and Diamond Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
This gorgeous five stone ring shows off a total weight of 1.40 carats of Rubies. They are a lovely
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique 18ct Gold Victorian Opal Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Opal & Diamond Ring 18ct Gold Circa 1890 Gorgeous, Victorian five stone ring. Set with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold

Antique 18ct Gold Victorian Ruby Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Ruby & Diamond Ring 18ct Gold Stamped Circa 1880 Fabulous, Victorian five stone ring
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold

Late Victorian 1.90 Carat Five Stone Diamond Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
This stunning late Victorian era five stone diamond ring dates from the very early years of the
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Victorian 0.7 carat five stone rose cut diamond ring
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
Antique ring featuring five white and lively rosecut diamonds. 1x approx 0,20ct + 2 x approx
Category

Antique 19th Century European Victorian Bridal Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Five Stone Old Cushion Cut Diamond Ring, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
This original Victorian era ring showcases five old cushion cut diamonds in graduated sizes, set
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond Five-Stone 18 Carat Gold Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
Five glistening diamonds sit fabulously on top of a simple scroll setting modelled in 18ct gold
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Late Victorian Ruby and Diamond Five-Stone Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
0.65 carats, which alternate horizontally with a pair of 0.10 carat old cut diamonds. This five stone
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian 2.40ct Five Stone Ring, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
This enchanting Victorian ring features five old cut diamonds totalling 2.40 carat. The central
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Late Victorian Five-Stone Ruby and Diamond Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
This beautiful five stone ring is able to boast a total carat weight of 1.10 carat rubies, which
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian 2.10ct Diamond Five Stone, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
A beautiful piece of classic Victorian design, this five stone ring showcases a sparkling
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Late Victorian Ruby and Diamond ‘Five-Stone’ Ring, circa 1900s
Located in London, GB
This classic late Victorian era ‘five stone’ ring features a colourful trio of old cut rubies
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Sapphire and Diamond 18 Carat Gold Five-Stone Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
The sapphires in this 18ct gold five stone ring are a deep inky blue colour and in-between each
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

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Victorian Five Stone Diamond Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact victorian five stone diamond ring you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold, this item was constructed with great care. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. Finding the perfect victorian five stone diamond ring may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. For this particular accessory, there are many different carat weights to choose from, but 1 Carat and 1.5 Carat versions are of considerable interest. Creating a victorian five stone diamond ring has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Five Star Jewelry are consistently popular. See these pages for an old european cut iteration of this accessory, while there are also old mine cut cut and round cut cut versions available here, too. When shopping for a victorian five stone diamond ring, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for unisex or men today than there are for women.

How Much is a Victorian Five Stone Diamond Ring?

The price for a victorian five stone diamond ring starts at $347 and tops out at $53,213 with these rings, on average, selling for $3,107.

A Close Look at Victorian Jewelry

The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.

Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.

The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.

Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.

Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs. 

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.