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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

Antique, Victorian, 18 Carat Gold, Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
An incredible, 19th century, natural yellow (golden coloured) sapphire and diamond ring, circa 1860
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Victorian 18ct Gold Sapphire and Old Cut Diamond Ring Circa 1890
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A timeless classic this Victorian 18ct gold oval cut sapphire and old cut diamond ring has all the
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Natural Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring, circa 1890
Located in London, GB
Victorian Natural Burmese Sapphire and diamond cluster ring 18ct gold silver setclaws 1890c
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver

Antique Victorian Pink Sapphire Diamond Ring 18 Carat Dated 1891
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous Victorian 18ct Yellow Gold ring is dated Birmingham 1891. A 0.80ct Pink Sapphire is
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold

Antique, Victorian, 18 Carat Gold, Pink Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
. It is surrounded by old mine-cut diamonds, and set in silver on gold, which is testament to its late
Category

Antique 1880s British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian 2 Carat Yellow Sapphire Diamond 18 Carat Gold circa 1880 Ring
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
SAPPHIRE MEASURES: 8mm across METAL: 18ct Yellow Gold STONES: Yellow Sapphire (2ct), Diamond (approx
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Cornflower Sapphire and Diamond Three-Stone Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
vibrant cornflower sapphire in the centre, flanked by two lovely .40ct old mine cut diamonds. Modelled in
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian 2.22 Carat Natural Sapphire Old Cut Diamond 18k Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Essex, GB
A truly wonderful antique sapphire and diamond ring. The centre stone – certified as natural and
Category

Early 20th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...

Antique Victorian, 18 Carat Gold, Peach Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
Pale peach sapphire and diamond ring. At the centre of this ring is a charming sapphire of a very
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

Antique Late Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Gypsy Set Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
An antique gypsy ring with a Diamond in the centre and Sapphires on either side. The Diamond is set
Category

Antique 1880s British Late Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

Victorian 1.80 Carat Natural Sapphire .80 Carat Old Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Napoli, IT
Classic Victorian This timeless, authentic Victorian ring is a lovely example of the era
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Antique Gold No Heat Sapphire Diamond Ring
Located in Lambertville, NJ
$22,460.00 Natural sapphire - 6.55ct Diamonds - approx. 0.30ctw SI3-I2/ H-I. Measurements - ring size - 4
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

Victorian Cushion-Cut Five-Stone Sapphire Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
gorgeous and exceptional Victorian jewel. Most rings can be sized up or down one size unless noted and
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Band Rings

Victorian OMC Diamond Sapphire Gypsy Band
Located in Sale, Cheshire
. Crafted in 15 karat gold. STONES Old Mine Cut Diamonds & Blue Sapphires RING SIZE 6.25 US MEASUREMENTS
Category

Antique 19th Century English Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 15k Gold

Antique victorian 18k yellow gold diamond ruby sapphire three stone ring.
Located in London, GB
Experience the enchantment of this meticulously crafted "950" platinum and "18 K" rose gold ring, a
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire

Victorian 2.25 Carat Sapphire and 2.26 Carat Old Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Essex, GB
A lovely Victorian sapphire and diamond ring of character, history – and real beauty. The bright
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Antique Victorian 18 Carat Yellow Gold Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Trilogy Ring
Located in Hamilton, AU
Forged in gleaming 18 carat yellow gold, this gorgeous Victorian-era trilogy ring features a
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 18ct Gold Platinum Ceylon Sapphire 0.55ct Old Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in St Helens, GB
A superb true Victorian era cluster ring. c1880. SIZE ; U UK, 10 US 18 carat yellow gold shank with
Category

20th Century British Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Alluring Victorian Era Cabochon Sapphire Ring with Old Mine Cut Diamond Halo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hobart is an alluring and authentic Victorian era (1890) engagement ring made from platinum-topped
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Rose Gold

Antique French Sapphire Diamond Gold Snake Ring
Located in Middleton, WI
karat gold and features a deep blue sapphire and a glittering white diamond. The round faceted sapphire
Category

Antique 1890s French Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Antique Gold Natural No Heat Sapphire Diamond Ring
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Antique 18k Gold Diamond Natural No Heat Sapphire Ring. Comes with EGL certificate. Sapphire
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Dazzling GIA Cert Victorian Sapphire Old Mine Cut Diamond Halo Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bentley Ridge is an amazing Late Victorian (circa 1895) 18k rose and white gold ring centering a
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Rose Gold, White Gold

Antique Sapphire Diamond Gold Trilogy Engagement Ring
Located in ALTRINCHAM, GB
Victorian sapphire and diamond three stone engagement ring; the central deep sky blue sapphire
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Late Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Sapphire Diamond Ring 18 Carat, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This genuine Victorian Sapphire and Diamond is, Circa 1880. The ring is decorated in wonderful
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

18 Carat Gold Blue Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in St Helens, GB
A superb Sapphire and Diamond cluster ring. Of Victorian design but a modern piece. 18 carat yellow
Category

20th Century British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold

Antique Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Beautiful antique 18kt. yellow gold band prong set with 3 old cut Ceylon color natural sapphires
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

A 19th century Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Snake Ring
Located in London, GB
The single head set with a fine cabochon Sapphire and Rose Diamond eyes with "scale engraving
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Art Deco Sapphire Old Cut Diamond Gold Navette Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
central sapphire (natural and unheated) hold a perfect cornflower glow. Four small rose cut diamond are
Category

Early 20th Century British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Diamond Sapphire Love Bow Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
New Castle is a Victorian inspired sapphire and diamond engagement ring made in the 1960's. This
Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Timeless and Unique Victorian Era Sapphire Ring with Glittering Halo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Barbados is a timeless authentic Victorian era (circa 1895) platinum topped 14k yellow gold three
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum, Yellow Gold

18 Carat White Gold Ruby Sapphire Diamond Snake Ring
Located in St Helens, GB
An awesome Snake ring. Solid 18 carat white gold example. Designed with two ruby stones as eyes
Category

20th Century British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, White Gold

18 Carat Gold Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Dated 1905
Located in London, GB
18ct Gold Sapphire and Diamond Ring, dated 1905 Nice colour Sapphire with bright white diamonds The
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Ladies’ 18k Late Victorian “Shield Ring” with Sapphires and Old Mine-cut Diamond
Located in Metairie, LA
gold. It has been masterfully jeweled with three Old Mine cut diamonds and two deep blue sapphire
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Late Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Victorian 18 Carat Gold Natural ‘Cornflower’ Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond
Located in Rochford, Essex
Sapphire and diamond ring, circa 1890. This beautiful sapphire and diamond cluster is claw-set with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

18 Carat Gold Old Cut Diamond Sapphire Five-Stone Boat Ring
Located in St Helens, GB
gold shank with platinum head setting. Designed with alternating sapphires and old cut diamonds in a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

Antique Sapphire and Diamond Boat Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
face set with gorgeous deep blue Sapphires and small Rose Cut Diamonds. This boat ring has been crafted
Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Sapphire and Diamond Boat Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
the centre Sapphire. This boat ring has been crafted from 18ct Yellow Gold with clear hallmarks on the
Category

Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
Platinum-topped 14KT yellow gold elongated, filigreed antique ring having at center a bezel-set
Category

20th Century Unknown Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Platinum

GIA Certified Antique Sapphire Diamond Ring
Located in Sonoma, CA
A natural blue oval faceted sapphire is set in 18 karat yellow gold, with six near colorless
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Sapphire Diamond Cluster Ring Circa 1915
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1.00ct Sapphire with 1.10cttw old Mine cut diamond accents set in a vintage 14k yellow gold
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian .40 Carat Cushion Cut Diamond with Sapphire and Rose Cut Diamonds
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Victorian cluster ring. The bright stone sits within a double halo of 12 square cut .02ct natural sapphires
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Ring , 19th Century Sapphire and Diamond and Gold 3 Stone Cluster
Located in London, GB
A 19th century, ceylon sapphire 3 stone ring set with old cut brilliant diamonds,mounted in 18ct
Category

Antique 1870s British High Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

10.66 Carat Natural No Heat Ceylon Sapphire Antique Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
An extra-long and extra-lovely 10.66 carat sapphire, accompanied by an A.G.L. - American
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold

Victorian Natural Purple Sapphire Ring/Pin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18k Yellow gold RARE 4.74 carat purple sapphire with a GIA certificate stating natural color,no
Category

Unknown Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond

Antique Sapphire Diamond Five Stone Ring
Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB
An exceptional quality antique sapphire and diamond five-stone ring featuring a carved gallery
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond

Antique, Edwardian, 18ct Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
Sapphire and Diamond Ring. Sapphire and diamond cluster rings are immensely popular as a choice for
Category

Early 20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

Antique Victorian Emerald Diamond Chequerboard Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
A fine Victorian chequerboard ring set with two rows of alternating emeralds and old cut diamonds
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

18 Karat White Gold Sapphire and Diamond Marquise Navette Engagement Ring
Located in Lancashire, Oldham
A striking vintage 18 karat white gold sapphire and diamond marquise diamond ring that has been
Category

Mid-20th Century British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Victorian, Natural Color Change Sapphire and Pink Sapphire Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
sapphires as shoulder stones and a scrolled mount in warm yellow gold dated to 1886, creating a ring full of
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique 7.68 Carat Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
A gorgeous, richly saturated, royal-blue cushion-cut sapphire, weighing 7.68 carats, radiates from
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Sapphire, 14k Gold

Antique, Art Deco, 18ct Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
Sapphire and diamond ring, circa 1900. A very pretty square-cut sapphire sits centre of this
Category

Early 20th Century Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

Ladies 14 Karat Yellow Gold 3.35 Carat Sapphire and Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Gainesville, FL
You are viewing a beautiful sapphire and diamond ring. Any woman would love to add this piece to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Early Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Certified 9.35 carat Sapphire and Diamond Antique 18 Karat Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Antwerp, BE
An antique engagement ring in 18 karat rose gold and silver set with one certified natural vivid
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique 7.68 Carat Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
A gorgeous, richly saturated, royal-blue cushion-cut sapphire, weighing 7.68 carats, radiates from
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Sapphire, 14k Gold

Circa 1880 Sapphire and Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Three Stone Gypsy Ring
Located in London, GB
An 18ct yellow gold gypsy ring set with a sapphire flanked by two old cut diamonds. French, circa
Category

Antique 1880s French Victorian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

18 Karat Yellow Gold English Ruby Sapphire and Diamond Double Heart Ring
Located in QLD , AU
The true lovers ring - two hearts together encrusted with diamonds, it doesn't get any more
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Victorian Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact victorian sapphire diamond gold ring you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold. Our collection of these items for sale includes 472 vintage editions and 32 modern creations to choose from as well. Finding the perfect victorian sapphire diamond gold 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. Creating a victorian sapphire diamond gold ring has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Roshe Jewels, DGI and Anna Sheffield are consistently popular. Today, if you’re looking for an oval cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes round cut and old european cut alternatives. When shopping for a victorian sapphire diamond gold 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 Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring?

On average, a victorian sapphire diamond gold ring at 1stDibs sells for $3,359, while they’re typically $340 on the low end and $269,500 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.