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GIA Antique Australian Opal 14K Pendant Natural Vintage Necklace Solid Gold Fine
Located in Sylvania, GA
Rubies, Miners Cut Diamonds, Fine Colombian Emeralds, Sapphires, and Antique Aquamarines set in Solid 18k
Category

Antique 19th Century Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Opal, Gold, 14k Gold

Edwardian 1903 Swiss Necklace Watch In 14Kt Gold With Guilloché Blue Enamel
Located in Miami, FL
of the color white. Think diamonds, pearls and white metals like platinum and white gold. Diamonds
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swiss Edwardian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

French Edwardian 1905 Chain In 18Kt Gold With Guilloche Blue Enamel and Pearls
Located in Miami, FL
diamonds, pearls and white metals like platinum and white gold. Diamonds often had an Old Mine or European
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Edwardian Chain Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

French Edwardian 1900-1905 Pearls Chain In 18Kt Gold With Guilloche Blue Enamel
Located in Miami, FL
like platinum and white gold. Diamonds often had an Old Mine or European cut and sapphires were a
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Edwardian Link Necklaces

Materials

Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

French 1900 Edwardian Tortoise Parasol Handle in 18kt Yellow Gold Carved Citrine
Located in Miami, FL
white gold. Diamonds often had an Old Mine or European cut and sapphires were a popular choice for a pop
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Edwardian Vanity Items

Materials

Citrine, Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

EDWARDIAN 1900 Pforzheim Guilloché Enamel Pendant Mirror-Box In .925 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
color white. Think diamonds, pearls and white metals like platinum and white gold. Diamonds often had an
Category

Antique Early 1900s German Edwardian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Silver

Edwardian 1905 Neo Classic Guilloché Enamel Miniature Boudoir Clock 925 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
platinum and white gold. Diamonds often had an Old Mine or European cut and sapphires were a popular choice
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swiss Edwardian Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

England 1780 Georgian Battersea Enamel Baroque Decorated Box in Gilded Bronze
Located in Miami, FL
rings. Popular cuts for diamonds included 'rose cut', 'old mine cut' and 'table cut. Condition: The
Category

Antique 1780s English George III Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Edwardian 1908 Miniature Travel Clock Guilloché Enamel And Sterling With Fit Box
By Concord
Located in Miami, FL
white gold. Diamonds often had an Old Mine or European cut and sapphires were a popular choice for a pop
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swiss Edwardian Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Edwardian 1908 Miniature Guilloché Blue Enamel Clock in .935 Sterling With Case
By Concord
Located in Miami, FL
white. Think diamonds, pearls and white metals like platinum and white gold. Diamonds often had an Old
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swiss Edwardian Carriage Clocks and Travel Clocks

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

VACHET Paris 1910 Edwardian Miniature Enameled Guilloché Clock In .800 Silver
Located in Miami, FL
incorporating a lot of the color white. Think diamonds, pearls and white metals like platinum and white gold
Category

Vintage 1910s French Edwardian Carriage Clocks and Travel Clocks

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Austria 1910 Edwardian Guilloché Enamel Miniature Boudoir Clock In .950 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
like platinum and white gold. Diamonds often had an Old Mine or European cut and sapphires were a
Category

Antique Early 1900s Austrian Edwardian Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

German Pforzheim 1910 Edwardian Guilloché Blue Enamel Round Box In .935 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
, pearls and white metals like platinum and white gold. Diamonds often had an Old Mine or European cut and
Category

Vintage 1910s German Edwardian Boxes and Cases

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Edwardian 1908 Miniature Travel Clock With Guilloché Enamel In Sterling With Box
Located in Miami, FL
white gold. Diamonds often had an Old Mine or European cut and sapphires were a popular choice for a pop
Category

Antique Early 1900s Swiss Edwardian Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Bardies-Faure 1914 Paris Edwardian Guilloche Enameled Box .950 Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
of the color white. Think diamonds, pearls and white metals like platinum and white gold. Diamonds
Category

Vintage 1910s French Belle Époque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Thomas Barker 1825 London Georgian Pair of Fruit Spoons in Gilded .925 Sterling
By Thomas Wilkes Barker
Located in Miami, FL
IV from 1714-1840. Like the term Victorian (used for jewelry during Queen Victoria's rule), it is
Category

Antique 18th Century English George IV Sterling Silver

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Victorian Five Stone Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in London, GB
A Victorian five stone carved half hoop sapphire and diamond ring, set alternately with five
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

A late Victorian sapphire, emerald diamond ring
Located in London, GB
A late Victorian sapphire, emerald and diamond cross-over ring, the two clusters centred with a
Category

Early 20th Century English Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Important Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Brooch/Ring
Located in London, GB
An Important Victorian yellow sapphire and diamond brooch/ring, the natural sapphire weighing 31.58
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Early 20th Century Ruby, Diamond and Sapphire Ring
Located in London, GB
An early 20th century ruby, diamond and sapphire ring, to the centre seven old European-cut
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian More Rings

Materials

18k Gold

An early 20th century diamond and sapphire cluster ring
Located in London, GB
An early 20th century diamond and sapphire cluster ring, the central old European-cut diamond
Category

Early 20th Century English Modern Cluster Rings

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian Gold Twist Bracelet with Gold Locket
Located in London, GB
A Victorian gold twist bracelet with gold locket, the bracelet designed as a twist with round rings
Category

Antique 1860s British Victorian Chain Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian 1905 Handle Desk Magnifier Glass in Sterling Silver and Bamboo Wood
Located in Miami, FL
color white. Think diamonds, pearls and white metals like platinum and white gold. Diamonds often had an
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Desk Sets

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Victorian Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Portland, ME
18K Yellow gold sapphire and diamond ring. The carved setting is set with three cushion cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Victorian Sapphire Diamond Gold Halo Ring
Located in Madison area, WI
- Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Halo Ring - c. 1890-1900 - 14k rose gold, sapphire, diamond A
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Vertically Set Victorian Sapphire Diamond Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
ring radiates from the classic combination of sapphires and diamonds. The ring is currently a size 7
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

Victorian Sapphire Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Middleton, WI
This antique Victorian sapphire and diamond cluster ring was handcrafted around 1890, in England
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 15k Gold

Antique Victorian Sapphire Diamond 18 Carat Gold Ring
Located in ALTRINCHAM, GB
Victorian 5 stone sapphire and diamond ring;  the classic Victorian ring with 3 sapphires and two
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Victorian Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Sapphire Ring
Located in Santa Fe, NM
A stunning 18K yellow gold Victorian ring set with a central sugarloaf-cut blue sapphire weighing
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian Diamond, Sapphire and Gold Five Stone Ring
Located in Madison area, WI
- Antique Sapphire and Diamond Ring - c. 1880-1900 - 18k yellow gold; three old-mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in London, GB
A Victorian sapphire and diamond cluster ring. Mounted in 18ct yellow gold and silver, English
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold

Victorian Sapphire Diamond Gold Rub Over Set Ring
Located in London, GB
A really smart late Victorian ring, circa 1880, in the rub over style which was so popular at the
Category

Antique 1880s English Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Rose Cut Diamond Pink Sapphire Ring
Located in Solvang, CA
Antique Victorian rose cut diamond & pink sapphire ring, circa 1880. This Victorian ring is crafted
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Blue Sapphire and Diamond Halo 18 Karat Gold Ring
Located in Seattle, WA
Circa 1880. This lovely sterling silver-topped 18KT gold Victorian ring features a gorgeous oval
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Sapphire and Rose Cut Diamond Ring 18k Gold Ring
Located in Joelton, TN
Victorian five stone Sapphire and Rose Cut Diamond Ring. The Center Sapphire is approximately .40
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire

Antique Victorian Cabochon Sapphire Diamond Ring 18 Carat Gold, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
A beautiful Antique Victorian cluster ring crowned with a stunning cabochon cut Sapphire which is
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Era Pink Sapphire Diamond 14 Karat Gold Snake Ring
Located in Crownsville, MD
Gorgeous antique Victorian era late 1800s 14K yellow gold with pink sapphire cabochon and round cut
Category

Antique 1880s American Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold

Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Snake Ring, Dated 1888
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
diamond eyes. A late Victorian classic. Cut – Pear cut sapphire and rose cut diamonds. Carat – The
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian More Rings

Materials

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

Victorian Style 6.00 Carat Blue Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Miami, FL
baguette cut. Diamonds set in a channel setting. Victorian era styled sapphire and diamonds. Free ring
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

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

Antique Victorian Sapphire Diamond Cluster Ring 18 Carat Gold, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
9mm x Height 9mm x Depth 4mm METAL: 18ct Yellow Gold STONES: Sapphire (approx. 0.18ct), Diamond
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Sapphire Diamond Double Heart Ring 18 Carat Gold Dated 1897
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This lovely Antique Victorian ring has been commissioned in 18ct Yellow Gold. It features the shape
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire

Victorian Five Stone Sapphire Ring
Located in London, GB
An original five stone Burma sapphire ring which was made circa 1880. The sapphires are very well
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Victorian GIA 10.10 Carat Pink Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in METAIRIE, LA
.. Pink Sapphires are much rarer than those in the Blue range. Princess Diana's Sapphire & Diamond ring
Category

Antique 1880s Early Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Antique 18 Karat Gold Victorian Diamond Sapphire and Ruby Engagement Ring, 1880s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Period. This second Victorian period is famous for its ostentatious pieces set with pearls and diamonds
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Y...

Sapphire Diamond Gold Cluster Ring
Located in Portland, ME
18K Yellow gold sapphire and diamond ring. The cluster style ring is centered with a 3.21 carat
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Victorian Sapphire Diamond Ring in 2 Carat of Sapphire, circa 1900
Located in Kendal, GB
A stunning antique late Victorian ring modelled in 18ct gold and claw set with a trilogy of deep
Category

20th Century Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

Victorian circa 1850 Natural No Heat Madagascar Blue Sapphire Diamond Gold Ring
Located in Berlin, Berlin
diamonds in historical cuts, surrounding the blue stone like a halo. The ring of yellow gold is hand-forged
Category

Antique 1850s Early Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold

Antique Victorian 13.5 Carat Burma Sapphire Diamond Cluster Ring
Located in Sale, Cheshire
DESCRIPTION Late Victorian, c.1900 Hello 13.5ct Burma no heat sapphire... An outstanding antique
Category

Early 20th Century French Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Victorian 0.90 Carat Old Cut Diamond Cabochon Sapphire Gold Gypsy Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
sapphires is a classic gypsy style setting. This is a top grade example of a popular Victorian style with
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Toi et Moi Sapphire Diamond Ring 14k Gold Size 6
Located in New York, NY
A true symbol of romance, this Victorian Toi et Moi (""You and Me"") ring features a stunning
Category

Mid-20th Century Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold, 14k Gold

Victorian Five Stone No Heat Sapphire 1.6 ctw, Diamond Ring 18k rose gold.
Located in Joelton, TN
Handmade 18K rose gold, 5-stone vivid deep blue violet sapphire and rose cut diamond band. The band
Category

Antique 1890s European Victorian Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Rose Gold

Antique Late Victorian Sapphire and Diamond Five Stone Ring in 18ct Yellow Gold
Located in Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
; 1.8mm. Materials: 18ct Yellow Gold Stones: Diamonds, Sapphire
Category

Antique 1880s British Late Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Sapphire and Old Mine Cut Diamond Oval Cluster Ring
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautifully proportioned late Victorian cluster ring is fashioned in 14k yellow gold with a
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Late Victorian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold

Victorian Antique Engagement Ring with Natural Sapphire and Ten Diamonds, 1890s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Material: 18K pink gold (touchstone tested) Diamond(s): Ten rose cut diamonds. We do not have the weight
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique Cushion Cut Violet Blue Sapphire Diamond Three Stone Victorian Ring
Located in San Francisco, CA
An exceptional and original sapphire and diamond three-stone ring from the late 19th century. A
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

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

Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Double Headed Snake Ring
Located in London, GB
set with a Sapphire. A quite heavy and substantial Ring and fully hallmarked for London 18k Gold and
Category

Antique 1870s British More Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Victorian Carved Half Hoop Burmese Sapphire and Diamond Ring, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
Victorian 18ct gold burmese sapphire and pear shaped diamond three stone ring 1880c
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Blue Sapphire

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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.