Vintage Art Deco Style 3.00 Carat Diamond and White Gold Engagement Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning and impressive vintage Art Deco 3.15 carat (total) diamond and 18 karat white gold cocktail ring; part of our vintage engagement ring collections.
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Art Deco Late Style French Ring White Gold 18k Emerald and Diamond
Located in MADRID, ES
Fantastic French ring late Art deco, 1940-1950 made 18kt white gold. Gallery and beautiful rectilinear details engraved with a burin. 3 Emerald oval and pear cut Total 0.45 cts. AA+ ...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Art Deco 1940s Platinum 1.35tgw Old Cut Diamond & Sapphire Odeonesque Tank Ring
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An Art Deco diamond, sapphire, and platinum ring, comprising nine old European cut diamonds, in platinum. My favourite thing about this Art Deco Platinum Diamond and Sapphire Ring, ...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Art Deco gold ring with diamonds and emerald, circa 1930/1940s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
A unique ring made of 18-karat white gold (0.750 fineness) and platinum. The ring is decorated with a square faceted emerald in a beautiful green color with naturally occurring incl...
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Vintage French 1940s Oval Cut Ruby and Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This Art Deco style cocktail ring is supplied with an independent diamond grading report card.
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Late Art Deco 10.75 Carat Cat’s Eye Tourmaline and Diamond Ring, circa 1940s
Located in London, GB
This mystical ring features a rare 10.75 carat cat's eye tourmaline. It is a blueish green colour with a well defined cat's eye. Cat's eye effect in tourmaline is rare, and is genera...
Tourmaline, Diamond, Platinum
Vintage Platinum Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
We always love these elongated filigree rings!! They always have the most excellent details. Ring Details Material: Platinum Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Head Length: 21.6mm Head Heigh...
Diamond, Platinum
Art Deco 1.95 Carat Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
This unique antique piece was handcrafted sometime during the Art Deco design period ( 1920-1940 ). The center stone is a 1.95 carat Ceylon sapphire. Ceylon sapphires are exclusively...
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
HRD Certified White Gold Cocktail Ring with Diamonds
Located in Esch sur Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette
The HRD Certified White Gold Cocktail Ring with Diamonds is a radiant statement piece that exudes sophistication and charm. Crafted from 18kt white gold, this ring boasts a luxurious...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage Ruby & Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
We are loving this vintage ruby & diamond halo ring!! Ring Details Material: 14K Yellow & White Gold Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Head Width: 8.3mm Head Height: 3.2mm Shank Width: 2.1m...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Platinum Pearl & Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
We are loving this vintage beauty!! Ring Details Material: Platinum Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Designer: Peacock Head Width: 17mm Ring Height: 9.5mm Shank Width: 1.5mm Weight: 6.9 Gr...
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Platinum
$4,165Sale Price|30% Off
Art Deco Hardstone Cameo & 14K White Gold Filigree Ring - U.S. - Circa 1930's
Located in Chatham, CA
Art Deco 14K white and yellow gold filigree cocktail ring - bezel set square Renaissance Revival hardstone double portrait cameo featuring Venus and Mars in profile with canted corne...
14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Retro 3.50 Carat Diamond Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Napoli, NA
Beautiful 1950' Retro diamond dress ring set with old mine cut Diamonds for an approximate total weight of 3.50 carats, color G-H clarity VVS. Handmade in 18k yellow and white Gold....
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
1940s Vintage Star Sapphire Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Santa Monica, CA
1940s vintage cocktail ring featuring a large 12.00 carat blue-gray star sapphire that casts a stunning, full-spread star when hit with a single source of light. A stunning piece fro...
Diamond, Sapphire, Star Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
ART-DECO 1930 Poison Hidden-Box Ring In .925 Sterling Silver With Purple
Located in Miami, FL
An art-deco poison ring with oval amethyst. This is a very interesting poison ring created during the Art Deco period in the 1930s. The ring was crafted in Taxco, Mexico, in a Baroq...
Amethyst, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage Sapphire Cocktail Ring 18K White Gold
Located in Montgomery, AL
We are loving this vintage beauty! Ring Details Material: 18K White Gold Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Head Width: 9.2mm Head Height: 5mm Shank Width: 1.5mm Weight: 3.8 Grams Finger Siz...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Art Deco Platinum Topped Diamond and Sapphire Ring with 14K Gold Shank
Located in Venice, CA
The spectacular design of this 14k gold and platinum ring is on the cusp of the Art Deco and Retro eras; the influence of both eras makes this ring bold and unique. The ring’s shape ...
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
5.40 Carat Pink Tourmaline 1.75 Carat Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring Circa 1945
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive vintage Art Deco 5.40 carat pink tourmaline and 1.75 carat diamond, platinum cocktail ring; part of our tourmaline jewelry collection.
Diamond, Tourmaline, Platinum
Vintage 1.3CTW Old European Cut Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
This beauty would make for a great everyday right hand ring!! Ring Details Material: Platinum Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Head Width: 14.1mm Head Height: 4.7mm Shank Width: 2mm Weight...
Diamond, Platinum
Dainty Vintage Diamond Cocktail Ring 14K White Gold
Located in Montgomery, AL
We always love these elongated vintage rings! Ring Details Material: 14K White Gold Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Head Length: 17.6mm Head Height: 2.8mm Weight: 2.9 Grams Finger Size: 4...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 8.89 Carat Ceylon Sapphire and 0.82 Carat Diamond Platinum Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive vintage French 8.89 carat Ceylon sapphire and 0.82cttw diamond, platinum Art Deco cocktail ring; part of our diverse jewellery and estate jewelry coll...
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
1940s French Zircon Diamond Emerald and White Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This impressive vintage Art Deco period ring is supplied with an independent diamond grading report card.
Diamond, Emerald, Zircon, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Vintage Art Deco Gold Ring Blue Sapphire and pearls 14 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Art Deco Vintage ring Circa 1940's Has a dramatic look and feel Truly Feels Vintage from a different "Era" Finger size 7 size from top area size approx 18 x 12 mm 14k Yellow Gold 11....
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
14 Karat Rose Gold Ruby and Diamond Bow Cocktail Ring, 1940s
Located in Wallkill, NY
Delicate as a spring flower, this ring features prong set rubies and tiny accent diamonds set in 14K Rose Gold. The ring is a size 6.5 and can be sized by us or your jeweler. Measuri...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
$30,250Sale Price|44% Off
Vintage 1940's GIA Certified 39.77cts. Blue Star Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 1940's translucent 39.77 carat incredible Blue star sapphire Art Deco cocktail ring.
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Platinum
Diamond Ruby 14 Karat Rose and White Gold Ring, 1940s Art Deco
Located in Wallkill, NY
14k Rose and White Gold Ruby and Diamond Cocktail Ring. Center round brilliant bezel set diamond approximately .30 carats, surrounded my 4 smaller round brilliant cut diamonds approx...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Vintage Amethyst & Old Mine Cut Diamond Illusion Set Cocktail Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
We were so thrilled when we acquired this unique vintage gem!! Ring Details Material: 14K White Gold Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Engraved Inside Shank: M.L. Head Length: 16.5mm Head H...
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Late Deco 3.20ct Aquamarine and Diamond Cluster Ring, c.1940s
Located in London, GB
Dating back to the 1940s, this Late Deco aquamarine & diamond cluster ring is a real beauty. The central aqua is a lovely light blue toned gem, it is an emerald cut stone and weighs ...
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Certified 40 Carat Natural Unheated Ceylon Yellow Sapphire Diamond Cocktail Ring
Located in Lisbon, PT
Certified 40-carat natural unheated Ceylon (Sri Lankan) yellow sapphire, ruby and diamond cluster cocktail ring in 14kt yellow gold. Made in an unusual warm alloy that is in between ...
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1.80 Karat Diamond and 18K Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This fine and impressive vintage diamond ring has been crafted in 18k yellow gold. The impressive and unusual ring has a tapering, asymmetric lobed design displaying a tactile Art D...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Retro Citrine 8 Ruby 10 Diamond Butterfly Ring 14 Karat Gold Art Deco Insect
Located in New York, NY
This is an absolutely magnificent antique Citrine Ring with Ruby and Diamond gems creating an extraordinary Butterfly. The ring is an Art Deco - Hollywood Regency Retro ring in 14 K...
Citrine, Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
$271,200Sale Price|20% Off
Violetish Blue Sapphire Ring
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Platinum ring set with natural diamonds (4.65 carats total) and an 18.30 carat sapphire. This is a sapphire (variety of corundum) with a violetish blue color, cut in a rectangular cu...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Palladium
Retro Synthetic Ruby and Diamond Ring of 10k Gold, Circa 1930-1940
Located in Lewisburg, PA
A refined and timeless vintage ring (circa 1930–1940), featuring a harmonious arrangement of synthetic flame fusion rubies and sparkling diamonds, all mounted in solid 14k gold. Jewe...
Diamond, Ruby, 10k Gold
$4,190Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Old-Cut Diamond Ring
Located in Firenze, FI
antique ring from the 1950s with a central old-cut oval-shaped diamond surrounded by 8 sparkling Old-cut diamonds in total weight ( approximately 2.20 carats )
Diamond, Gold
FRENCH Ring In 18K Yellow Gold 1.80 Ct Colombian Emerald & 2.35 Ct Diamond
Located in Miami, FL
This important estate Toi et Moi bypass ring features a natural 1.80-carat Colombian emerald paired with a magnificent 2.35-carat antique European-cut diamond. Masterfully crafted in...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage AGL Certified No Heat Blue Sapphire & Old Euro Cut Diamond Platinum Ring
Located in Miami, FL
AGL certified 1.27 carat cushion cut no heat blue sapphire and old cut round diamond ring in platinum. This unique, wide frame, multi-stone ring boasts a captivating curved design th...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
3.66tcw 14K Colombian Emerald-Emerald Cut & Diamond Halo Vintage Gold Ring
Located in Jupiter, FL
Displayed is a vintage Colombian emerald and diamond halo handmade ring. At its center lies a rare, earth-mined emerald-cut Colombian emerald, radiating vivid green hues filled with ...
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
GIA 4.70 Carat Antique Vintage Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring in 18 Karat Gold
Located in New York, NY
A Breathtaking Vintage 18K White Gold (tested) Elongated Oval Ruby ring. CIRCA 1940s. The RUBY is estimated 3.50CT with measurements of 14.65x7.80x3.35 mm. GIA Certified in Dark be...
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Circa 1930s 18k Gold Estate Natural Rose Cut Diamond Tank Ring
Located in Fatih/İstanbul, 34
💎 We Cover All U.S. Import Taxes USA — No Hidden Fees!💎 Antique Circa 1930s 18k Gold Estate Natural Rose Cut Diamond Tank Ring In very good condition. Total weight is 11.5 grams...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Platinum Retro Emerald Cabochon Diamond Ring
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
A very chic emerald and diamond ring from the 1940s, centring an important old-mine Colombian emerald of ca. 9 carats and ca. 6 carats of diamonds in four clusters around it. The rin...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Natural Colombian Vivid Green Emerald, Diamond, 18K Gold Retro Square Halo Ring
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
This delightful geometric motif Art-Deco/ Retro Ring dates back to late 1940’s - early 1950’s. It’s centring an emerald-cut (step-cut) Natural Colombian Emerald – the most desirab...
Emerald, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold
1940s Ring In 14 Carat Gold Set With Coral Cabochon And Old Cut Diamonds
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Beautiful 14 carat yellow ring, set with a large natural coral cabochon, surrounded by 6 small rose-cut diamonds. Pretty decoration typical of the 1930s/1940s The cabochon measures: ...
Coral, Diamond, Gold
$15,365Sale Price|52% Off
Retro 3.00 Carat Rose Cut Diamond and Emerald Ring
Located in Firenze, FI
Vintage rose t diamond ring. central round convex rose cut diamond , approximately 3.20 carat but faces up like 4ct diamond . approximately H/I color SI clarity , set on 14k gold . t...
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
Vintage 18KW Gold Filigree Diamond Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
We are loving this vintage beauty!! Ring Details Material: 18K White Gold Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Head Width: 7.9mm Head Height: 5.4mm Shank Width: 1.2mm Weight: 2.2 Grams Finger ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$19,600Sale Price|20% Off
Circa 1940s 3.50 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Platinum Halo Ring
Located in Chicago, IL
A striking circa 1940s diamond halo ring crafted in solid platinum, showcasing a captivating Old European Cut center diamond with exceptional presence and fire. The center stone dis...
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Exclusive platinum ring with 1.00ct diamonds and emeralds, mid-20th century.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Exclusive platinum ring with 1.00ct diamonds and emeralds A ring with an exceptionally beautiful diamond and emerald crimson It consists of a centrally set oval brilliant-cut diamo...
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1935 Nordic Poison Ring Garnet solid 18K Gold Ø7.25 US /4.8gr
Located in SE
Poison Ring in solid 18K Yellow Gold with crown being a hidden compartment 13 mm x 11 mm x 5.5 mm deep covered with secure and tight hinged lid decorated with rose cut Garnet. Unisex...
Garnet, 18k Gold
GIA Rubellite Diamond Ring 8.36ct Original 1930's -1950's 14K Red Tourmaline
Located in Dearborn, MI
Genuine Original Antique from the 1930's-1950's Art Deco GIA Certified Rubellite, Red Tourmaline Diamond Engagement Ring 8.36ct 14K White Gold Features a HUGE 7.66 Carat Genuine G...
Diamond, Tourmaline, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 14K White Gold Diamond and Ruby Target Ring
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
A striking vintage diamond and ruby ring crafted in 14K white gold, designed with a bold, geometric flair characteristic of the 1940s Retro era. At its center rests a brilliant round...
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
$7,275Sale Price|50% Off
1.60 Carat Colombian Emerald and Diamond Ring 18K Gold and IGI Certificate
Located in Firenze, FI
Gorgeous Natural Colombian Emerald and Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Ring 18k Yellow Gold. Transparent , green NATURAL EMERALD with Estimate Weight 1.60 ct.
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage Dainty Ruby & Diamond Pinky Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
We are thrilled to offer this vintage beauty!! Ring Details Material: 18K Yellow Gold Base; Platinum Top Era: Art Deco 1920 - 1940 Head Length: 13.1mm Head Width: 12mm Head Height: ...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage Filigree Brooch Conversion Elongated Ring
Located in Montgomery, AL
We always love seeing these vintage brooches converted into something new! This beauty is absolutely magnificent! Ring Details Material: Platinum Top; 14K White Gold Lower Half Era:...
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Vintage 18K Yellow Gold/ Platinum Emerald and Diamond Ribbon Ring - 1.88ct.
Located in San Francisco, CA
This Vintage 18K Yellow Gold/ Platinum Emerald and Diamond Ribbon Style Ring is just so unique and gorgeous- I LOVE it!! Crafted in 18K Yellow Gold, the design features an amazing ri...
Emerald, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage Two Round Cut Amethyst Ring. 1.10TCW Ring 18K White Gold Hand Engraved
Located in New York, NY
Age: Vintage Primary Stone: Amethyst Primary Stone Weight: Approx. 1.10-Carats Primary Stone Cut: Round Cut Jewelry Type: Two Stone Metal: White Gold Ring Size: 7.75 US, Resizable ...
Amethyst, White Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Diamond and Gold Cocktail Ring
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive 0.60 carat diamond, 18k yellow gold, 18k white gold set cocktail ring; part of our diverse vintage estate jewelry collections. This impressive b...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Retro Platinum Diamond and Onyx Ring
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A platinum square ring retro ring set with in a square a large old cut diamond in the centre, (0.7 karaat G, VS), surrounded by square border set with 18 brilliant cut diamonds (18 ...
Diamond, Onyx, Platinum
Contemporary Triple Ring with Diamonds and Emerald Cushion Cut (certificate)
By Angeletti
Located in Roma, IT
Contemporary Triple Ring with Diamonds and Emerald Cushion Cut. Modern Design for this Ring with a Stunning Cushion Cut Emerald ct. 1.80 with Diamonds (ct. 1.86 certificate 2016-0770...
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Fascination with the Jazz Age is endless, and even today jewelry designers continue to be inspired by authentic Art Deco jewelry and watches.
The Art Deco period, encompassing the 1920s and ’30s, ushered in a very distinct look in the design of jewelry. There were many influences on the jewelry of the era that actually began to take shape prior to the 1920s. In 1909, Serge Diaghilev brought the Ballet Russes to Paris, and women went wild for the company’s exotic and vibrant costumes It’s no wonder, then, that jade, lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise and other bright gemstones became all the rage. There already existed a fascination with the East, particularly China and Japan, and motifs consisting of fans and masks started to show up in Art Deco jewelry.
However, the event that had the greatest influence on Deco was the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922. When the world saw what was hidden in Tut’s burial chamber, it sent just about everyone into a frenzy. Pierre Cartier wrote in 1923 that “the discovery of the tomb will bring some sweeping changes in fashion jewelry.” And he couldn’t have been more right. “Egyptomania” left an indelible mark on all of the major jewelry houses, from Cartier to Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Georges Fouquet. (Cartier created some of the most iconic jewelry designs that defined this era.)
While a lot of Art Deco jewelry was black and white — the black coming from the use of onyx or black enamel and the white from rock crystal and diamonds — there is plenty of color in jewelry of the era. A perfect accent to diamonds in platinum settings were blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies, and these stones were also used in combination with each other.
Many designers employed coral, jade and lapis lazuli, too. In fact, some of the most important avant-garde jewelers of the period, like Jean Després and Jean Fouquet (son of Georges), would combine white gold with ebony and malachite for a jolt of color.
A lot of the jewelry produced during this time nodded to current fashion trends, and women often accessorized their accessories. The cloche hat was often accented with geometric diamond brooches or double-clip brooches. Backless evening dresses looked fabulous with sautoir necklaces, and long pearl necklaces that ended with tassels, popular during the Edwardian period, were favored by women everywhere, including Coco Chanel.
Find unique Art Deco necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
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 rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
A flashy symbol of wealth during the early 20th century, antique and vintage cocktail rings have gained broader appeal in the decades since for the hefty dose of glamour they bring to any ensemble.
Cocktail rings earned their name for their frequent appearances during glitzy cocktail parties at the height of the Prohibition era. Back then, these accessories were seen not only as statement pieces but as statements in and of themselves. They openly represented a sense of freedom and independence as well as a demonstration of opulence. After all, the 1920s heralded the Harlem Renaissance and Art Deco design, and a slew of social and cultural shifts meant that women in particular were breaking from pre–World War I conventions and embracing newfound freedoms to express themselves as individuals.
Women expressly wore cocktail rings on the fingers of their right hand versus the left, which was “reserved” for an engagement ring or wedding band, accessories definitely paid for by a suitor. And for cocktail rings, the bigger the colored gem at the center — which is usually mounted in a high setting — and the more elaborate the design, the stronger the likelihood of being noticed.
Cocktail rings remained a popular piece of jewelry for women until the 1930s, when the Great Depression and the onset of war marked a change in behaviors nationwide. While the 1960s and ’70s saw a return in visibility for the accessory, it wasn’t until the 1980s that cocktail rings once again assumed their position as a beacon of luxury and glitz.
During the 20th century, the range of dazzling cocktail rings seems to have been limitless, from glimmering gold rings set with carved jade diamonds designed by David Webb to Pomellato’s pink quartz confections to striking Gucci butterfly rings with accent diamonds set in a pavé fashion.
So, how do you wear a cocktail ring? Cocktail rings “can be worn for almost anything — dinners, date nights, parties, special events, on the red carpet,” explains David Joseph of New York-based jewelry brand Bochic.
Can you wear cocktail rings with other rings? “In my opinion, cocktail rings should stand on their own since they showcase a large gem in the center,” says Joseph.
These glamorous jewels can be worn inside or outside crowded taverns, in either daytime or nighttime with casual or dressy attire. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of antique and vintage cocktail rings, including those offered by Chanel, whose elegant cocktail rings often feature pearls and, of course, diamonds, and sometimes were styled after showy flowers like the camellia, and Van Cleef & Arpels, whose detailed and intricate designs are viewed as miniature pieces of wearable art.
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
Ready to rock? Some of our favorite jewelry designers and dealers share indispensable advice for choosing that most important ring.
Will your beloved be enchanted by an Edwardian ring or a trendy Art Deco piece? We clue you into period styles and tips for finding the perfect ring.