21k Gold Ring
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Unknown Classical Roman Fashion Rings
Gold, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary European Medieval Cluster Rings
Coral, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Asian Band Rings
Yellow Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Classical Roman Fashion Rings
22k Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Unknown Classical Roman Fashion Rings
Gold, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Singaporean Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Aesthetic Movement Three-Stone Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold, Gold
Antique Early 1700s Italian Baroque Band Rings
Turquoise, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Bridal Rings
Tanzanite, Blue Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, Yellow Diamond, Diamond, Yello...
21st Century and Contemporary American Artist Engagement Rings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Blue Sapphire, Tanzanite, Gold,...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Bridal Rings
Zircon, Multi-gemstone, Garnet, Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby
Vintage 1970s Signet Rings
Gold
2010s Band Rings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Band Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1810s Signet Rings
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cluster Rings
Multi-gemstone, Diamond, Tsavorite, Sapphire, Brown Diamond, Yellow Diam...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Brown Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Garnet, Yellow Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Ye...
Vintage 1980s Italian Band Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Topaz, 24k Gold
Vintage 1960s Signet Rings
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Empire Cocktail Rings
Coral, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Band Rings
White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Band Rings
Opal, 18k Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Signet Rings
Gold
Early 2000s Engagement Rings
Emerald, Yellow Gold
2010s Israeli Cluster Rings
Diamond, Jade, Yellow Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Carnelian, 22k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Fashion Rings
22k Gold
Antique 19th Century European Aesthetic Movement Signet Rings
Jasper, 22k Gold
1990s Unknown Signet Rings
Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Roman Signet Rings
Carnelian, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary Bridal Rings
Multi-gemstone, Garnet, Zircon, 22k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Multi-gemstone, Blue Diamond, Black Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Di...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, Tourmaline, Multi-gemstone, Brown Diamond, Garnet, Gold, Yello...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Fashion Rings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Brown Diamond, Garnet, Sapphire, ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Fashion Rings
Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Pink Diamond, Brown Diamond, Garnet, Sapphire, ...
2010s Italian Classical Greek Cluster Rings
Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Dutch Modernist Solitaire Rings
Turquoise, Gold, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Band Rings
Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Band Rings
22k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold, Silver
21k Gold Ring For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 21k Gold Ring?
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.
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 rings, vintage 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.
- Does 21k gold tarnish?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 202221K gold does not rust or tarnish. This highly-desirable metal resists oxygen, meaning that it does not easily rust or tarnish. This is part of the reason that gold is such a popular metal for jewelry. Shop a collection of 21k jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Is 21k gold real?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, 21K gold is real gold, but it is not pure, solid gold. Instead, the metal is 87.5 percent genuine gold. The remaining 12.5 percent of the jewelry or other object is one or more other metals. Find a variety of expertly vetted gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, 21 karat gold is real gold and is made of 21 parts gold and four parts other metals. 21 karat gold is usually mixed with copper, zinc, silver, palladium and nickel to increase durability. You’ll find a wide variety of 21 karat gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
- Is a 24K gold ring worth it?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024Whether a 24K gold ring is worth it depends on your preferences and personal opinions. Because 24-karat gold is pure gold with no alloy metals added, it shows off a rich color that many people find appealing. However, 24-karat gold is more expensive than other alloys and is more prone to scratching and wear than alloys like 18-karat and 14-karat gold. As a result, you may prefer an alloy if you're looking for a piece of jewelry to wear daily. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of gold jewelry.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2024How much a 10k white gold ring is worth changes over time. On its own, 10-karat white gold has value, but scrap metal prices tend to fluctuate. A ring may be worth more than the going rate for 10-karat white gold based on its maker, age, style and other factors. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable jeweler can provide you with a more specific valuation. Explore a collection of white gold rings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024The difference between 24K gold and 18K gold is how much pure gold the metals contain. Something made of 24-karat gold is 99.9% pure gold, while 18-karat gold items are 75% gold and 25% alloy metals. Generally, 18-karat gold is more durable and scratch-resistant due to the presence of alloy metals. On the other hand, 24-karat gold tends to be more richly colored and expensive. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of gold jewelry.
- What is 24k gold?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 202124k gold is pure gold. Pure gold means 24 out of the 24 karats of an item are gold.
- What is 14K gold?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024The term 14K gold, or 14-karat gold, refers to a type of gold alloy. The term alloy means a metal made of two or more base metals. In the case of 14-karat gold, 58.5% of the content is pure gold, and the remaining 41.5% is alloy metal. Due to the strength of the metal, many jewelry makers use 14-karat gold in their pieces. Find a wide variety of 14-karat gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
- Is 19K gold real gold?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, 19 karat gold is real gold and is made of 19 parts gold and five parts other metals. 19 karat gold is usually mixed with copper, zinc, silver, palladium and nickel to increase durability. You’ll find a wide variety of 19 karat gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024The difference between 14K gold and 14K Italian gold is the place of production. Both types of jewelry feature 14-karat gold, an alloy that is 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy metals. However, Italian gold pieces come specifically from artisans, workshops and factories located in Italy. You can find 14-karat gold made in many other countries. Shop a diverse assortment of gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024The difference between 10K and 14K gold is how much of the metal's content is pure gold versus alloy metal. 14K gold is 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% alloy, while 10K gold is 41.7% pure gold and 58.3% alloy. Due to the increased amount of alloy metal, 10K gold tends to be stronger than 14K. On the other hand, the increased gold content of 14K gives the metal a richer color and a generally higher value. Explore a large collection of gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
- What does 18K on a ring mean?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The mark 18K on a ring stands for 18-karat gold. 18-karat signifies that the ring is 75% pure gold and 25% other metals, such as copper, zinc or nickel. The additional metals strengthen the ring, making it more durable. Shop a range of expertly vetted 18-karat jewelry on 1stDibs.
- What does 12K mean on a ring?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022On a ring, 12K means that the piece is made out of 12-karat gold. This type of precious metal is half pure gold and half metal alloy. It comes in yellow, white and rose colors. You'll find a selection of gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
- What percentage of gold is 20k?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 202220k gold is 83.3% gold and 16.7% alloy metals. This means that 20 karat gold is 20 parts pure gold and four parts of other types of metals. Shop a large collection of gold jewelry from some of the worlds top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Is there 22K gold jewelry?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, 22k gold does exist and it even exists in jewelry, but it’s not very common. 24k is pure gold and it’s simply too soft for jewelry and practical use, 18k is a very popular version of gold for jewelry, but it is possible to find 22k gold jewelry. Find an assortment of gold jewelry from the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Is 18k gold good?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Yes, 18k is the perfect karatage for jewelry. While 24k is more prized and typically more expensive, it is also less dense and durable than 18k gold.
- Is 18K real gold?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, 18K gold is real gold. However, it is not pure gold. Something marked 18K is 75 percent genuine gold and 25 percent metal alloy. On 1stDibs, shop a range of expertly vetted gold jewelry from some of the world’s top sellers.
- What is 18K green gold?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 202218K green gold is an alloy created by mixing silver, copper and zinc with normal gold. 18K green gold is greener than 14K green gold. On 1stDibs, shop a wide collection of genuine 18K green gold from some of the world's top sellers.
- What is 24K Chinese gold?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 202224k Chinese gold is simply 24 karat gold, also known as pure gold that has not had an alloy added to it. Because of this, it features a vibrant yellow color and is very soft. It is commonly used in China for jewelry, statues and other decorations. Browse a collection of 24k Chinese gold pieces from top sellers worldwide on 1stDibs.
- Is a Krugerrand 24k gold?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, a Krugerrand coin is not 24 karat gold but rather a 22 karat gold coin. The other two parts of the coin are a copper alloy used to increase the coin’s durability, scratch resistance and give the coin a slightly orange-gold hue. Shop a wide selection of collectible Krugerrand coins on 1stDibs.
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