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Vintage 1990s Platinum, Emerald Cut Diamond Half Eternity Ring
Located in Brighton, GB
Vintage Diamond Ring Platinum Circa 1990s Introducing our exquisite Vintage 1990s Platinum Half
Category

Late 20th Century European Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Victorian Style Diamond Half Hoop Ring Circa 2020s
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
A Victorian style inspired half hoop reproduction ring featuring early European cut and mixed cut
Category

2010s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Style Diamond Half Hoop Ring Circa 2020s
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
A Victorian style inspired half hoop reproduction ring featuring early European cut and rose cut
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Vintage Diamond Half Hoop Eternity Ring, 9k White Gold
Located in NEWARK, GB
A gorgeous vintage Diamond half hoop eternity ring. Stacked full of sparkling white brilliant cut
Category

Late 20th Century British Modern Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 9k Gold, White Gold

Georgian Half Hoop Ring Set With Seven Rose Cut Diamonds
Located in Firenze, IT
half hoop ring, set with seven rose cut diamonds weighing roughly 0.75 ctw, in cut-down collet settings
Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Georgian Half Hoop Ring Set With Five Rose Cut Diamonds
Located in Firenze, IT
half hoop ring, set with five rose cut diamonds weighing roughly 0.7 ctw, in cut-down collet settings
Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Georgian Half Hoop Ring Set With Seven Rose Cut Diamonds
Located in Firenze, IT
half hoop ring, set with seven rose cut diamonds weighing roughly 0.9 ctw, in cut-down collet settings
Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Tiffany & Co Diamond Band Vintage Platinum Ring Half Hoop Mixed Cuts
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Torrance, CA
Tiffany & Co ring is set with mixed cut diamonds in alternating form. The half-hoop band is great worn
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

Three Stone Old Cut Diamond Gold Carved Half Hoop Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Set with a line of three old-cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.70 cts, scroll carved gallery
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, Platinum

Victorian Five Stone 1.80 Ct. Diamond Natural Pearl Half Hoop ring
Located in Napoli, IT
, finest details crisp and rich for the scroll work delineating the half hoop design, 1880 ca Classy five
Category

Antique 1880s European Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Vintage Art Deco Diamond Ring Sz 5 Platinum Wedding Band Half Hoop Jewelry
Located in Torrance, CA
stylish Art Deco era ring features small single cut diamonds set half hoop style into the band. The base
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

Antique Victorian 18ct Solid Gold, Carved Half Hoop Five Stone Diamond Ring
Located in Kenley surrey, GB
Antique Victorian 18ct Solid Gold, Carved Half Hoop Five Stone Diamond Ring A really beautiful
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Bridal Rings

Antique Georgian-Era Half-Hoop Rose Cut Diamond Ring 14K Rose Gold & Silver
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Dating to the Georgian period, this antique half-hoop ring features graduated foil-backed rose-cut
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Georgian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Rose Gold, Silver

Late Victorian 18K Gold Emerald Split Pearl and Diamond Wide Half Hoop Ring
Located in Houston, TX
Late Victorian 18K yellow gold wide tapered half-hoop ring, set with a row of diamonds, a row of
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Late Victorian Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold

Colombian Emerald & Diamond Half Hoop Ring in Platinum & 18K White Gold, c1950's
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
Of elegant, timeless & easy-to-wear design, this half hoop band is Retro, dating back to 1950's
Category

Vintage 1950s Australian Retro Band Rings

Materials

Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, White Gold

Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ruby and Diamond Five-Stone Half Hoop Ring
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
This breathtaking antique Ruby and Diamond ring is Victorian, Circa 1880. The ring is adorned with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Dome Rings

Materials

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

An Art-Deco Style 5-Stone Half-Hoop 0.65ct Diamond Ring. English hallmarks.
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
An Art-Deco Style Five-Stone Diamond Ring, Set with 5 round transitional cut diamonds of 0.65ct in
Category

Vintage 1960s English Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold

Art-Deco Six Stone Old Cut Diamond (1.10ct) Half-Hoop Ring in 18K Yellow Gold
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
An Art-Deco 6-Stone Diamond Half-Hoop Ring set with 6 Old-European Cut Diamonds of 1.10ct in
Category

Vintage 1930s Australian Art Deco Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Antique Five Stone Old Cut Diamond and Platinum Ring, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
cut by hand, have been carefully matched for this stunning carved half-hoop ring. The diamonds are of
Category

Early 20th Century English Late Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

A Fine Edwardian Emerald & Diamond Solid 18ct Yellow gold Five Stone Ring
Located in Kenley surrey, GB
stone, emerald (3) and diamond (2) half-hoop ring. Emeralds assessed as approximately 1 x 0.35ct and 2 x
Category

Early 20th Century Solitaire Rings

Emerald and Diamond Five-Stone Half Hoop Ring
Located in London, GB
An emerald and diamond five-stone Victorian style ring, the three old octagonal-cut emeralds
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British High Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

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

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

Georgian 18K gold half hoop 5 diamond ring
Located in Versailles, FR
collection. (Another Georgian half hoop diamond ring on the photos is also for sale here.) This type of half
Category

Antique 18th Century French Georgian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k White Gold Band Ring and Half Hoop Earrings Jewelry Suite
Located in Pleasant Hill, CA
Including one band ring and matching earrings, designed with a geometric pattern of 40 rectangular
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Artisan Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Georgian Old Mine Cut Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This lovely six diamond ring is a wonderful example of the simple half-hoop style popular in late
Category

Antique Early 1800s British Georgian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver

19th Century Half Hoop Diamond Silver Gold Ring
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century ring with a two rows of old mine cut diamonds set in silver on an 18k gold shank. 22
Category

Antique 19th Century British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Silver

Hallmarked Edwardian 18k Sapphire & Diamond half Hoop Ring
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
This gorgeous Antique Ring is in excellent condition. Such a good reminder of the fabulously
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond Half-Hoop Ring
Located in London, GB
shoulders, edged in single and old mine-cut diamonds to the plain platinum mount, size M (US size 6 1/2
Category

Early 20th Century British Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

Victorian Pearl and Old Cut Diamond Carved Half Hoop Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
An excellent example of a late Victorian carved half hoop ring. Set with three natural split pearls
Category

Early 20th Century Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl

18 Karat White Gold and 2.56 Carat Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Bologna, IT
An exceptional modern half hoop ring, dating from the late 20th Century: it features five flowers
Category

20th Century Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Edwardian 1.85 Carat Old Cut Diamond Emerald Gold Half Hoop Ring
Located in Theydon Bois, Essex
A dream of a ring. Four emerald cut emeralds and six old mine cut diamonds set in a graduating half
Category

Early 20th Century Edwardian Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 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

Antique Victorian, 18ct Yellow Gold, Natural Sapphire and Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Rochford, Essex
Diamond and sapphire ring, late 19th century. This classic five-stone ring is set with a well
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Ruby and Diamond Half Hoop Five Stone 18k and Platinum Ring 1.1ctw
Located in Joelton, TN
A Ruby and Diamond half hoop ring, three round faceted rubies and two old cut diamonds claw set in
Category

Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Platinum

Antique 18 Carat Yellow Gold Turquoise and Diamond Half Hoop Ring, circa 1900
Located in Splitter's Creek, NSW
This lovely old Victorian/Edwardian Ring is comprised of 3 good mid-blue Turquoise stones with the
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

GIA Certified Centre Old Mine Cut Diamond in a 7 Stone Half Hoop Ring
Located in Edmonton, AB
Reclaimed OMG diamond 7 stone half hoop with a GIA certified centre stone (1.02 ct) total ct weight
Category

2010s Canadian Georgian Bridal Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian English Carved Half-Hoop Emerald And Diamond Ring 9 Karat Rose Gold
Located in Aurora, Ontario
diamonds, having a more modern cut, would have been added to the ring at a later date, perhaps to replace
Category

Antique 1870s British Victorian Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 9k Gold, Rose Gold

Kanjimull Black Diamond Bombe Ring with a 0.92 ct Oval White Diamond
Located in New Delhi, DL
Centering an oval diamond , weighing 0.92 carats, to the bombe pave-set black diamond half-hoop
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Dome Rings

Materials

White Diamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold

Circa 1890 18 Carat Gold Emerald Diamond Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Located in Perth, AU
Victorian 18ct gold half hoop emerald and diamond eternity ring. So rare to find this design with
Category

Antique 1880s British Victorian Wedding Rings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Antique Half Hoop Diamond Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
Georgian 9 stone graduated half hoop ring set with cushion cut diamonds in a 15K yellow gold band
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 15k Gold

ANTIQUE 5-STONE DIAMOND RING
Located in New York, NY
Delicate Victorian five-stone half-hoop diamond ring. Beautiful clarity, this charming petite
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Seven Rose Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Half hoop ring in silver and gold adorned with a falling line of diamonds cut into crowned roses
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Gold Opal and Diamond Half-hoop Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
a late 19th century opal and diamond half-hoop ring, the two oval opals with old brilliant-cut
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond Half Hoop Ring Circa 1890s
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
A beautiful Victorian diamond set, yellow gold hand carved and scrolled half hoop ring. Diamond
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond Half Hoop Ring Circa 1880s
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
A Victorian half hoop ring featuring early European cut and mixed cut diamonds. A beautifully
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Georgian Ruby and Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Hummelstown, PA
This endearing Georgian nine stone half hoop ring features a quintet of softly shimmering, foil
Category

Antique 1810s Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver

Georgian Double-Row Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Baltimore, MD
Circa 1810, this wonderful 18K half hoop closed back ring has a double row of brilliant-cut
Category

Antique Early 19th Century British George III Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

18kt White Gold Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Set with graduated round old brilliant-cut diamonds, diamonds approx. 0.75ct total, ring size
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Retro Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Diamond Set Half Hoop Ring Circa 1880s
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
This is a beautiful Victorian, scrolled half hoop design, set with three old mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique Early 1800s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Diamond Half Hoop Ring 1.70cts Hallmarked 1895
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
Antique five stone diamond half hoop ring. This is a stunning dress ring, featuring 5 old mine cut
Category

Antique 1890s British Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Victorian Diamond 2.18ct Half Hoop Ring Circa 1895
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
Yellow gold hand carved scrolled half hoop ring with five early European cut diamonds and small
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

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

Antique 1880s Unknown Late Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Emerald, Diamond, 18k Gold

Edwardian Sapphire & Diamond Half Hoop Ring Circa 1900s
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
This beautiful restored Edwardian half hoop ring features three deep blue sapphire with two early
Category

Early 20th Century Edwardian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

Antique Victorian Five Pearl Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in New York, NY
A wide antique Victorian five pearl half hoop ring accented by diamonds circa 1880. The pearls are
Category

Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Edwardian Opal & Diamond Half Hoop Ring Circa 1902
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
Edwardian opal and diamond scrolled half hoop ring. Hallmarked Birmingham 1902 and maker mark
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold

Five Stone Diamond Gold Carved Half Hoop Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
Set with a line of graduated old-cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.70 cts, scroll carved
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold

Victorian Sapphire & Diamond Half Hoop Ring Circa 1890-1900
Located in ADELAIDE, SA
Victorian sapphire and diamond half hoop ring – Hallmarked with maker mark J.W.B The half hoop is a
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

An Edwardian Opal And Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Firenze, IT
An Edwardian opal and diamond half hoop ring, set with three opal cabochons and six old circular
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Three-Stone Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Half Hoop Ring
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful classic Victorian half hoop band in yellow gold with 5 graduating old mine cut diamonds
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Band Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Antique Georgian Seven-Stone Diamond Half Hoop Ring, circa 1790
Located in Baltimore, MD
This early C1790 18K seven stone diamond half hoop ring has seven table-cut diamonds (flat on top
Category

Antique 1790s British Georgian More Rings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

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Half Hoop Diamond Ring For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact half hoop diamond 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. Find an antique version now, or shop for 50 vintage or 1 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Finding the perfect half hoop diamond ring may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 18th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. Finding an appealing half hoop diamond ring — no matter the origin — is easy, but Hancocks each produced a popular version that is worth a look. Today, if you’re looking for an old mine cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes old european cut and rose cut alternatives. If you’re browsing our inventory for a half hoop diamond ring, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a Half Hoop Diamond Ring?

Prices for a half hoop diamond ring can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $585 and can go as high as $85,000, while this accessory, on average, fetches $3,300.

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.