Skip to main content

Diamond Stick Pins

to
23
351
161
132
93
73
369
63
61
31
30
2
126
227
36
33
19
24
14
4
1
2
7
5
1
283
100
11
72
71
39
38
11
to
11
9
7
3
2
115
59
49
21
12
8
8
5
4
3
1
384
10
227
160
Sort By
Yellow Gold Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Palm Desert, CA
18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Stick Pin. This lovely pin features twenty round bead and bezel-set
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold

Tiffany Natural Pearl and Marquise Diamond Stick Pin
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Riverdale, NY
Edwardian Tiffany Natural Grey Pearl and Marquise Diamond Stick Pin from the early 20th Century
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum

Yellow Gold Circular Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This elegant 14K yellow gold circular diamond stick pin combines simplicity with timeless beauty
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Victorian Era Platinum and Diamond Stick Pin
Located in New York, NY
Adorn yourself with the charm of the Victorian Era through our Platinum and Diamond Stick Pin. This
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

10K White Gold and Diamond Stick Pin #16374
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Vintage 10K White Gold and Diamond Stick Pin- This elegant pin features one round old mine cut
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 10k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Natural Pearl and Old Cut Diamond Stick Pin
Located in London, GB
This is a pearl and old cut diamond stick pin. The pin consists of one claw set diamond with a
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold

Antique Gold, Pink Opal, & Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique gold, opal, and diamond stick pin. With a 18k gold head and 14k gold pin. Center
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Gold

Late Victorian 14 Karat Gold & Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine 14k gold and diamond stick pin. Converted from a Late Victorian larger piece of
Category

20th Century American Late Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Diamond Stick Pin #19546
Located in Washington Depot, CT
14 Karat Yellow and White Gold Diamond Stick Pin- This elegant yellow gold stick pin features one
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Brooch with Sapphires and Diamonds Stick Pin Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The brooch with sapphires and diamonds stick pin features a smooth, rounded, comma-like design pavé
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches

Materials

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

Pearl and Diamond Stick Pin Art Déco Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The pearl and diamond stick pin features an 18mm Tahitian pearl in a crown of round diamonds, and a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Black Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Onyx, Pearl, 18k G...

Antique Trillion Cut Diamond Stick Pin
Located in London, GB
Here we a distinctively Victorian stick pin. This refined piece has been crafted from 18ct yellow
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Edwardian 14K Yellow Gold and Platinum Natural Pearl Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Great Neck, NY
Beautiful Antique Edwardian 14K Yellow Gold and Platinum Natural Pearl Diamond Stick Pin. This
Category

Vintage 1910s Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Lacloche Frères Sapphire and Diamond Stick Pin
Located in London, GB
Here we have a simple yet elegant stick pink from the renowned Spanish jewellery house of Lacloche
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Materials

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

Black Onyx and 0.43ct White Diamond Stick Pin
Located in New York, NY
Embrace the allure of classic sophistication with this stunning Black Onyx Carved Flower stick pin
Category

2010s American Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Onyx, Platinum

Victorian Hand-Carved Labradorite Monkey Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Narberth, PA
pieces quite collectible! An artistic labradorite monkey stick pin from the Victorian (ca1880) era
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Labradorite, 14k Gold

Art Nouveau Yellow Gold, Enamel and Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Product details: Featuring 14K yellow gold, enamel face design with diamond detail. Total weight
Category

Early 20th Century Art Nouveau More Jewelry

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Vintage 14K Yellow Gold "LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH" Diamond Stick Pin
Located in beverly hills, CA
The "LIVE LOVE LAUGH" Stick Lapel Pin, made of solid 14K yellow gold, holds a special touch with a
Category

Late 20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Barcelona Football Club Ruby Sapphire and Diamond Stick Pin
Located in London, GB
Here we have a rare and exceptional stick pin from the early 20th century. The head is designed in
Category

Vintage 1910s Spanish Brooches

Materials

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

Circa 1900s 14K Yellow Gold Enamel and Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Metal Type: 14K Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 1.5 grams Pin
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Circa 1900s 14K Yellow Gold Enamel and Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Metal Type: 14K Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 1.5 grams Pin
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel

Antique Victorian 10k Yellow Gold 14.3mm Coral Button & Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Montclair, NJ
.) Material: 10k Yellow Gold Stick Pin Weight: 4.8 Grams Overall Height: 78.89mm (3.10") (including pin
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Brooches

Materials

Coral, Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian 18 Karat Gold Triangle Cut Emerald Diamond Stick Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is an Edwardian stick pin brooch. It is crafted in 18K yellow gold. Circa 1910. The piece
Category

20th Century Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Gold

Antique Ladies Platinum 14 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Stick Pin Brooch
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
yellow gold antique stick pin with .30 carat miner's cut diamond H/VS is delicately framed in white
Category

Early 20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Brooch Multicolor Sapphire and Diamond Stick Pin Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The brooch with sapphires and diamonds features a smooth, rounded, comma-like design pavé-set with
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches

Materials

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

1900 Edwardian 14K Rose Gold .20ct Old Mine Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Hicksville, NY
Diamond Details: Weight: .20ct Cut: Old Mine Color: I Clarity: VS Pin Measurements: Skin to Top of Pin
Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Antique 18ct Yellow Gold, Edwardian Race Horse, Essex Glass & Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Stick Pin 18ct Yellow Gold Circa 1900 This exquisite 18ct Gold Edwardian Stick Pin is a
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian 18K Gold & Silver Pearl & Old Mine Cut Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian pearl, diamond, silver and yellow gold stick pin, comprising one round pearl, twelve
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Austrian 14k Rose Gold, Synthetic Sapphire, & Rose Cut Diamond Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Austrian stick pin. In 14 karat rose gold mounting with a silver top. Center set
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Rose Gold

Antique Signed Bailey, Banks & Biddle Art Deco Rock Crystal & Diamond Stick Pin
By Bailey, Banks & Biddle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed Art Deco stick pin. By Bailey, Banks, and Biddle. With a platinum topped head with
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Crystal, Diamond, Rock Crystal, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum

14k diamond filigree Victorian Lingerie bar brooch or stick pin
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
Vintage from the 1900s Materials: Stone Gemstone: Diamond Style: Art deco A neat Diamond stick
Category

Early 2000s Brooches

Victorian Diamond and Natural Pearl Stick Pin
Located in London, GB
This is an antique pearl and diamond stick pin. The natural pearl features an impressive balance of
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Silver

Edwardian 14 Karat Gold, Opal, & Diamond Clover Shaped Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine Edwardian 14k gold, opal and diamond stick pin. With three opal cabochons prong set in
Category

Antique 19th Century American Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Gold

Turquoise & Diamond Stickpin
Located in New York, NY
Turquoise & Diamond Stick Pin One large center cabochon turquoise surrounded with round cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mauboussin Moonstone and Diamond Turtle Stick Pin / Brooch Set in 18 Karat Gold
By Mauboussin
Located in London, GB
A lovely little moonstone and diamond stick pin set in 18k yellow gold, signed Mauboussin. The
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Moonstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond Lapel Pin in 14k Solid Gold for Men
Located in Chicago, IL
Diamond Lapel Pin 14k Solid Gold Diamond Stick Pin Tie Pin Fathers Day Men Gift Light weight can be
Category

2010s Indian More Jewelry

Materials

Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold

Yellow Gold Diamond Bird Stick Pin
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Tested 18 Karat Yellow Gold Diamond Bird Stick Pin. This adorable pin features thirty-nine
Category

Vintage 1980s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Diamond & Ruby Horse Shoe Stick Pin
Located in New York, NY
Antique Diamond & Ruby Horse Shoe Stick Pin A stickpin featuring square cut rubies & rose cut
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Tiffany & Company Diamond Fox Stick Pin
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1900 Tiffany & Company 2 sided Fox Stick Pin, the Fox measures 3/4 inch in length is Silver
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

Butterfly Emerald, Ruby, Diamond Gold Stick Pin
Located in Newton, MA
Elevate your style with this fashionable butterfly stick pin accessory that effortlessly combines
Category

20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

.15ct Natural Diamonds Filigree Stick Pin 14kt
Located in New York, NY
.15ct. diamonds filigree brooch pin. Rounds, Full cut Brilliant. I-color Vs-2 clarity. 14kt
Category

2010s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

Antique Sapphire Diamond Gold Horseshoe Stick Pin
Located in Chicago, IL
with excellent royal blue old mine cut sapphires and antique cushion cut diamonds. Estimated total
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold

Vintage French Gold Ruby Diamond Flower Stick Pin
Located in New York, NY
A vintage French gold stick pin. Flower finial set with round-cut rubies and diamonds. Eagle gold
Category

20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Gold

Vintage 10 Karat Gold & Diamond Wishbone Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine 10k gold and diamond wishbone stick pin. With a round brilliant cut diamond prong set
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Retro More Jewelry

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Antique Victorian 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Belcher Stick Pin
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
A Victorian diamond, and yellow gold stick pin, comprising one old European cut diamond, set in 18
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold

10 Karat White Gold Diamond Filigree Stick Pin #19187
Located in Washington Depot, CT
10 Karat White Gold Diamond Filigree Stick Pin This beautiful diamond pin was meticulously crafted
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold, White Gold

18KT Yellow Gold 0.93 Ct. Diamond Star Stick Pin
By Bernard Grosz
Located in New York, NY
Some things will always remain classic, and this is one of them. The 18 karat yellow gold stick pin
Category

1990s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian 0.45 Carat Diamond Horseshoe Stick Pin, circa 1880s
Located in London, GB
A delicate horseshoe sparkles with diamonds in this Victorian stick pin brooch. Nine old cut
Category

Antique Early 1800s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Art Deco Period Platinum, Diamond and Onyx Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine period Art Deco stick pin. With rows of diamonds and onyx encircled by diamonds in a
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Onyx, Platinum

White Gold Black Star Sapphire Diamond Stick Lapel Pin
Located in New York, NY
This stick/lapel pin is an extraordinary piece of jewelry that showcases a rare and magnificent
Category

2010s American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Star Sapphire, Black Star, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

12 Antique Gold Stick Pins Made into Pin
Located in Water Mill, NY
Twelve Antique Gold Stick Pins-with Diamonds,Peal and Various Stones made into Pin
Category

Vintage 1950s American Brooches

Materials

14k Gold

Antique Russian Ruby Diamond Sapphire Stick Pin Brooch
Located in Cairo, EG
Antique pin with 3 natural gem stones ruby sapphire and old mine cut diamond pin was made during
Category

Vintage 1920s Brooches

Edwardian 14 Karat Gold & Diamond Branch & Vine Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine gold and diamond branch and vine stickpin. With pave set diamonds in the of leaves of
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

Stick Pin Diamond and Multicolor Sapphire Design by Ella Gafter
By Ella Gafter
Located in New York, NY
The stick pin with diamonds and multicolor sapphire features a smooth, rounded, comma-like design
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Brooches

Materials

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

Antique Edwardian Platinum, Gold & Diamond Flower or Web Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
bezel set diamond in center and bottom of wire frame. Mounted on a 10k gold pin stem. A great stick
Category

Early 20th Century Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold, Platinum

Antique Edwardian 10 Karat Gold & Diamond Love Knot Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine Edwardian gold and diamond love knot stick pin. Set with a round brilliant diamond to
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold

Antique Edwardian 10 Karat Gold & Diamond Love Knot Stick Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Edwardian gold and diamond love knot stickpin. In 10k gold. Set with a round white
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Gold

14K Stick Pin Collection Flower Basket Brooch
Located in Big Bend, WI
Beautiful 14K yellow gold stick pin collection flower basket brooch. The pin has 8 stick pins
Category

20th Century Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, Zircon, 1...

Antique Art Nouveau Opal Diamond Enamel Gold Flower Stick Pin
Located in Munich, Bavaria
and five smaller old cut diamonds. Opals and diamonds are mounted in 14 k gold. The opal flower is
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Art Nouveau More Jewelry

Materials

Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold

Antique Victorian 15K Yellow Gold Pearl and Diamond Garter Stick Pin
Located in Staines-Upon-Thames, GB
An antique diamond, pearl, and yellow gold stick pin, comprising two rose cut diamonds, and eleven
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Diamond Stick Pins", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Diamond Stick Pins For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of diamond stick pins. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold — can elevate any look. Our collection of these items for sale includes 166 vintage editions and 17 modern creations to choose from as well. Our inventory is broad and distinctive, with accessories on offer that were made as long ago as the 19th Century to those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Our collection of diamond stick pins includes designs that are universally popular, but Victorian and Art Deco styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but Ella Gafter, Cartier and Tiffany & Co. produced popular versions that are worth a look. Today, if you’re looking for round cut diamond stick pins and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes rose cut and old mine cut alternatives. When shopping our range of diamond stick pins, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men today than there are for women.

How Much are Diamond Stick Pins?

Prices for diamond stick pins start at $179 and top out at $31,181 with these brooches, on average, selling for $1,795.

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.