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Fine Asian Ethnographic Silver Necklace India Jewellery Gifts
Located in London, GB
Vintage Indian silver necklace Asian Tribal Jewellery A Very fine Vintage Indian silver necklace
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Silver

Diamond and Hand Carved Tanzanite Melon Cocktail Ring Handcrafted in 18K Gold
Located in Jaipur, IN
' which is pure gold and is a very of technique used to set stones and specially diamonds in India Jewelry.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Large 19th Century Sandalwood Jewellery Box, South India
Located in London, GB
The dense carving of this 19th century South Indian sandalwood jewellery box is so lively and
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Indian Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Sandalwood

Nettur Petti jewellery box, Dowry box, India, 19th century
Located in Gorssel, GE
Nettur Petti jewellery box, Dowry box, 19th century (possibly older) With piramid shaped lid. These
Category

Antique 19th Century Indian Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Metal

Hand Painted storage Jewelry Box - Made in India
Located in Seattle, WA
This storage/jewelry box is hand painted with flowers and features a unique latch. This Piece has
Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood

Mid 20th Century Anglo Indian Carved Wood Jewelry Box Kashmir India
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Anglo-Raj jewelry box. Found in Kashmir, India. Mid 20th century wood box richly decorated overall with
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Brass

Colonial Islamic Arabian Market Jewelry Box, 18th Century, India/Malabar Coast
Located in Amsterdam, NL
writing box to a jewellery box. It was not made primarily for the European market but rather for the
Category

Antique 18th Century Indian Islamic Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Brass

Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India An antique silver cuff from Rajasthan (Rabari people) with a
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Silver

Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India
Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India
H 3.25 in Dm 2.5 in L 8 in
Early 20th Century Mesh Cuff, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
246 grams. cf. Traditional Jewelry of India, Oppi Untracht, pg. 248. and A World of Bracelets, Anne
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Artisan Brooches

Materials

Silver

Early 20th Century Mesh Cuff, India
Early 20th Century Mesh Cuff, India
H 2.75 in W 3 in Dm 2.63 in
Superb Large India Silver Tribal Necklace Gujarat Vintage Asian Tribal Jewellery
Located in London, GB
A superb large Indian Tribal silver necklace from the Gujarat region with large ornate central silver medallion with turquoise and coral beads Weight 400 grams
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Silver

Antique Naga white heart bead necklace Konyak North India Asian Tribal Jewellery
Located in London, GB
Antique Naga beaded necklace Konyak North India A very long antique multi strand red white
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Collectible Jewelry

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India An antique silver cuff from Rajasthan (Rabari people) with a
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Silver

Antique Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India
Antique Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India
H 3.25 in Dm 2.75 in L 8 in
Antique Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India An antique silver cuff from Rajasthan (Rabari people), India
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Artisan Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Silver

Silver Flower Motif Bracelet from India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Sterling Silver Flower Motif Bracelet from India Repousse’ silver bracelet with hinged front
Category

Vintage 1970s Indian Artisan Link Bracelets

Materials

Sterling Silver

Modern Silver Segmented Bracelet from India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Late 20th Century Silver Segmented Bracelet from India This is a modern silver cuff bracelet from
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Artisan Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Silver

Modern Silver Segmented Bracelet from India
Modern Silver Segmented Bracelet from India
H 2.75 in W 2.5 in Dm 2.25 in L 7.25 in
Vintage Repoussé Grape Cluster Cuff, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage Repoussé Grape Cluster Cuff, India A handsome heavy repoussé silver cuff with grape
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Artisan Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Silver

Antique Hinged Silver Bracelet from South India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Hinged Silver Bracelet from South India A relatively scarce silver hinged bracelet
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Artisan Chain Bracelets

Materials

Silver

Large 22kt Gold Earrings from India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Himachal Pradesh Solid 22 Karat Gold Late 19th / early 20th Century 3.125 x 1.625 in. / 8 x 4 cm (each) Weight .625oz / 17gm
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Indian Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

22k Gold, Gold

Large 22kt Gold Earrings from India
Large 22kt Gold Earrings from India
W 1.625 in D 0.25 in L 3.125 in
Antique Silver Cuff With Peacock Motif, Rajasthan, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Silver Cuff, Rajasthan, India An antique silver cuff from Rajasthan (Rabari people) with a
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Silver

1970 21kt Gold enamel swag necklace India
Located in Monroe Township, NJ
Exquisite details on this handmade 21kt solid gold swag /bib necklace from India . Necklace is done
Category

Vintage 1970s Indian Art Nouveau Choker Necklaces

Materials

Gold, Enamel

1800's India Mysore India Elephant Coin Silver 18K Gold Ring
By Steven Battelle
Located in Soquel, CA
An interesting authentic bronze "20 cash" coin minted in the princely states of Mysore, India
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Cocktail Rings

Materials

18k Gold, Silver

Pair of Silver Makara Cuff Bracelets, Rajasthan, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Pair of Silver Makara Cuff Bracelets, Rajasthan, India An unusual pair of narrow solid silver cuff
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Artisan Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Silver

22K Gold Beaded Necklace, India Mid-1900's
Located in Nantucket, MA
. S-hook clasp. Dates to the mid 1900's. India The fine jewelry collection is sourced, designed or
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Beaded Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

Large 22kt Gold Star Earrings from India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Himachal Pradesh Solid 22 Karat Gold Late 19th / early 20th century 3.125 x 1.625 in. / 8 x 4 cm (each)
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Indian Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Gold, 22k Gold

Large 22kt Gold Star Earrings from India
Large 22kt Gold Star Earrings from India
W 1.625 in D 0.25 in L 3.125 in
Trifari Jewels of India Moghul Brooch
By Alfred Philippe for Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Rare Trifari Jewels of India Brooch from the Moghul series. Elaborate pave crystal stone work set
Category

Vintage 1960s American Anglo-Indian Brooches

Materials

Rhodium, Gilt Metal

Contemporary Tribal Silver Chain Mesh Cuff from India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Contemporary Tribal Silver Chain Mesh Cuff from India A substantial silver chain mesh cuff, made
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Artisan Chain Bracelets

Materials

Silver

22K Gold Chandelier Earrings, India Mid 20th Century
Located in Nantucket, MA
An amazing and rare pair of Indian 22K gold chandelier earrings. Multiple balls dangling from 4 levels creating movement and texture. Floral motif post for pierced ears. Mid 20th ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Chandelier Earrings

Materials

22k Gold

22K Gold, Hand-Painted Ganesh Pendant Necklace, India
Located in Nantucket, MA
end so that you can change and/or add pendants. The fine jewelry collection is sourced, designed or
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

22k Gold

14K Solid Gold Diamond Love Pendant Jewelry Beautiful Diamond Christmas Jewelry.
Located in Chicago, IL
14K Solid Gold Diamond Love Pendant Jewelry Beautiful Diamond Christmas Jewelry. Diamond Weight
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold

A diamond and ruby gemset jade pendant necklace, India
Located in Bangkok,, TH
front. Hand carved in India the pendant has been framed in 14K gold and comes along with a 14K gold
Category

2010s Indian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Jade, Ruby, 14k Gold

Hand-Carved Stone Jewelry Box Rajasthan, India
By Agra
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Anglo Raj carved soap stone footed jewelry box.. Handcrafted decorative box with foliage design
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Anglo Raj Decorative Boxes

Materials

Soapstone

14K Yellow Gold Handmade Diamond Flower Nose Piercing Jewelry Expensive jewelry
Located in Chicago, IL
14K Yellow Gold Handmade Diamond Flower Nose Piercing Jewelry Expensive jewelry Total Carat Weight
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

14K Rose Gold Fine Jewelry Diamond Jewelry Spike Earrings Moms Birthday Gift.
Located in Chicago, IL
14K Rose Gold Fine Jewelry Diamond Jewelry Spike Earrings Moms Birthday Gift. Material 14k Yellow
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold

3.42 carats Deep Red Carnelian Stone Cabochon Cut from India
Located in Bangkok, TH
Weight 3.42 carats Dimensions 12.0x10.1x4.0 mm Treatment none Origin India Diaphaneity
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Loose Gemstones

Materials

Carnelian

18K Gold Jewelry, Hand-Craft Jewelry, Tanzanite & Diamond Pendant for Party Wear
Located in JAIPUR, IN
' Diamond: GH/SI Total Diamond Weight: 2.8Cts (approx.) Birthstone Jewelry/ Jewelry Handmade Pendant
Category

2010s Indian Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Tanzanite, White Gold, 18k Gold

14k Gold Leaf Studs Maple Leaf Earrings Gold Autumn Jewelry October Jewelry Gift
Located in Chicago, IL
14k Gold Leaf Studs Maple Leaf Earrings Gold Autumn Jewelry October Jewelry Gift Material 14k
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Stud Earrings

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold

0.63ct Pear Bluish Green to Pinkish Purple Alexandrite from India
Located in Toronto, Ontario
: Chrysoberyl Variety: Alexandrite Treatment: None Origin: India Notes: Internal SKU: AX0004 Please quote SKU
Category

2010s Indian Loose Gemstones

Materials

Alexandrite

0.58ct Oval Bluish Green to Pinkish Purple Alexandrite from India
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Strong Species: Chrysoberyl Variety: Alexandrite Treatment: None Origin: India Notes: Internal SKU
Category

2010s Indian Loose Gemstones

Materials

Alexandrite

0.68ct Oval Bluish Green to Pinkish Purple Alexandrite from India
Located in Toronto, Ontario
: Chrysoberyl Variety: Alexandrite Treatment: None Origin: India Notes: Internal SKU: AX0001 Please quote SKU
Category

2010s Indian Loose Gemstones

Materials

Alexandrite

0.5ct Oval Bluish Green to Pinkish Purple Alexandrite from India
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Saturation: 4 Moderately Strong Species: Chrysoberyl Variety: Alexandrite Treatment: None Origin: India Notes
Category

2010s Indian Loose Gemstones

Materials

Alexandrite

0.49ct Oval Bluish Green to Pinkish Purple Alexandrite from India
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Moderately Strong Species: Chrysoberyl Variety: Alexandrite Treatment: None Origin: India Notes: Sheen Effect
Category

2010s Indian Loose Gemstones

Materials

Alexandrite

14K Rose Gold Handmade Jewelry Birth Jewelry Amethyst & Diamond Ring for Gift
Located in JAIPUR, IN
. Beautifully Hand crafted in 14 Karat Rose Gold Ring This Ring which was made in India, can be Customized with
Category

2010s Indian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold

Diamond-Set Enamelled Gold Bazuband 'Armband', North India, 19th Century
Located in OVIEDO, AS
. Spanning a legacy of five thousand years, the jewellery of India is a striking expression of the country’s
Category

Antique 19th Century Indian Artisan More Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Gold, Enamel

Natural Pave Diamond Star Stud Earring 14k Gold Fine Jewelry Solid Gold Jewelry.
Located in Chicago, IL
Natural Pave Diamond Star Stud Earring 14k Gold Fine Jewelry Solid Gold Jewelry. Total Carat
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Stud Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold

Trifari Jewels of India Moghul Earrings
By Alfred Philippe for Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Rare Trifari Jewels of India Earrings from the Moghul series. Elaborate pave crystal stone work set
Category

Vintage 1960s American Anglo-Indian Drop Earrings

Materials

Rhodium, Gilt Metal

14k Gold Leaf Studs Maple Leaf Earrings Gold Autumn Jewelry October Jewelry Gift
Located in Chicago, IL
14k Gold Leaf Studs Maple Leaf Earrings Gold Autumn Jewelry October Jewelry Gift Certifiation: 14K
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Stud Earrings

Materials

Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Trifari Jewels of India Moghul Set, Alfred Phillipe
By Alfred Philippe for Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Jewels of India Moghul Set circa 1949 by Alfred Phillipe. Scroll brooch with pave accents
Category

Vintage 1940s American Retro Brooches

Materials

Gilt Metal

South India Bangle, Tamil Nadu, First-Half 20th Century
Located in OVIEDO, AS
Indian bangle crafted from sheet gold, silver and worked in repoussé with intricate design on its upper half. Bracelet with Kundan-set table-cut diamonds mounted in +22K Gold. The b...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Bangles

Materials

Diamond, 22k Gold, Silver

3.40 Natural Loose Iolite Cushion Shape Gem From India Mine
Located in Peshawar, PK
Loose iolite Weight: 3.40 Carats Dimension: 9.7 x 8.7 x 6.5 Mm Origin: India Certificate: On Demand
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Arts and Crafts Loose Gemstones

Materials

Iolite

6.90 carats Deep Red Carnelian Stone Pair Cabochon Cut from India
Located in Bangkok, TH
Weight 6.90 carats Dimensions 12.0x10.04.0 mm Treatment none Origin India Diaphaneity
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Loose Gemstones

Materials

Carnelian

12.78 carats Deep Green Natural Agate Pair Cabochon Cut from India
Located in Bangkok, TH
Weight 12.78 carats Dimensions 14.2x10.1x6.1 mm Treatment none Origin India Diaphaneity
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Loose Gemstones

Materials

Agate

Virgin Mary Cuff Bracelet Spiritual Jewelry
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Virgin Mary Religious Cuff Bangle Bracelet Spiritual Jewelry J Dauphin J DAUPHIN "Never Let me
Category

2010s Indian Contemporary Bangles

Materials

Brass, Gold Plate

14K Solid Gold Nose Pin Body Piercing Jewelry Diamond nose Stud Women jewelry
Located in Chicago, IL
14K Solid Gold Nose Pin Body Piercing Jewelry Diamond nose Stud Women jewelry Total Carat Weight
Category

2010s Indian Art Deco Cluster Rings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Rare 2.90 Carat Natural Loose Iolite Emerald Shape Gemstone From India
Located in Peshawar, PK
Loose iolite Weight: 2.90 Carats Dimension: 12 x 7.3 x 4.9 Mm Origin: India Certificate: On Demand
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Arts and Crafts Loose Gemstones

Materials

Iolite

Vintage India Handmade Hammered Silver Earrings
Located in Asheville, NC
Pair of vintage India handmade silver hammered with hoops and silvers balls.
Category

Vintage 1960s Indian Collectible Jewelry

India: Jewels That Enchanted the World (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
the five hundred years of Indian Jewelry, from the seventeenth century to the present day. The essays
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco More Jewelry

India: Jewels That Enchanted the World (Book)
India: Jewels That Enchanted the World (Book)
H 13.75 in W 10.5 in D 1.75 in
18K Gold and Emerald Bangle Bracelet, India
Located in Nantucket, MA
. Inside circumference is 7". Late 1900's, India. The fine jewelry collection is sourced, designed or
Category

Late 20th Century Bangles

Materials

Emerald, 18k Gold

Late 19th to Early 20th Century Silver Wire Serpent Armlet, Rajasthan, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Late 19th to Early 20th Century Silver Wire Serpent Armlet, Rajasthan, India A substantial silver
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Artisan Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Silver

2.00 Carat Natural Loose Iolite Cushion Shape Gem From India Mine
Located in Peshawar, PK
Loose iolite Weight: 2.00 Carats Dimension: 8.3 x 7.1 x 5.6 Mm Origin: India Certificate: On Demand
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Arts and Crafts Loose Gemstones

Materials

Iolite

Late 19th to Early 20th Century Silver Wire Serpent Bracelet, Rajasthan, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Late 19th to Early 20th Century Silver Wire Serpent Bracelet, Rajasthan, India A substantial
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Artisan Cuff Bracelets

Materials

Silver

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India Jewelry For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the piece of India jewelry you’re looking for. Was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, wood and bone. If you’re shopping for an item from our selection of India jewelry, we have 86 options in-stock, while there are 1 modern editions to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the choice in our collection of India jewelry you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. An object in our assortment of India jewelry is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Hollywood Regency and Folk Art styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made option in this array of India jewelry over the years, but those crafted by Rajhastani, Agra and Mamluke are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a India Jewelry?

A piece of India jewelry can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $1,750, while the lowest priced sells for $55 and the highest can go for as much as $75,000.

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.