Victorian 3 Stone Sapphire Ring
Antique 1880s Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s European Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique 18th Century Unknown Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s European Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s Art Deco Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Art Deco Three-Stone Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, White Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Cluster Rings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Dome Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings
Ruby, Sapphire, 22k Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Victorian More Rings
Diamond, Onyx, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s English Victorian Engagement Rings
Pink Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
Early 2000s American Fashion Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s British Victorian Fashion Rings
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings
Moonstone, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Chinese Victorian Dome Rings
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Opal, Silver, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
2010s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Black Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Victorian Cluster Rings
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s Unknown Cocktail Rings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century American Early Victorian Cocktail Rings
Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
2010s British Victorian Cluster Rings
Amethyst, Topaz, Blue Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Fashion Rings
Opal, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 1880s English Late Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s American Victorian Fashion Rings
Ruby, Bronze
2010s British Victorian Cluster Rings
Peridot, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Victorian Cluster Rings
Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Blue Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire,...
2010s Lever-Back Earrings
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, White Gold
Antique 1860s Spanish Victorian Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Silver
Antique 1850s European Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Silver
Antique 1860s Victorian Three-Stone Rings
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique 1870s Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s European Victorian Wedding Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Rose Gold
Antique 1880s British Late Victorian Band Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian Band Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Engagement Rings
Sapphire, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian More Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian Fashion Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire
Antique 1850s Early Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Star Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
Sapphire
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Victorian 3 Stone Sapphire Ring For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Victorian 3 Stone Sapphire 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.
The Legacy of Sapphire in Jewelry Design
On 1stDibs, shop the bright blue gems that star in sapphire rings, sapphire necklaces and other vintage and antique sapphire jewelry.
Sapphires — the stone of choice for Napoleon, Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor — have been a favorite of aristocrats and the well-to-do since the time of the Ancient Greeks.
Picture a sapphire. If the stone you conjure is a deep cornflower blue, you’re seeing only part of the picture. Although blue Kashmirs are considered the most valuable, sapphires come in every color except red. No matter the hue, this very special gem is rich in history and beloved by royals (FYI, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton share an 11-carat sapphire engagement ring), so September babies are in very noble company.
America’s version of royalty — old money and celebrities — have also shown a predilection for the blue stones. In 1940, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had Cartier mount a 62-carat sapphire he had bought from an Indian maharajah in a brooch for his first wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller; in 2001, the piece sold for a then-record of $3,031,000 at Christie’s New York.
The grand dame of jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor had a passion for the gems that her lovers were happy to indulge. Second husband Michael Wilding gave her an engagement ring set with a cabochon sapphire, while Richard Burton famously presented her with a BVLGARI sautoir set with diamonds and sapphires, including at its center a cabochon Burmese weighing 52.72 carats. One of the star lots in the sale of Taylor’s jewels at the Christie’s New York in 2011, it sold for $5,906,500.
You don’t have to have blue blood or a bulging bank account, however, to get an eyeful of this much-coveted gem. A number of outstanding examples reside in public collections.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History owns the 423-carat Logan sapphire, a gift from the Guggenheim family, and the Hall sapphire and diamond necklace, designed by Harry Winston and featuring 36 fine, well-matched cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphires weighing a combined 195 carats. Also in the collection is the Bismarck sapphire necklace, designed by Cartier and sporting a central sapphire weighing 98.6 carats, which Mona Von Bismarck donated to the museum.
Sapphires are composed of corundum. Their color derives from trace elements, such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium. When the trace element produces a ruby hue, the stone is called, what else, a ruby. (which is, as mentioned above, why sapphires cannot be red by definition).
The allure of large gemstones endures throughout the periods characterized as vintage, and sapphire features frequently in vintage engagement rings. (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.)
Find an exquisite collection of vintage and antique sapphire 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.
Read More
Our Guide to Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco Engagement Rings
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
How to Buy a Vintage or Antique Engagement Ring
Will your beloved be enchanted by an Edwardian ring or a trendy Art Deco piece? We clue you into period styles and tips for finding the perfect ring.