Victorian Belt Ring
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Fashion Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Wedding Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Antique 1880s European Victorian Fashion Rings
Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1870s British Victorian Wedding Rings
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Band Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Signet Rings
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Signet Rings
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Early Victorian Signet Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s English Victorian Band Rings
Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
Early 20th Century British Late Victorian Fashion Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
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Yellow Gold
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18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
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Victorian Belt Ring For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Victorian Belt 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.
- What is a Victorian ring?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021Victorian rings are usually made with fine metals and feature impressive gemstones in ornate settings. The style of Victorian jewelry was defined during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901). Early Victorian rings were large, brightly colored, and boldly designed, with gemstones such as bloodstones, chalcedonies, garnets, moss agate, rubies, smoky quartz and topazes. During the mid-Victorian period, the designs were more sophisticated, using gemstones such as opals, crystals, emeralds, diamonds, pearls, black glass, jet, and rubies. In the late-Victorian period, platinum became widely used in the jewelry of the era and replaced gold and silver settings for the first time. Find a collection of antique and vintage Victorian rings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023Yes, many Victorians gave engagement rings to their fiancées. In fact, the tradition of giving engagement rings became more popular during the Victorian era due to the effects of the Industrial Revolution. The economic growth of the time led to the creation of a middle class that had the ability to save up for special purchases. At the same time, gemstones mined in South Africa began arriving in England, increasing the supply of precious stones and making prices more affordable. Explore an assortment of antique Victorian engagement rings on 1stDibs.
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