Contrarie Ring
Mid-20th Century Italian Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Fashion Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Fashion Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Natural Pearl, Black Diamond, White Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Fashion Rings
Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Fashion Rings
Pearl, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Fashion Rings
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Fashion Rings
Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Cluster Rings
South Sea Pearl, Black Pearl, Black Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Wh...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Opal, Topaz, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Onyx, Topaz, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Topaz, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, Onyx, Paraiba, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Band Rings
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Cocktail Rings
Pearl, Peridot, 18k Gold
2010s Fashion Rings
Citrine, Zircon, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Art Nouveau Cocktail Rings
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings
Onyx, Pearl, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Cluster Rings
White Diamond, Tsavorite, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Modern Three-Stone Rings
White Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold
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Vintage 1910s British Edwardian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Garnet, Platinum
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
2010s Turkish Modern Fashion Rings
Garnet, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Modern Band Rings
Emerald, 18k Gold
2010s Belgian Art Nouveau Cluster Rings
Pink Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Blue Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Go...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, Spinel, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary German Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Beryl, Emerald, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yell...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Pink Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Three-Stone Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
20th Century Art Deco Solitaire Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, White Gold, Platinum
Recent Sales
2010s Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Band Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Topaz, 24k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Cluster Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Fashion Rings
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Fashion Rings
Tourmaline, White Diamond, Diamond, Amethyst, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Fashion Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Gold, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary Cluster Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Fashion Rings
Diamond, Peridot, Gold, 9k Gold, White Gold
2010s Cocktail Rings
Diamond
2010s Italian Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Modern Fashion Rings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Rococo Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Fashion Rings
White Diamond, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings
White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
2010s Italian Cocktail Rings
Diamond
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Vintage 1980s Retro Cluster Rings
White Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Italian Belle Époque Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s Italian Fashion Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Cocktail Rings
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian More Rings
White Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Coral, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Fashion Rings
Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Modern Dome Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Contrarie Ring For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Contrarie Ring?
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
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Zircon Rings: Our Guide to a Uniquely Colorful Natural Gemstone
Zircon is a magnificent and underrated natural gemstone that has been worn and adored for centuries.
[Survey] Two-Thirds of Jewelry Gift Recipients Don’t Want to Be Surprised
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Colorful Gemstones Are a Brilliant Choice for Engagement Rings
If diamonds don’t seem right, what about a magnificent sapphire, ruby or emerald?
Our Guide to Fancy-Colored Diamond Engagement Rings
Accounting for just 1 percent of all diamonds, these marvels of nature are exceedingly rare and gorgeously complex.
Our Guide to Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco Engagement Rings
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
Talking Diamonds with the Jeweler Behind J. Lo’s Engagement Ring
Alon Ruschin, of Vivid Diamonds & Jewelry, channels his passion for gems into helping clients find just the right ring.