Antique Sapphire Jewellery
These pieces of antique sapphire jewellery combine rich blue stones with bright diamonds across rings, necklaces, and brooches spanning multiple eras.
Antique Sapphire Jewellery
When buyers search for antique sapphire jewellery, they encounter pieces ranging from Victorian cluster rings to geometric Art Deco designs. These items include rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, and brooches set with natural blue or pink sapphires.
The selection on this page leans heavily towards rings, particularly cluster designs featuring old cut diamonds set in 18ct gold or platinum. Alongside rings, buyers will find pearl necklaces secured with sapphire and diamond clasps, as well as drop earrings and fringe necklaces.
How they were made
Goldsmiths utilised 18ct yellow gold, 18ct white gold, and platinum to mount the stones securely. Platinum gained favour during the Edwardian and Art Deco periods for its strength in delicate, lace-like settings.
Sapphires are paired with old cut, old mined cut, or trapezoid cut diamonds. Jewelers also incorporated pearls, paste stones, and other coloured gemstones such as emeralds, tourmalines, and garnets into these creations.
Antique Sapphire Jewellery Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for sapphire jewellery among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Object forms include rings, necklaces, earrings, brooches, pendants, and matched jewellery sets.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the origin and treatment of the sapphire, with unheated stones from sources like Ceylon, Burma, and Kashmir commanding greater attention. The presence of certification often indicates a higher grade of gemstone.
Execution and metalwork also distinguish the pieces. Finer examples display precise claw or bezel settings in platinum or high-carat gold, paired with well-matched old cut diamonds rather than paste substitutes.
The Antique Sapphire Jewellery Glossary
- Cluster ring
- A ring featuring a central gemstone surrounded by a border of smaller stones, typically diamonds.
- Old cut diamond
- A diamond cut by hand before modern symmetrical standards, displaying smaller tables and larger culets.
- Gypsy ring
- A ring style where stones are flush-set directly into the thick metal band.
- Paste
- Hand-cut glass utilised as a gemstone substitute in historical jewellery.
- Unheated sapphire
- A natural sapphire that has not undergone thermal enhancement to improve its colour or clarity.
Antique Sapphire Jewellery: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I care for antique sapphire jewellery?
Clean these pieces gently with warm soapy water and a soft brush, avoiding harsh chemical dips that might damage older settings or pearls. Store each item separately in a lined box to prevent diamonds from scratching the softer gold or sapphire surfaces.
Have settings checked periodically by a professional jeweller to ensure the claws hold the stones firmly, particularly in delicate Edwardian and Art Deco mountings.
Are these sapphires heat treated?
Many stones from this era are natural and unheated, though specific provenance and laboratory certificates will detail the exact origin, such as Ceylon, Burma, or Kashmir.
Examination under magnification reveals natural inclusions that help gemmologists determine whether a sapphire has undergone thermal enhancement.
What is the difference between Victorian and Art Deco pieces?
Victorian designs often feature yellow or 15ct and 18ct gold with organic motifs, starbursts, or daisy clusters that highlight romantic sentiments. Gemstones in these earlier items frequently utilise old mined cuts.
Art Deco pieces embrace geometric symmetry, platinum settings, and white gold, favouring clean lines and structured cluster arrangements that reflect 1920s and 1930s aesthetics.
Can I wear an antique sapphire ring every day?
Sapphires rate nine on the Mohs hardness scale, making them durable enough for daily wear on a ring finger. However, older settings require mindful care during heavy manual tasks.
Consider removing rings before gardening or exercising to protect delicate Edwardian or Victorian gold and platinum claws from undue stress.