Vintage Engagement Rings
Edwardian... Victorian... Art Deco, and more...

Vintage engagement rings are becoming increasingly popular and is a trend that started a few years back. Some people think that our interest in all things vintage is because so many celebrities have been spotted wearing vintage pieces.

Others (like us) think that the celebs may play a role in it but that our new appreciation for all things old or antique is also about being 'green' and environmental sustainability.

Whichever it is, in the end it's all about personal choice and style!

There are so many really beautiful vintage rings out there in every conceivable style from diamond to emerald to sapphire and everything in between. Vintage rings are rich in history and a great choice for so many brides.

Just to be clear, we are using the term vintage loosely here and basing it on what people 'think of' when they speak of vintage jewelry rather than it's accurate definition.

Why Vintage Engagement Rings?

Their uniqueness. In comparison to contemporary engagement rings they are seen as unique and unusual.

Their quality. In many cases vintage engagement rings were completely made by hand and intended to last for generations to come.

Their history. There's something romantic about wearing an engagement ring that has a rich history and came from another time and place.

Their style. Period style can be reinterpreted but it never quite lives up to the real thing.

Their value. Since they are in fact "used" items there can be substantial savings in buying vintage engagement rings as opposed to new ones.

Their 'greeness'.  Being 'green' is no longer just fashionable but a way of life for many and in 2012 one of the biggest trends in engagement rings is sustainability and eco-consciousness.

Vintage Engagement Ring Considerations

Vintage diamond engagement rings, especially ones that are antique come from a time when they didn't have the technology to spot internal flaws and inclusions so many of the stones would end up on the lower ends of today's grading scales for clarity. This would also be true for the other precious gemstones found in vintage rings.

Diamond color is another thing to know about it with vintage rings. At various times throughout history, diamonds with hints of color were favored over colorless stones so many of the diamonds found in vintage rings will rate very low on today's white diamond color scale.

So be aware of these differences but don't let them deter you from getting a vintage engagement ring, because you shouldn't measure things from a different era by today's standards.

That isn't to say that there aren't any high quality vintage diamond engagement rings, there certainly are—but you'll pay a premium for those and rightly so.

And think about it, is the diamond quality the main reason you're looking at vintage engagement rings? Or is it what a vintage ring represents?

Vintage Style

The most popular styles for vintage or antique engagement rings are:

Victorian Engagement Rings

The Victorian era (1837-1901) is named after Queen Victoria.

Victorian engagement rings were often designed with sentimental motifs (hearts, bows, birds, etc) or elements from nature and contained gemstones as well as diamonds.

Intricate and detailed gold work was also very popular and yellow gold or rose gold most often used.

Edwardian Engagement Rings

The Edwardian era is named after the son of Queen Victoria. King Edward took over the throne after his mother's death in 1901 and ruled until 1910 although the era itself is frequently extended beyond Edward's death through 1919.

Edwardian engagement rings are mostly set in platinum and white gold, with filigree details and Old Mine Cut or Old European Cut diamonds and pearls. Amethyst and Peridot gemstones are also notable in the period.

Art Deco Engagement Rings

The 1920s and 1930s are all about Art Deco style. Radical changes in society led to an era of fun and decadence and a new aesthetic.

Art Deco engagement rings are bold and dramatic with geometric shapes and diamond cuts.

They were typically set in white gold and platinum and sometimes used vibrant primary colors like rubies, emeralds and sapphires as accents.

Vintage engagement rings can be really spectacular and are definitely worth considering. They're antique pieces that come from periods in history where technologies, science and lifestyle were very different than what we know today so there are a few things beyond just the clarity and color of stones that you need to consider when looking at vintage rings.

Important Buying Tips: Vintage Engagement Rings

Many of these pieces never came with any sort of independent accreditation or certification so make sure that you only deal with top rated antique dealers or jewelers. A good way of knowing if the people you are dealing with are reputable is to see whether they have their pieces certified and can show you independent lab results along with the ring. If they don't, you really have no idea what you're getting.

Once you've chosen a ring, make sure that the setting is secure and that it has been checked out by a modern day jeweler who understands the requirements of today's active lifestyles. What may have been considered durable a hundred years ago might not make it through a week today.

Many vintage engagement rings have other gemstones along with, or instead of diamonds, so make sure that whatever stones are used are hard enough to withstand constant wear.

Do a little homework on diamond ratings, diamond shapes, and settings. It's especially important to understand these things when looking at vintage engagement rings because you'll be able to evaluate a ring beyond what a salesperson might tell you and really understand what you're buying.

Finally, if you can't find the perfect antique ring, consider vintage looking engagement rings as another great option. They embrace the old world styles with modern day technologies.