What Characteristics Defines a Vintage Engagement Ring
Vintage engagement rings feature some of the more mysterious designs in the engagement ring world. Their stylistic range and features are variated, spread across different time periods, and often contain design elements that borrow from different eras.
The vintage engagement rings today is among the more popular ring styles. Rings in this range incorporate and combine a number of different stylistic features that sets them apart from other ring styles. But what makes them different? What defines a vintage engagement ring? These are some of the questions we will answer on this Education page.
What Makes a Vintage Engagement Ring?
When it comes to understanding the characteristics of vintage engagement rings it is best to provide some clarification on what is actually meant by the term ‘vintage’ in the fine jewellery world, particularly when it comes to engagement rings the specific period in which a ring was made is important. Not only from a stylistic standpoint but also as a marker that helps identify the ring in the time period from which it came.
When it comes to vintage engagement rings the key factor is time. For a ring to be considered a real vintage engagement ring the stylistic period of the ring needs to be at least 50 years in the past. This is an interesting and at times confusing point. Since the 50-year past timeline does not mean that ring needs to have been made 50 years ago. Rather it means the stylistic inspiration for the ring style needs to be different from that of the present and the near past. Now there is some confusion when it comes to the timeline, with some experts arguing that 20 in the past is an acceptable timeline.
Thus rings styles from a few decades ago do not count. At the same time, one must be careful not to confuse vintage engagement rings with antique engagement rings. For the latter refers to rings that are actually from a different era: meaning the timeline for the crafting of the antique engagement ring must necessarily be decades in the past. Sometimes even over a century. As engagement rings have been around for a long time. With vintage engagement rings, however, it is the age of the style that counts.
Timelines of Vintage Engagement Ring Designs
No two engagement ring is truly the same: they vary in terms of size, gemstone type, number, and placement. And in a variety of different ways when it comes to band style, which comes to separate the various engagement rings settings.
When it comes to vintage engagement rings the particular design philosophy of the specific ring style will vary not only in terms of specific features but at a broader level, they also differ in terms of aesthetics, which are specific to the time period from which they take inspiration. This takes us to the four main timelines which have inspired the top vintage styles that we see today.
Victorian antique engagement rings
When it comes to the origins of engagement rings, the history of their use goes back hundreds of years. When it comes to ring designs that are closer to what we recognise in the world today their beginnings can be traced to the Victorian era which began in the second decade of the 19th century (the 1800s) to the early years of the 20th century.
Engagement rings at this time were characterised by their use of yellow gold, as other variants in the top metal range were yet to take form. This was the period when ring designs that are traditionally associated with vintage engagement rings such as filigree and milgrain started to enter use.
One must note that the rings of this time were made using older methods, and this was the time that diamonds started to make a stronger show with early growth in diamond supply. When it came to gemstone cut, this period was marked by older gemstone cuts like the rose cut, old mine cut, and old European cuts which are no longer as popular, but their inspiration remains.
Edwardian antique engagement rings
The Edwardian era holds a bit of interesting history. Based on its timeline it appears to overlap with the Victorian era. Since the reign of King Edward VII was relatively short (1901 to 1910) the effects of this time were not as felt as the previous. However, the power and presence of the British Empire meant that some of the stylistic trends of this period endured.
Engagement rings from the Edwardian era featured styles that basically took the design elements that emerged in the Victorian era and made them more extravagant. Elements such as milgrain become more prominent.
Art Deco antique engagement rings
The Art Deco era is another interesting period as it coincided with the rise of modernism. This period in the early decades of the 20th century (1915 – 1935) was marked by technological progress and the industries that came from them. There was a greater emphasis on rigid lines, sharper edges and the greater adoption of synthetic stones, which was building on the greater focus on technical developments that placed emphasis on progress and the adoption of geometric shapes that reflected the world around them. These styles have endured with modern engagement rings, with effects that have gone beyond the vintage ring styles.
Retro Era
If there is a word that can describe the retro era that would be: boldness. The retro era designs were not fearful of stating their character with jewellery, such as engagement rings having a stronger visual presence with larger stones, and more visible lines. Effectively taking the developments in the art deco era and bringing them up a notch. One of the key developments of this period was the rise in prominence of the centre stone.
Around this time the global diamond industry had come into its own. Whilst war was on the horizon, the growing supply and demand for beautiful carbon-based stone with great glowing features generated greater interest when it came to engagement rings. The emphasis on centre stones and with it the greater adoption of other top precious gems such as sapphires and rubies, including the greater use of synthetic stones were a feature.
It is safe to say that the effects of the retro era have continued until the present day. In vintage engagement rings, and with certain developments making their way into engagement ring styles in general.
What to Look for When Buying Vintage Engagement Rings
For someone who is new to the process of buying an engagement ring, and just interested in getting hold of a vintage style ring, and what matters to them is their ring design is ‘vintage’ some of the information presented above may seem a bit too much. One might be wondering, what exactly am I supposed to be looking for when getting hold of a top-quality vintage engagement ring?
The first consideration of course is that you pick a solid fine jewellery company for your choice of engagement ring. No other decision is as important as picking a solid, reputable company that has a history in the development of these intricate jewels.
Next, when you find a jewellery company that features a solid inventory of rings, followed by a designated category for vintage engagement rings, this is a good sign. As we have been doing this for many years, we have had the opportunity to survey the business landscape when it comes to the selling of vintage engagement rings, and sometimes there is a tendency for certain jewellery makers to simply class certain ring styles under the heading of ‘vintage’. Whilst the jewels themselves may not also live up to the stylistic requirements.
So look for jewellers with a solid ring collection, and next ask questions. The information presented here puts you in a relatively good place to the average buyer who is looking for the same, and allows you to ask questions about your future vintage engagement ring: Does your vintage engagement ring feature elements like filigrees, milgrain and geometric shapes?
Does the engagement ring of choice showcase that element of boldness and in some cases the stylistic connection with nature, like flowers and vines? And of course, pay attention to customisation options as well, to help make the vintage ring your own.
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