Eras of Vintage Diamond Engagement Rings

Do you consider yourself to be one-of-a-kind? Or are you just a cookie cutter image of everyone else? Of course not! So shouldn't your choice of a vintage diamond engagement ring be one-of-a-kind just like you? These vintage rings are unique and have a historical value, since they were made in the past. Most of the jewelry you see today is mass-produced, so that even the expensive rings you see in the jewelry case have hundreds or thousands of identical twins. In older times, jewelry was often hand-made, resulting in each piece being a hand-crafted, unique piece of art. Over time, some of this jewelry was lost or even melted down to make new jewelry, which only increases the rareness of vintage rings today.

Over the past few centuries, there have been several eras and styles of rings to go along with them. The popular and more recent eras are the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Retro.

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Victorian Era 1837 to 1901

A wide selection of unique vintage diamond engagement rings were produced in the Victorian Era. This era is named after Alexandria Victoria, who was the Queen of Great Britain from 1837 to 1901. Due to the great span of time in this era, it is commonly broken down into three time periods: the Romantic, Grand, and Aesthetic. The style that predominated in the Romantic era was a result of a combination of things. Gold was rare at the time, and the Queen dictated that there was a strict etiquette of what gems could be worn.

Different techniques were used, such as engraving, piercing, and filigree, which gave the illusion of a ring with substance when there was actually little gold in it. With the death of Victoria's husband Prince Albert in 1861, came the Grand period. Victoria was in a state of mourning, and thus the vintage rings of this time were made with darker stones and had a more serious design. The Aesthetic Period rounded out the Victorian Era, and the designs of this time were of a lighter and more fun mood, and often included stars, moons, and dragons in the designs.

Edwardian Era 1901 to 1910

The Edwardian Era was short lived, but the style of vintage diamond engagement rings from this time were a result of the flourishing wealth of the middle and upper class. As the clothing worn became lighter, more flexible, and was often adorned with lace, the style of the jewelry followed. The precious metal platinum grew in popularity, and because of its strength, a gem could be set almost invisibly through the use of tiny gem prongs. Amethyst, pearls, and diamonds all became popular, along with the lace style filigree used in the rings.

See a complete list of Victorian and Edwardian Diamond Engagement Rings

Art Nouveau / Art Deco Eras 1895 to 1935

The vintage diamond engagement rings that are from these two time periods are often combined and grouped together, even though they are actually two separate eras. What they have in common is that each era began as a result of significant society changing events.

Art Nouveau began at the start of the Industrial Revolution, and Art Deco began at the start of World War I. The differences between these two styles are seen in a few simple concepts. Rings made with natural styles, such as flowers or insects, are common for Art Nouveau rings. Rings from the Art Deco time are based more on symmetry and geometry, resulting in a more streamlined appearance.

See a complete list of Art Nouveau and Art Deco Diamond Engagement Rings

Retro, Vintage 1930s-1980s

The Retro era is where the largest number of diamond vintage engagement rings can be found. This is the most recent of the vintage eras, even though diamonds were considered to be a bit out of style at this time. During World War II there were a shortage of many items, including precious metals.

Other metals were commonly used then as a replacement, including yellow gold and pink (or rose) gold. Gems that were used in rings were usually quite large, and less precious clusters or bright gems.

See a complete list of Retro Diamond Engagement Rings