Australia's Contribution

Australia has been a major source of opals supplying 97% of the world's opals. The geology of the continent was just right, so as the sedimentary rock was forming it was also absorbing plenty of water enriched with silica. The opals from this region come in a large variety of colors including orange, yellow, black, white, blue, green, and rose colors.

Color and Light Characteristics of Vintage Opal Rings

Each gem in a vintage opal ring will have its own color pattern with a unique mix of colors and a beautiful background hue. These colors, similar to a rainbow across the sky, run across the opal.

These gems create a dazzling and brilliant color effect when exposed to full spectrum light. This brilliant and varied color has helped keep these rings popular throughout history.

History and Folklore

As with most all vintage jewelry, the ring and the opal of vintage opal rings were created by hand. This give them a uniqueness and characteristic that will arguably never be replaced by the modern mass-manufacturing of today.

Throughout history the opal has made numerous appearances. William Shakespeare nicknamed them "The queen of Gems", some believed they brought good luck and fortune, while one Arabic belief is that they glided down from Heaven.

A Little Extra Care

Opals are a rather brittle gem and should be handle with care. Dropping them onto a hard surface can crack or chip them. It helps to keep moisture in them so they do not dry out. Wearing them on a regular basis can help prevent them from drying because of the oil and modifier from your skin. At the very least try not to store them in a hot, dry place.

See a complete collection of Vintage Opal Rings.

When looking for a beautiful and unique every-day ring, engagement, or wedding ring, the princess cut vintage rings are a great choice. When I choose a gem, I consider the qualities that I believe are exquisite, such as the historical value and the sparkle. When deciding on which ring is right for you, you have a few options. You can look high and low for the perfect vintage ring, find the settling you like and ask a jeweler to add the diamond of your choice, or choose a newly crafted vintage-looking ring that rivals an original princess cut vintage ring. Whichever way you go, you are guaranteed to be happy if you choose the ring that looks perfect to you, and not what an appraiser, jeweler, or the general public tells you is "perfect."

What is a princess cut vintage ring exactly? It is a ring that has a square shaped gem, and was created over 50 years ago. While a brilliant, or round, cut gem is very popular, the princess cut is considered to be more unique. The shape chosen is really a matter of preference to the wearer, and either one will look fabulous. If you are considering a princess cut vintage ring, there are a few qualities to consider.

Grading of a Princess Cut Diamond

A gem laboratory has the task of grading the gem situated in a ring. A few of them considered to be more reputable appraisers include the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the European Gem Laboratories-USA (EGL-USA), the American Gem Society (AGSL), and the Accredited Gem Appraisers (AGA).

When grading a brilliant cut gem, there are very clear guidelines as to what is an ideal cut. However, there is not a consensus in the industry as to what makes an ideal princess cut diamond, so there is much variation in the grading. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) was not even rating the princess cut yet at the time of this writing.

Finding Princess Cut Vintage Rings

There are plenty of vintage rings available in the square shape. However, if you are looking specifically for a square princess cut diamond ring, then finding a true Princess Cut vintage rings may turn out to be a little more difficult. This is because the princess cut diamond that we know today is relatively new - it has only been around for a few decades. If you aren't concerned so much with how old the ring is, but rather the style of it, then you will find that there are many vintage style rings that have been beautifully made with a princess cut diamond.

Princess Cut Settings

Engineers know that a rounded corner is stronger than a sharp corner, because the stress is spread out across the radius. Because of this, a princess cut gem needs to have the prongs that hold the gem in place to be at the four corners, giving it strength and protection to keep the corners from chipping. The diamond can be angled in relation to the band, giving it a "diamond" appearance, or lined up with the band for a square look. Princess cut gems are often used to accent the primary gem, by being placed in rows or alongside the gem.

For a complete list of Vintage Princess Cut Rings

Early Victorian Period (Romantic Period, 1837 - 1860)

The Romantic Period was described as a sentimental period and was meant to reflect characteristics or the young queen, who was 18 in 1837. These qualities included youth, courtship, and marriage. Much of the jewelry at the time was inspired by nature and included such items as bouquets, parts of plants and trees, grapes, berries, snakes, and serpents. Although many of the rings of this era were hand-made, the industrial revolution was quickly introducing machinery capable of producing large amounts of jewelry.

British law helped dictate some unique characteristics of rings in this era. During the 19th century, there were no British laws requiring jewelers to use a maker’s mark or quality stamping on their rings, so much of the jewelry of this era has no stamp. Also, most gold rings were 18k gold, as lower carat gold such as 12k and 15k gold was not made legal until after 1854.

The more common gems of this era include rose cut diamonds, brilliant cut diamonds (numerous facets, typically round), amethyst, pink topaz, golden topaz, turquoise, chalcedony, coral, garnet, ruby, seed pearls, and cameos.

Mid Victorian Period (Grand Period, 1860 – 1885)

The Grand Period had a good start, however in 1861 the American Civil War began and Prince Albert, Victoria’s husband, died. Both the mourning period and the war lasted longer than many expected. The rings of this period followed a strict protocol with all black during the first year (full mourning) following the death of a loved one, and darker grays, purples, and other colors after that (half mourning). The materials commonly used during mourning included Onyx, Gutta Percha, Vulcanite, French Jet, and Bog Oak.

Opal had a “bad luck” reputation during the first half of the Grand Period and had gained its popularity back in the late 1870's. Silver was also common and low in price due to the Comstock Lode discovered in 1859 in Virginia City, Nevada. Finally, some popular shapes often found in the jewelry included anchors, bees, bells, birds, swans, and stars.

Popular gems of the Mid Victorian Period included amethysts, cabochon garnets, crystal, emeralds, diamonds, onyx, opal, pearl, ruby, black glass, bog oak, jet ivory, and tortoise shell.

Late Victorian Period (Aesthetic Period, 1885 - 1901)

Many of the rings of this period were dictated by people getting tired of over-formality, women taking on more roles in society, and Princess Alexandra, Queen Victoria’s daughter-in-law. Alexandra popularized the star and crescent along with the dog collar necklace. Rings had a lighter design having less metal and smaller gems. This was the result of women’s clothing becoming lighter and more flexible. Big dresses and the tight corset were out!

This period saw the demise of money dictating the quality, style, and material of rings. Jewelers put more value into the artistic design and craftsmanship of rings. They often chose a single gem over grandiose displays of multiple gems with the monetary value of the gem being placed lower on the list.

The gems common in rings of the Aesthetic Period included diamonds, coral, pearls, turquoise, and sapphires.

What Is White Gold?

What makes white gold white? It was because other white metals have been alloyed with gold. Palladium and nickel and the most commonly used white metals. A strong and hard alloy is created when nickel is used, which is very good for rings. A softer alloy is created when palladium is used, which is good for use with gemstone settings. Because nickel is cheaper than palladium, it is more commonly used. However, almost 13% of the population is allergic to nickel, causing palladium to be a more popular choice in jewelry made today.

See the complete list of White Gold Vintage Rings!

How Much Gold Do You Really Have?

24 karat gold, or 24k, is considered pure gold, though it is too soft most of the time to be used in jewelry. More commonly used are alloys of 22k, 18k, 14k, and 10k gold. You may wonder how you can find out how much gold is in a piece of jewelry because other various metals are often part of the alloys made. It is a simple calculation - you can determine the amount of gold present by dividing the carat rating by 24. For example, 18k is 75% gold (18/24 = .75), and 10k is only 42% gold (10/28 = .42). Because pure gold is quite soft, a lower percentage of gold usually results in a more durable ring. This should be a factor taken into account when the wearer considers how much wear and tear they would put their ring through on a daily basis.

What Are the Eras About?

Even though white gold wasn't popular until the 1920's, there are still white gold vintage rings out there from this time, but they are fewer and farther between. A fairly good selection of rings can be found starting in the Victorian Era, which began in 1837. After that, progress through the Edwardian and Art Nouveau eras as well, and the selection really increases in the Art Deco and Retro eras.

From 1837 to 1901 is known as the Victorian Era. Since it spans over 60 years, it is commonly divided into three distinct time periods - the Romantic, Grand, and Aesthetic. Much variation can be found in the styles during this era. Even though white gold was not very popular back then, vintage rings made of white gold were still created. After the Victorian era, the Edwardian Era was quite short, dating from only 1901 to 1910. The rings from this time had a light and lacy appearance to them, which match the clothes worn at the time.

During the Art Nouveau timeframe, vintage rings with more naturalistic images dominated the styles, sometimes with insects and flowers. This is sharply contrasted with the Art Deco style that emerged, which was based more on symmetry and geometry, resulting in a more streamlined look. The most recent time period, which is known as the Retro Era, produced the largest number of vintage white gold rings. There was a shortage of precious metal during World War II, and diamonds were declining in popularity. This caused rings to be made with large colorful gems and with styles that appeared to be heavy with metal, although they actually were not.

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.

See a complete list of Vintage Diamond Engagement Rings!

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

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