Engagement ring giving is thought to have originated in the 15th Century. Of the many couples who choose these rings these days, a large number opt for antique engagement rings instead of new.
Rings which are purchased as used and are less than fifty years old are known as Estate Rings. Rings that are greater than fifty years old are classed as antique engagement rings. These engagement rings can be purchased at specialist dealers, on the internet or at antiques sales.
There is something about vintage rings that just can’t be replaced. While you can certainly find a wide variety of rings at just about any jeweler, many of the rings underproduction these days just do not have the same feel as those that are vintage.
You may find that many jewelry stores have rings that are vintage style, but they are not actually vintage. Just what are vintage rings? Real ones are those that were actually created decades ago, usually in the 1930s or 1940s, and are on the market again. This is because the style itself has become quite popular in recent years, and it is actually much easier to get your hands on a replica of an actual ring that is from decades ago.
Vintage diamond engagement rings are typically solitaire diamond rings still trendy today only placed in settings designed and fashioned in past eras. Today’s rings do not have the historical value or uniqueness captured by vintage rings. Much of today’s jewelry is machine produced in large quantities while older eras hand crafting the rings dramatically reduced the redundancy. Even today’s most expensive rings have hundreds if not thousands of identical twins. As trends come and go these vintage diamond engagement rings will become even rarer as some rings will ultimately get melted down to make new jewelry.
Each era had its own unique features providing a varied collection of vintage ring styles. Thankfully, a good number of these styles have made a come back in today’s styles. The more recent vintage eras include the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Retro.
Art Deco Rings are decorative rings characterized by geometric designs and bold colors having a plain band topped off with a large construction of metal and stones. Like other Art Deco jewelry, art deco rings have highly stylized and graceful designs with a harshly geometric and symmetrical theme. They are designed with precise and intricate shapes and outlines such as pear cuts, marquises and emerald cuts.
The preferred color for Art Deco jewelry is black and white. This is why they are often made with platinum and diamonds. But sometimes, ruby, emerald, sapphire, turquoise and coral are set to add drama as these gemstones have bold colors.