Vintage engagement rings

Hi All,

The GF and I are discussing getting married so I am starting the research into rings. I have just started looking at the different certs for diamonds and trying to get ideas of designs and prices. I was actually thinking of trying to find a vintage ring if possible but don't know where to look. Any ideas? Also, not sure what designs are period to the 20-40's. Is there a site I can look at for ideas and info?

Thanks,

Mike

p.s. I couldn't find a thread like this but if there is one please let me know and this one can get deleted.

From what I understand,

Many engagement rings from the GE were not what we would think of as fancy rings. They might have had a tiny piece of diamond instead of a whole. My grandma's ring wasn't much, but she was married right after WW2 and nobody really had any money.

Consider the mount / ring as important as the stone. My grandmother had a filigree engagement ring when she married around 1920. I think they were popular through the late 1930's. Google filigree ring and look at the examples.

The engagement ring is a fairly new (20th century) concept; the diamond engagement ring - as well as the exhortion to spend a month or three's salary on it - is wholly an invention of the de Beeres diamond company. I'd love to know how quickly it caught on (the the point where it became a norm). From what I've seen, though, 30s / 40s rings were much simpler, and non-diamond options were not unheard of still.

From a distant memory, my grandmother - married in the '20s - had what I just learned in an above post was called a filigree ring - a silver band with lattice work but without diamonds. I wouldn't swear to what I just typed, but that's my vague memory of it.

I hear an add on NPR almost daily for a spot near me with vintage and ethically sourced diamond rings. I can’t for the life of me remember the name. Now that there’s a thread i’ll write it down when i hear it again.

Btw, I went with a ruby to be different. Never regretted the decision.

My wife is into Vintage Jewelry and owns several rings. She really likes the "Miner's Cut" diamonds and Platinum settings with lots of filigree work. I personally don't like jewelry although I'll be honest and state her rings are so much more intricate looking with a real craftsman-made look to me, the modern jewelry simply doesn't hold a candle in comparison IMO. When I state "Vintage", I'm referring to 1880-1920, give or take.

You have to do your homework, sometimes a piece has been compromised during repairs by utilizing diamonds that don't match and/or are not of the same vintage or cut. You can also determine if alterations have taken place through the years by adding pieces and stones. Look at everything through a loupe, do plenty of research and ask lots of questions and verify everything.

Typically a lot of these items are bought at estate sales in bulk so negotiation in price is your friend. Vintage jewelry isn't going to be around forever, pieces are bought and melted down quite often, a shame as the design work and craftsmanship is truly excellent. For me, vintage clothing has a timeless look in appearance and quality of manufacture, the same goes for vintage Jewelry.
Good luck,
G.

Have you looked on Etsy?

Bfd70 said:

I went with a ruby to be different. Never regretted the decision.

Click to expand...

Herself's ring is rubies and sapphires; our birth stones. I knew diamond would be a nono there; ere is the new ethical trade, though I wasn't entirely convinced by it when I read into it, and the regular diamond trade is just so horrific. Urgh.

Alli Ooh said:

Have you looked on Etsy?

Click to expand...

Good option. I bought my lady's ring there from a custom jeweller in Canada. It's a set, with the engagement and wedding rings making up a traditional Claddagh. Lots of great options there; planning to buy my wedding ring on Etsy too. Big, chunky and TCB logo'ed.