3 Major Styles of Antique Rings

There are basically 3 major styles when shopping for antique rings and antique jewelry in general. The Victorian Period comprises rings that were crafted between eighteen thirthy-five and nineteen thousand. Typically this type was made of yellow gold and rose gold and oscillated between simple designs and very intricate ones etched into gold. References to nature and the use of colored gemstones like sapphire, pearls and diamonds were very common in this style. The Edwardian Period goes from the nineteen thousand to the nineteen twenties and began upon the death of Queen Victoria when her son Edward became King. During this period many of the Edwardian designed pieces incorporated platinum and much more expensive gems such as rose-cut diamonds, emeralds,rubies in elaborate designs that were considered ‘romantic” by the time standards for its delicate use of curves and forms. This period is still a source of inspiration for many modern ring designers. The Art Deco style was very popular between the nineteen twenties and the nineteen thirties. Let’s not forget that the roaring twenties were a time of innovation, exoticism, and high energy and this reflected in streamlined geometric looks, colorful and contrasting gemstones and glittering styles with abstract patterns, following the same artistic trends from the time and a totally different approach from pale and more conservative Edwardian designs. Art Deco antique engagement rings are one of the most popular rings for newly wed couples.

 

I think you'll find a lot of boardies don't have standard tastes in jewelry. My favorite diamonds, if such is possible, are old things like table cuts and rose cuts. If I had to get a diamond, I'd want a rose cut one bezel set in a rose gold wide tapered band setting. None of this tiffany or prong stuff.

 

Hi Evelyb30,

That is a very good description of a pretty ring. And yes I agree that a bezel setting is much more preferable than a prong setting. In my opinion the prong setting takes away the view of the whole diamond. And thank you for your vote!

 

Doesn't the bezel setting bury the stone and allow less refracted light ....

 

Hello Komokwa,

Yes the stone is set more in but the bezel style gives the ring a more secure and luxury style to it than with prongs.

 

Faceted stones reflect light ,if the stone is cut right there is no noticeable difference in reflection from bezel/prong settings.

 

If I had a picture of my ex's round cut , 3/4 C , VVS1, H , with baguettes on each side , I'd debate it's luxury aspect ....but alas.....she took the stone and gave it to her 2nd husband to use in the ring he gave her ! ..........( the bitch ! )

 

Hello Komokwa,

Oh no I am sorry to hear what your ex-wife did. The second husband should have just bought her a new diamond and gave you back yours. What I meant by luxury is that, it is "rare" or "not so popular" to find styles with bezel setting worn by the "new generation". But everyone I guess has there own take on what luxury is to them. All in all the better the clarity and cut makes the diamond shine even brighter.

 

While I'm not looking for a fight here....REALLY !!.....

"All in all the better the clarity and cut makes the diamond shine even brighter."

You can't tell that by my 1st fiancee ...who chose the lesser of 2 diamonds offered her...because it had a large table making a 1 carat look as if it was 1 1/2 carats.

I guess she thought bigger was better....even with LESS shine !!

( oh...the other was 85 points, round VVS2 G.....)......go figger!!

 

I don't think we have hit 19,000 yet.

Thought you might like to know for future writings.

 

I get the impression the OP's first language isn't English.

 

I'm not seeing that...

 

---I had a friend years ago whose boyfriend (Tom) excitedly showed me the engagement ring he was going to surprise her with (and a very nice one at that). I congratulated him and off he went to present it to his lady love.

Later in the week, she showed me her ring, a completely different one with a stone that appeared twice the size of the one Tom showed me. She had told him it was 'pretty', but wanted to go to "her" jeweler to exchange it. I noticed it was all width and very shallow. Plus, it had a feather shaped flaw that was visible with the naked eye. She got that one so everyone so could see how big it was (or seemed).

 

yer friend and my whatever musta compared notes..

when my jeweler..a well respected MTL firm, showed me that stone....I said....where's the rest of it...it's all table !!

I guess he could see her coming a mile away !!!

 

Figures. I have a bunch of family rings and only a few have diamonds. The rest are colored stones. Grandma's is a big amethyst, but it's in an art nouveau 18k setting. Beats the heck out of a diamond.

 

I think Edwardian is my favorite, though it could be a tie between Edwardian and Victorian...I do like the designs from the 1920s, not really Art Deco, a kind of transitional time.... I like Retro, it is my favorite period, the rose gold items made right before and during WWII. I just got this