Antique Engagement Rings

Love is always in fashion, and so are antique engagement rings! No matter what style, heirlooms will always be bang up to date. But what are antique engagement rings and where should you buy one, and what should you look for?

What are antique engagement rings?

The term "antique" traditionally denotes that an item is over 100 years old and not to be, but quite often, confused with vintage engagement rings which are less than 100 years old. So if you want an antique engagement ring, you will be looking at rings dating from the early Edwardian period (before World War 1) and earlier. Realistically, you won't find wearable antique engagement rings dating from much before 1750 - rings from this period belong to the Georgian period and by the nature of their manufacture and materials will be fragile and not up to day to day wear. Later Georgian rings and Victorian rings should be treated with care when worn, but providing you are careful should be quite suitable as engagement rings.

Georgian engagement rings

Georgian designs in engagement rings are usually very naturalistic, and normally focus on feathers, leaves and flowers, hearts and cupids. Engagement rings from this period often feature enamel, diamonds and other precious stones. A popular ring for your betrothed was one which utilised stones of differenet types, the first letter of whose name spelt out the word "Dearest". This means using a Diamond, Emerald, Amythest, Ruby, Emerald (again), Sapphire and Topaz.

These antique engagement rings are much in demand. Always check that the stones in a Georgian Engagment ring are in good condition and look for any repair work or replacement stones. Diamonds should be Rose (or rosette) cut, or at worst, Victorian mine cut replacements - any brilliant cut diamonds should be questioned as these will be much later replacements.

Georgian rings are commonly made out of a mixture of gold and silver settings. Metal was considered a secondary concern to the stones. Rings of this age are rarely hallmarked so make sure you use a trusted source when buying a Georgian engagement ring.

Victorian Engagement Rings

In 1830, the Victorian period began. Queen Victoria loved jewellery, particlarly rings, and this made jewellery very popular, particularly with the growing middle classes and new wealthy business men whose success was spurred on by the Industrial revolution. The Victorian period covered a variety of styles, may of which were based around floral shapes and designs although some motifs were hugely popular, such as snakes, the theme of which is common in Victorian engagement rings. Designs that we recognise today also became popular, such as the trilogy ring. Diamonds were common, as were emerald engagement rings, ruby engagement rings and sapphire engagement rings. Setting were mainly gold.

There is a wealth of designs and styles to choose from in Victorian engagement rings and by looking around you are sure to find an antique engagement ring that suits your taste. As with Georgian rings, always check that the ring is in sound condition and that stone quality is good. Always remember that minor repairs to rings, or resizing can be carried out by a good jeweller so don't be afraid to take this into account when choosing your ring.

Later antique engagement rings

After the Victorian period came the Edwardian, and with it, delicate rings in the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau styles. These are charecterised by curling tendrils and soft lines. Antique engagement rings from this period can be very collectible so expect to pay more for them.

Whatever you choose, always examine workmanship and stones for wear before buying and consider if the ring you are buying is suitable for the wear and tear that your lifestyle might bestow on it. Apart from that, love your Antique engagement ring and enjoy it!