Art Deco Engagement Rings

Getting engaged is a romantic and exciting time. No wonder then, that you should want a romantic and exciting ring to wear! And what could be better than an Art Deco Engagement ring!

What is an Art Deco engagement ring?

Art Deco is the name given to the style of design that was made popular in the 1920s and 30s. The style was fist seen in 1925 at the Exposition Des Arts Decoratifs in Paris and was characterised by heavily geometric motifs, Egyptian motifs and the use of clean circular and square shapes. As with furniture, pictures and fashion, the style filtered down into jewellery and within a short time had become commonplace not just in fashion jewellery, but in all jewels, including engagement rings.

What should you look for in an Art Deco engagement ring?

You will need to decide whether you want a genuine Art Deco ring from the 20s or 30s, or an Art Deco style engagement ring – a ring made later in the style of the period. There are guidelines and pros and cons with both. Genuine Art Deco engagement rings can be bought in specialist shops, at auction and at antique fairs. If you are going to buy a period engagement ring, you will need to know what you are looking for – both in terms of style and identifying the genuine article. Here are some tips.

Often, genuine Art Deco rings will be made of platinum. Platinum was popular for its cool, crisp whiteness and the fact that it could be worked finely, allowing it to be utilised for the complex geometric designs that Art Deco styling demanded. Rings from this period will not always carry a hallmark, so you will have to rely on the expertise of the dealer you are buying from to guide you. Stones in original art deco engagement rings will show signs of wear, and this is a good indication that you are looking at an original art deco ring. If the ring looks too new and the stones are crisply cut, or cut in a new style, beware, as you are in all likelihood looking at a newly made ring in the art deco style.

What stones were used in Art Deco engagement rings?

In the 1920s, commonly diamonds were used, either square, or set into square or round shapes. Emeralds and rubies were also common. By the 1930s which heralded a heavier style of Art Deco, large square and oblong aquamarines had become popular, and these were sometimes combined with rubies of diamonds in the shoulders of a ring to enhance the effect. Baguette shaped stones were often used in Art Deco rings as their geometric style suited the shapes and style of the period. You will also find Art Deco rings set with calibre cut stones (small step cut stones, usually square), cushion cuts and sometimes cabochon rubies or sapphires as these were also popular.

Art Deco engagement rings can also be found with less obvious stones, as the option to have colour became popular meaning that jewellers sometimes used stones such as tourmaline, and coloured sapphires to enliven rings and work in "jazz age" designs in the Art Deco style. All these rings make super engagement rings – look for one in the best possible condition you can and with the best quality stones and design.

Classic and collectible Art Deco engagement rings

If you are really lucky you may be able to afford an Art Deco engagement ring by a company like Cartier, Tiffany or Boucheron. These rings will carry maker's marks so you will know about their provenance and you may have to go to auction to get an original Art Deco ring by one of these masters. Tiffany has always made beautiful art deco jewellery and were known to be F Scott Fitzgerald's (author of The Great Gatsby) favourite jeweller. There are some fabulous books available on the work of Tiffany where you can see some of their gorgeous engagement rings from the 20s and 30s.

Art Deco style engagement rings

If you cannot find an original Art Deco engagement ring that is to your liking, if you can find some pictures of something you do like, you may be able to get a bespoke jeweller to make you an Art Deco style engagement ring based on an original. This may not be any cheaper than an original Art Deco ring, but you will be able to add your own unique details to the design, and of course choose your own stones and metal. It's a good idea to use a jewellery designer who is a jewellery historian, or is an expert on vintage jewellery so that they understand your ideas and the concept of the ring you are trying to achieve. Art Deco style engagement rings have some advantages over originals, not least of all that they are often stronger and may not need repairs or reworking to make them wearable.

Whatever you decide, do your research first and decide whether to go for an original ring or a new art deco style ring. Think about your budget and what will suit the shapes of your hand and your lifestyle, and use these factors to guide you toward finding the perfect Art Deco engagement ring