Since Roman times, men have been giving engagement rings to their blushing brides-to-be. Cultural practices vary, but the tradition of wearing an engagement ring on the fourth digit of the left hand stems from the ancient Egyptian belief that the vena amoris (Latin for vein of love) runs directly from this finger to the heart.
In the Victorian era, platinum or gold engagement rings, crowned with a diamond or amethyst, were common. Both types of stones were sometimes paired with seed pearls, while small diamonds were often used to frame a center stone of aquamarine or a sapphire. The antique engagement rings from this era also featured bands with detailed filigree.
Edwardian rings from the early years of the 20th century fairly shimmered with diamonds. Some especially stunning examples boasted pairs of large-carat stones set in platinum and...
The Art Deco era was especially good for diamond engagement rings, and the vintage bands from that time period are prized by men wishing to purchase a ring that will become a future family heirloom. A large diamond set in a platinum filigree dome studded with smaller jewels was typical of the era. Other vintage engagement Art Deco rings had geometric step-down settings. And when diamonds were not enough, rectangular sapphire baguettes were often used to highlight a ring’s hexagonal center design.
Interviews & Articles
Christie Romero on Differences Between Fine and Costume Jewelry Over the Decades

I started out with general antiques and collectibles... I was a dealer for a while and bought and sold all kinds of things. Gradua… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
All About Jewels Dictionary

This incredible reference dictionary on jewelry, from Enchantedlearning.com, is both beautiful and comprehensive. S… [read review or visit site]
Morning Glory Antiques and Jewelry

Jewelry collectors, feast your eyes on this internet gem! It's a goldmine of jewelry information featuring all styl… [read review or visit site]
Cathy Gordon's Jewelry Gallery

With its vast galleries featuring clear images of jewelry and style, this site really covers it all! Divided up by … [read review or visit site]
Jewel History

Since March of 2007, readers of Lori Ettlinger Gross’s JewelHistory blog have been treated to her weekly (sometim… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations
- American Society of Jewelry Historians
- Association for the Study of Jewelry and Related Arts
- Society of Jewellery Historians
Vintage Guru Reveals Her Glamour Secrets
The Killer Mobile Device for Victorian Women
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
The Beautiful Chaos of Improvisational Quilts
Our Dad, the Water Witch of Wyoming
This 1959 Goggomobil Is Insanely Cute and Gets 55 MPG. Why Can’t Detroit Do That?
California Cool: How the Wetsuit Became the Surfer's Second Skin
The Unfiltered History of Rolling Papers, Plus Tommy Chong's Big Fat Jamaican Vacation
World's Smallest Museum Finds the Wonder in Everyday Objects
Fightin’ Femmes: Unmasking Female Superheroes with Author Mike Madrid

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