| What do you collect? | Clothing + Fashion | Jewelry + Watches | Pottery + Glass | Furniture + Home | Art + Photos | Music + Movies | Toys + Games | Sports | Coins + Stamps | Paper + Books | Ads + Signs | Autos + Transport | Eras + Decades | All » |
Diamond Engagement Rings
About Antique and Vintage Engagement Rings
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 surrounded by rows of smaller sparklers. In the 1920s, firms such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels became the jewelers of choice for young men with deep pockets looking to express their boundless love.
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.
Post an Event
Upcoming Events
- Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars
Jan 13–Apr 4. Houston, TX. - Special Topics in 19th and 20th Century Jewelry
Apr 15–17. New York, NY. - Cartier and America
Jan 12–Apr 18. San Francisco, CA.
See all 42 Fine Jewelry events
Interviews & Articles
An Interview on Turn of the Century Jewelry Styles with Appraiser Joyce Jonas New!
I bought my first piece of jewelry—a gold ring with a big lapis stone propped on prongs—when I was about 12 with mo… [more]
An Interview With Fine Jewelry and Costume Jewelry Collector Christie Romero
I started out with general antiques and collectibles... I was a dealer for a while and bought and sold all kinds of… [more]
An Interview With Modernist Studio Jewelry Collector Marbeth Schon
My background is in fine art. My B.A. was in Art Education, so I started out as an art teacher. Later, I began work… [more]
An Interview with Arts and Crafts Jewelry Collector and Author Elyse Karlin
I started collecting jewelry when I was about 13 years old. I was very close to an interior designer who took me to… [more]
An Interview With Arts and Crafts Silver and Jewelry Collector Paul Somerson
How did I get started collecting Arts and Crafts silver? My wife and I had been collecting Arts and Crafts items as… [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]
Antique Jewelry University
Although not actually a university, this website has a lot of great educational information about antique, vintage,… [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]
Chicago Silver
Paul Somerson's incredible reference on handwrought metalwork from the American Arts and Crafts movement of the ear… [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]
Art of Mourning
Australian historian and collector Hayden Peters' handsome site is a great resource for fans of memorial, mourning,… [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]
Got a site to suggest? Let us know.
Clubs & Associations: Fine Jewelry
- American Society of Jewelry Historians
- Association for the Study of Jewelry and Related Arts
- Society of Jewellery Historians
Other Great Reference Sites: Fine Jewelry
Are we missing one? Tell us.
Top eBay Auctions Help | Get weekly Diamond Engagement Rings email
»» Get our weekly Diamond Engagement Rings email
Recent News: Diamond Engagement Rings
Source: Google News
Exquisite Collection Of Antique Wedding Rings At Vintage Yard
EcommWire (press release), March 19thThe site has an eclectic collection of vintage wedding rings, earrings, men’s jewelry, antique engagement ring as well as bracelets to complement wedding...Read more
Vintage Yard Brings An Eclectic Collection Of Antique Vintage Jewelry From ...
EcommWire (press release), March 11thSome of the most popular picks this season are the antique engagement ring as well as antique wedding rings because they are unique and make for statement...Read more
Pine Bush Auction
Antiques and the Arts Online, March 8th
1930's dia drops, 14k multi dia cocktail ring, plat dia engagement ring 80pt stone, 14k coin ring, 14k ? ct antique engagement ring 50pt stone,...Read more
Vintage Yard supplies individuals with individual jewelry pieces that are ...
News-antique.com (press release), March 4thThere are even antique engagement ring pieces to choose from. Individuals that want something special can find something at Vintage Yard...Read more
Fine Jewelry
- overview
- earrings
- bracelets
- rings
- engagement rings
- pearls
- necklaces and pendants
- cameos
- pins and brooches
- charms and charm bracelets
- lockets
- hatpins
- watch fobs
- cufflinks
- Georgian period jewelry
- Victorian and Edwardian jewelry
- mourning jewelry
- Art Nouveau and Art Deco jewelry
- Modernist jewelry
- designer signed jewelry
- Native American jewelry
- Mexican jewelry
- ethnic jewelry
- Georg Jensen
- Tiffany jewelry
- suggest a category
- see all categories