Antique and Vintage Rings

We are a part of eBay Affiliate Network, and if you make a purchase through the links on our site we earn affiliate commission.
No article of fine jewelry carries as much cultural weight as the ring. For couples, the exchange of wedding bands signifies that a knot has been tied. For authors, rings can also bind fictional wearers, except when they destroy them, as in...
Continue reading
No article of fine jewelry carries as much cultural weight as the ring. For couples, the exchange of wedding bands signifies that a knot has been tied. For authors, rings can also bind fictional wearers, except when they destroy them, as in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. In these circumstances, one does not accept a ring, along with the responsibility it represents, lightly. Not surprisingly, some of the most interesting antique and vintage rings are engagement rings and rings that are tokens of love. In the Victorian Era, from 1837 to 1901, rings with the word "Mizpah" on them were worn by couples and lovers separated by war or travel. Usually these rings were simple bands of silver or gold, with "Mizpah" standing boldly in relief on the outside of the ring. For engagement rings, diamonds or amethysts set in platinum or gold were common. Diamonds were often paired with pearls, rubies, emeralds, or sapphires. Sometimes a collection of stones was used, such as in the acrostic rings, in which the first letter in the name of each stone spelled out the word "dearest," (i.e., diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, emerald, sapphire, and topaz). Other antique rings from the period had secret hinged compartments behind the stones. During the same period, mourning and hair rings were quite fashionable, both holdovers from the Georgian period at the beginning of the 19th century. Some mourning rings consisted of the name of the deceased and date of their death in either gold or enamel. Others used hair from the deceased that had been woven into tight braids or coils and incorporated into a ring, usually under glass. In fact, hair jewelry and hair crafting was so popular in Victorian times that hair rings without the mourning connotation were also sold. Cameo and intaglio rings were another Victorian favorite. Carved out of shell, coral, or stone, cameos and intaglios were often surrounded with small diamonds. Just as frequently they stood alone, either framed...
Continue reading

Best of the Web

All About Jewels Dictionary
This incredible reference dictionary on jewelry, from Enchantedlearning.com, is both beautiful...
Cathy Gordon's Jewelry Gallery
With its vast galleries featuring clear images of jewelry and style, this site really covers it...
Morning Glory Antiques and Jewelry
Jewelry collectors, feast your eyes on this internet gem! The Research and Gallery pages in the...
Newest

Best of the Web

All About Jewels Dictionary
This incredible reference dictionary on jewelry, from Enchantedlearning.com, is both beautiful...
Cathy Gordon's Jewelry Gallery
With its vast galleries featuring clear images of jewelry and style, this site really covers it...
Morning Glory Antiques and Jewelry
Jewelry collectors, feast your eyes on this internet gem! The Research and Gallery pages in the...