Antique and vintage engagement rings encompass a myriad of designs and are a popular choice. There are no rules today surrounding what engagement ring one should get. However, from the 20th century diamond rings became traditionally given as engagement rings. It was in 1948 that De Beers first coined the slogan ‘A Diamond is Forever', cementing the diamond solitaire in its role as the quintessential choice for an engagement ring. But even before this, diamond rings have long been associated with eternal love. Diamonds are the hardest of all gemstones, a quality which is central to their connection with unending devotion. Interestingly, the word ‘diamond' is derived from the Ancient Greek ‘adamas' meaning everlasting or unbeatable.
Antique diamond engagement rings can trace their origins back to Ancient Roman times, when gold bands were occasionally set with a single uncut diamond crystal. The first diamond set engagement ring on record was presented in 1447 to Mary of Burgundy by Archduke Maximilian, reputedly set with diamonds which formed the letter ‘M'.
The earliest diamond sources were located in India followed by Brazil. But it was not until the South African diamond mines were discovered in the late 1860s that diamond set engagement rings became more obtainable, due to this increase in supply.
Constantly improving technological advancements meant that diamond cuts continued to change. They evolved from early point and table cut diamonds, reflecting the shape of a rough diamond crystal, through to rose cuts which were popular in the Georgian era and then old mine and old cut diamonds, a fully faceted diamond displaying superior scintillation. This allowed for an untold number of unique styles for engagement rings.
Diamond engagement rings have appeared in a variety of different unique designs throughout history. Visit us in-store or browse our website to find the perfect antique or vintage engagement ring for you. Berganza supplies the finest quality antique and vintage engagement rings and offers some of the rarest designs in the world. We also offer a unique collection of Dress, Diamond and Eternity rings.
A vintage engagement ring encompasses a myriad of designs from past eras. The unique qualities and character associated with vintage engagement rings make them very popular.
The fine level of craftsmanship and beauty that come with vintage engagement rings and antique engagement rings, with features such as striking coloured stones and decorative metalwork details, is something that is rarely seen in modern engagement rings.
Choosing the right vintage engagement ring or antique engagement ring for your loved one can be challenging, but there are three main things for you to consider.
Firstly, decide on whether you want something from a particular era, or are open to inspiration! Then, decide on the metal of the ring. Look at whether your loved one typically wears more gold or silver coloured jewellery, then work from there.
Finally, consider the type of stone you would like. Vintage engagement rings and antique engagement rings tend to offer unique and striking stones, such as rare hand-cut diamonds and natural rubies, emeralds and sapphires, with many originating from world renowned mines, ensuring you will have only the finest quality gems.
There are mixed opinions about how much you should spend on an engagement ring, with some sources suggesting that you spend three months' salary on the ring, however we believe that the most important thing is choosing a ring that you know your partner will love!
There is much more to choosing an antique or vintage engagement ring than the price, so focus your time on finding something that you can picture your partner wearing and enjoying for the rest of their lives!
Although most people consider the diamond solitaire to be the traditional engagement ring of choice, any ring can be considered as an engagement ring! For example, many vintage engagement rings and antique engagement rings consist of multiple different stones. Jackie Kennedy’s iconic vintage engagement ring featured an emerald and a diamond, surrounded by many smaller diamonds and Marylin Monroe was presented with a baguette cut diamond eternity band as her engagement ring from Joe DiMaggio.
There are many different styles of antique and vintage engagement rings.
Solitaire rings feature a simple band with a single stone set on it, these can also feature stones, often diamonds, set either side of the central stone in a style known as a flanked solitaire. Coronet cluster rings, often called halo rings today, were particularly popular as engagement rings from the Georgian period onwards and consist of one stone encircled by a row of smaller stones.
You should choose a style of engagement ring that you love and that is personal to you as a couple, rather than what fashion dictates! This ensures that you will love your ring for decades to come.
