Vintage Dress Rings

Vintage dress rings or cocktail rings, were born in the 'Roaring Twenties’, a golden age for jewellery. Following the revolution of women's fashion during WWI, jewellery also evolved in style. There was a noticeable contrast to the pre-war years when jewellery was a display of wealth, sentimentality and femininity.

The emancipated women of the 1920s did not veer towards the sentimental designs of the past, but instead opting to showcase bold new styles. Shorter bobbed hairstyles were in fashion and led to a surge in the popularity of drop earrings. Plunging necklines called for long necklaces and short sleeve dresses allowed an array of bracelets to be displayed all up the arm. Bold dress rings were worn for attention when women were drinking cocktails in  speakeasies during prohibition. They consequently became known as cocktail rings. From the late 1930s platinum was requested for the war effort and gold returned as the metal of choice for jewellers. Throughout the Art Deco period and into the 1940s, jewellers started to make rings with larger stones in geometric designs. Gemstones such as rock crystal, quartz, onyx and aquamarine were commonly set into dress rings. 

Moving into the 1950s and 1960s, post-war optimism impacted the jewellery industry and design. Cocktail rings became a popular accessory for every social event. The unique design of the rings broke the rules and traditions that had come before, and were viewed as wearable art. In the 1970s, designers like Andrew Grima and Fred of Paris brought new forms that were both structural and organic into cocktail ring design. Bigger and bolder gold dress rings were back in fashion in the 1980s after a short hiatus. The design of the dress ring has continually transformed since the 1920s, with style and fashion always at the forefront.

Our collection of vintage dress rings has some truly rare and exceptional examples, including stunning vintage engagement rings that capture the essence of romance from eras past. Explore gold and diamond dress rings perfect for special occasions, each telling a story of love and commitment through their timeless beauty. You’ll find our collection dates back as far as the Ancient Egyptian era and is complemented by our retro fashions from the 1940s & 1950s.