All women have their own ideas about what sort of engagement ring they would dearly love to have when the man of their dreams pops the question. In keeping with the theme of romance, some ladies go for a ring from a heart jewelry collection, but as I have mentioned before, my own personal choice was a diamond surrounded by dark blue sapphires while my best friend’s ring of choice was a ruby surrounded by diamonds. Engagement rings that incorporated other stones with diamonds were very fashionable during this era. Nowadays, solitaires and bridal sets seem to be the most popular choices available in engagement ring designs.
However, the fashion in engagement rings may well change following the engagement of Prince William in the UK. He has given his fiancée his mother’s (Princess Diana’s) beautiful sapphire and diamond ring. I’m not sure whether this would have been Kate’s first choice but I’m sure she will treasure this ring. It is well documented that William adored his mother and still mourns her passing, so for him to present his lady love with her ring suggests he must love and respect Kate very much.
Antique or “used” rings are becoming ever more popular with some couples as they look for a unique ring to cement their love for each other. One of the designs they may look at is the Art Deco engagement rings that were very popular during the nineteen twenties and thirties. Art Deco is thought to have originated in Paris and is an eclectic artistic style and design that was adopted in fashion, architecture, interior design and jewelry. Vibrant colors, abstract geometric designs and a sense of opulence are indicative of this particular art period and this is displayed to perfection in the jewelry of the period.
Art Deco engagement rings have luxurious designs with an eye for detail. Black onyx, white diamonds, deep blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies are the gemstones of choice usually set in pure platinum but also featuring yellow gold. The designs are lavish with lots of filigree work incorporated into the pieces. Many of these rings feature a central old European cut diamond, bezel set in platinum with old mine cut diamonds and often other stones such as sapphires and emeralds surrounding it.
To complement the engagement ring, Art Deco wedding bands are equally as lavish and ornate as the engagement rings. They tend to be wider than many modern wedding bands, with beautiful hand crafted designs round them and encircled with diamonds.
Another antique ring you may well consider is the Edwardian engagement ring from around the nineteen hundreds. This was an era of extravagant luxury which was reflected in the clothes and jewelry of the period. The designs of engagement rings reflect this but the focus is on the more romantic traditional styles. The settings were very detailed and the more elaborate and intricate these were the higher the social status of the wearer.
If you are not fortunate enough to have an Art Deco ring as a family heirloom but you want the genuine article then you need to know where to find them. Obviously the Internet is a good place to look. There are a number of retailers of antique and estate jewelry to search on. Other sources are pawn shops, antique stores (especially those that specialize in jewelry) or estate sales. You need to make sure that you get written description of the piece including the size, age, carat, cut and clarity. Ideally you should ask if they have a certified gemologist’s report on the ring you are interested in. This will help to authenticate the ring.
Genuine Art Deco engagement rings do not come cheap, so before you splash out all that hard earned money, check the returns policy of the vendor you choose to buy from whether on the Internet or other source. Choosing a reputable jewelers or antique jewelry specialist is really the best idea as they will also be able to advise you on your purchase. If your budget will not stretch to the real thing then there are retailers that offer new rings created to look like one from the period you are looking for whether that is Victorian, Edwardian or Art Deco. These are usually less expensive than the genuine piece.
Whether you choose one of the modern styles of engagement ring or one from a bygone era the most important thing is that you and your fiancée love it and that it will be a constant reminder of your undying love for each other.
