Antique Engagement Rings

Although the term "antique" usually means an item has to be at least one-hundred years old, antique engagement rings may also refer to estate or vintage engagement rings. Antique engagement rings allow collectors to dive into the treasure trove of human history and the unique jewelry designs that mark each era, which are unlike anything offered by jewelers today.

The Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras have become popular in the last few years for those seeking vintage-inspired engagement rings. Popular designs include floral carvings and rings that replicate the look of lace embroidery, popular from 1900 to 1920. Victorian era engagement rings often portrayed wisdom and eternity by depicting snakes.

When seeking out antique engagement rings set with a stone, especially with a diamond, older cuts may cause the ring to look more subdued compared to modern rings, despite having the same color and clarity. That does not necessarily reflect the quality – rather, it's a sign of age and uniqueness.

Quick Facts

• During the Victorian era, many engagement rings portrayed wisdom and eternity with snakes
• From 1900 to 1920, a popular engagement ring design featured the use of metals to replicate the look of lace embroidery
• When Michael Douglas proposed to Catherine Zeta-Jones, he gave her a 1920s antique 10 carat marquise-cut diamond engagement ring