Vintage Engagement Rings... Thinking Outside the Big Box Stores

I love vintage diamond jewelery.  I think it stems from when I was a little girl and all the little old ladies in the neighborhood would sell their vintage costume jewelry at garage sales, that I would pick up for a steal.  Nothing better than fabulous sparklies for a seven year old who thinks she's a princess.  I have since grown up, and although I still love some of the gaudy rhinestone trinkets I purchased decades ago, I am more inclined to drool over the real stuff.  Like theis gorgeous Emerald and Diamond vintage engagement ring from CamelliaCollection on Etsy. 

Okay, maybe not appropriate for an engagement ring, this vintage circa 1936 diamond and ruby cocktail ring is about as stunning as they come.  This ring from Julzz4u on Etsy has over 3.5 carats of diamonds and 2 carats of rubies, and an unlimited wow factor.

I am a sucker for double mount diamond rings.  I love the idea of having a diamond (gorgeous on it's own) framed by even more gems.  Talk about gilding the lily.  This pre-1920's Edwardian engagement ring from Fay Cullen has about 1.25 carats of diamonds and 1 carat of sapphires.   

Fay Cullen is an absolute treasure trove of unique vintage and antique jewelry.  This art deco engagement ring boasts a 1.57 carat center stone, not to mention the superior quality emeralds that embellish it. So, this one is mine.  I put dibs on it.

This is an example of a Georgian cluster ring with pink foiled diamonds.  Georgian rings are exceptionally rare as over time they were often elted down and crafted into more contemporary styles.  The Georgian period spans from 1714-1830, the victorian period covers 1837-1901, where as the Edwardian period between 1901-1915, and art deco spans the '20's and 30's.  This antique ring from The Three Graces is circa 1780-1800 and shows an excellent and rare example of pink foiling.  During the Georgian period, diamonds were often coated with foil and then set in a flat setting (ulike the rings of today, which have holes underneath the setting to let light bounce around more). You can see how the pink foil gives the ddiamonds a slightly pink hue. 

This ring from The London Victorian Ring Company is an example of a popular Victorian era engagement ring style, this gold band displays two intertwined serpents which symbolized eternal love.  Although I personally associate snakes with scary badness, I guess that wasn't always the case.  And I'll take a snake ring with a giant sapphire and ruby on it anyday.  Now, don't go decorating your church and reception hall with a bunch of snakes just 'cause they represent eternal love.  They also represent scary badness.

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