A Sparkling Stroll Through Time: Antique Rings Through the Eras

 

One of the most captivating things about vintage engagement rings is their ability to transport us to another time. While fashion and accessories from centuries past often exist only in photographs and museum displays, well-made jewellery—especially rings—has endured. 

Each period in jewellery history brings with it distinctive design elements and unique character, from symbolic motifs to decorative flourishes that immediately root a ring in its time, and that’s part of the magic. Vintage and antique rings are living reminders of the people, places and emotions that came before us. To wear one is to carry a little piece of history into the present—and beyond.

Antique Eras

Victorian Rings (1837-1901): Sentiment, Symbolism and Storytelling

Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901, was a devoted jewellery lover. Many of her most treasured pieces were gifts from her husband, Prince Albert, who had a keen eye for sentiment and symbolism. Perhaps the most meaningful of them was her engagement ring: a coiled snake with ruby eyes and an emerald head—her birthstone—symbolising eternal love. She cherished it so deeply that she was buried wearing it.

She also had a well-documented fondness for sapphires, and Albert gifted her many beautiful blue-stone pieces over the years, including a brooch that Queen Elizabeth II wore often.

One of our favourite styles from this era is the carved half hoop ring. Typically set with three gemstones to symbolise the past, present and future, these designs are not only visually stunning, but deeply romantic, capturing the enduring bond between Victoria and Albert.

Victorian rings are rich in romance and meaning—full of intricate detail, heartfelt symbolism and the spirit of a pivotal era in British history.

Edwardian Rings (1901-1914): Lightness, Detail and Delicacy

When Queen Victoria’s son Edward ascended the throne in 1901, a new aesthetic began to emerge. Jewellery design in the Edwardian era became softer, more delicate and ethereal, reflecting a new sense of lightness and luxury.

Platinum paired with yellow gold was the precious metal combination of choice, lending a refined and airy quality to rings from this time. A hallmark of Edwardian craftsmanship was the use of millegrain, a technique that adds intricate borders of tiny beads, hand-carved into the setting to create subtle texture.

Among the most recognisable and enduring designs from this era is the daisy cluster ring, featuring a centre diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller stones, arranged like petals. These floral-inspired designs are romantic, feminine and as desirable today as they were over a century ago.

Edwardian rings capture the elegance of a lighter age—refined, graceful and delicately detailed, with a softness that still feels modern.

 

Art Deco Rings (1920-1935): Symmetry, Sophistication and a Love of Design

The Art Deco era marked a bold new chapter in jewellery design—and it still resonates strongly today. With its clean lines, geometric shapes and graphic patterns, this was the age of modern glamour. Sleek, sophisticated and unapologetically stylish, ring designs from this period have a confidence that is all their own.

Not every Art Deco ring was angular and architectural, though. One of our favourite designs from this time is the toi et moi ring, French for “you and me". Featuring two stones set side by side to symbolise two souls becoming one, it’s a design that’s both romantic and elegant. A classic then, and still a favourite now.

Whether you’re drawn to Deco’s sharp lines or its softer sentiments, rings from this era offer timeless style with a distinctly modern edge.

Vintage Eras

Mid-Century Rings: Glamour, Gold and the Rise of the Diamond

After World War II, platinum was in short supply, allowing yellow gold to step into the spotlight. Throughout the 1940s and into the 50s, engagement rings embraced warmth, glamour and a growing love affair with diamonds.

In 1947, De Beers coined its now-iconic phrase: “A Diamond is Forever". At the same time, diamond mining expanded and the stone once seen as rarefied became more widely available—just in time for Marilyn Monroe to sing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in all her glittering glory.

This era also saw the debut of the modern round brilliant cut, a sparkling upgrade that would go on to become the most popular diamond shape of all time. Larger centre stones were the look of the moment, often flanked by smaller diamonds for extra dazzle. And for those working to a budget, illusion settings (crafted to make a stone appear larger) offered a clever, stylish solution.

Mid-century rings are all about timeless sparkle with a golden-age glow—a little Hollywood, a little everyday elegance.

1960s Rings: Elegance, Icons and the Return of Colour

The 1960s brought a renewed love for classic engagement styles, with timeless solitaire diamonds—sometimes flanked by side stones—taking centre stage. Clean, refined and beautifully traditional, these designs were the epitome of understated glamour.

But not everyone followed the rules. Square-shaped diamonds added a graphic edge, while bold pops of colour made a comeback, thanks to fashion icons like Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor. When Jackie got engaged to JFK with an emerald and diamond ring, emeralds surged in popularity—and coloured stones once again found their place on the ring finger.

1960s rings blend timeless elegance with a dash of star power—classic diamonds, bold shapes and a return to colour inspired by the icons of the era.

1970s Rings: Shape, Statement and a Rebellious Sparkle

The 1970s were all about breaking away from tradition. Angular baguette cut diamonds, sculptural settings and unexpected forms redefined what an engagement ring could look like. Three-dimensional clusters took the place of classic solitaires, while asymmetry and bold lines reflected the era’s fearless sense of style.

It was also the decade that gave us the princess cut—designed in the 1970s and now one of the most popular diamond shapes in the world. With its sharp lines and modern, architectural feel, it brought a new kind of drama to the engagement ring scene.

1970s rings break all the rules—unexpected cuts, sculptural settings and a cool, confident aura that still feels ahead of its time.

A Final Thought

From regal Victorian symbolism to the bold lines of the Art Deco era and the rule-breaking glamour of the 1970s, antique and vintage rings offer so much more than sparkle. They reflect the tastes, trends and love stories of generations past, each one a small but powerful piece of history, ready to be loved all over again.

Whether you're drawn to classic elegance or unexpected charm, there's an vintage or antique ring out there waiting to feel like yours.