Edwardian Era Vintage Engagement Rings

For a real touch of class, the smart bridegroom will buy an Edwardian-style engagement ring for his fiancé. These vintage engagement rings are sophisticated and will give the bride-to-be something special to show off to her family and girlfriends.

Edwardian vintage rings are not available everywhere, and they can be very difficult to find if buying locally. Your best bet is to search online and see the different styles that are available, and then narrow down the retailers that may sell the design you particularly like. Prior to starting the search process, however, it is helpful to understand exactly what an Edwardian engagement ring is, and the different styles and fashions they come in.

What Is an Edwardian Engagement Ring?

Known as the "beautiful era" of the early 1900s, Edwardian age jewellery pieces are strikingly gorgeous. Elite sects in this day enjoyed tremendous affluence and as such everything was smothered in extravagance. Engagement pieces of this era were intricately designed, often complete with lattice patterns engraved around the entire metal band. With modern advancements in technology and jewellery craftsmanship, jewellers of today are able to create contemporary reproductions of Edwardian vintage rings, giving modern brides the opportunity to boast complex fashion accessories of the past.

What Metals are Best for This Ring Style?

During the actual Edwardian time period, the most commonly used metal to create jewellery with was platinum. Platinum was primarily used because of its extreme level of durability, and the settings that were used to mount the diamonds or pearls on the rings could be made "invisible," meaning very little metal had to be used to secure the gem. In addition to platinum many jewellers also made Edwardian accessories out of a platinum-gold combination alloy. White-gold may be thought of as a modern representation of this particular old style.

The Best Gemstones for These Settings

Although pearls and diamonds were the most common gems placed in jewellery back in the actual Edwardian time period, any type of stone, given your personal preference, can be mounted in your piece’s setting. True Edwardian style vintage rings, however, will be adorned with the traditional diamonds and pearls that have a white hue. If you’re looking for gems with colour, stick with those that are sapphire or creamy opal-coloured.

Pricing Engagement Rings

Edwardian vintage engagement rings cost between £2000 and £3000, but £300 tends to be the base price for the marketplace. The actual cost will be determined by the cut of the gemstones mounted in the setting, their quality, and lastly, their size. If you’re looking to spend a lot of money on an Edwardian era jewellery piece, there are some that sell for well above £10,000.

Frederick Holm is staff writer for of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From diamonds to vintage engagement rings, from a princess cut to a platinum band, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.