Art Nouveau Vintage Engagement Rings

The Art Nouveau era existed for a brief moment but left a lasting impact on jewellery. Vintage engagement rings from this time period are treasured for their original design rather than their intrinsic value. They employ a combination of new design philosophies and inventive materials. These vintage engagement rings also follow the world of Oriental aesthetics and include sinuous curves inspired by the asymmetry and economy of line of Japonism. In addition they incorporate the realm of the natural, with etchings of lilies, lotus blossoms, swans, and dragonflies. This article offers itself as a guide to Art Nouveau vintage engagement rings so buyers can be made aware of their timeless designs.

The Era

Art Nouveau characterises a short lived time period at the beginning of the 20th Century between 1895 and 1915. The movement that emerged to eschew Victorian era style was spearheaded primarily in France by Rene Jules Lalique, a master of the artistic genre that the era was championing. The period also developed as a cultural response to the Industrial Revolution and the new aesthetic possibilities brought about from the great advancements in technology. Above all, this brief but significant epoch of history emphasized the jeweller as an artist equal to the painter, sculptor, or drawer while simultaneously embracing skilled craftsmanship and design over mass produced materials.

Jewellery Characteristics

Vintage engagement rings from this era feature a myriad of gorgeous enamelling techniques, such as cloisonné (gold wire used to partition enamel), champlevé (enamel filled cuts made in metal), and basse-taille (transparent enamel in the band). New materials such as opals, moonstone, glass, cast iron, ivory, horn, tortoise shell, and freshwater pearls among others were all incorporated to make cutting edge pieces of jewellery. The rings of the day also featured smooth and sweeping lines that gave life to the pieces, and diamonds became less popular in favour of the stones listed above. The rings also employed a c-style clasp, and stones and rhinestones were set into place, not glued. Style Elements and Motifs

Art Nouveau jewellery enjoyed a tremendous amount of inspiration from Japan and the Orient, as well as nature itself. It borrowed sweeping, smooth, curving, free flowing lines from the culture of Japonism to give "life" to its designs. Animals such as snakes and birds, and plants such as irises, seaweed, and evergreen leaves were commonly engraved on the metal bands of the vintage engagement rings. Art Nouveau jewellery also occasionally mixed mystery and fantasy into these natural designs.

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.