Understanding Vintage Engagement Rings

There are so many decisions involved with choosing your engagement ring. Firstly you have to decide the overall style you want, whether that is subtle, modern, vintage or any of the other countless choices. Once you’ve decided that, you then have to think about the finer details of your ring, such as the setting and cut of the stone.

After recently coming back into fashion, there are many vintage engagement rings up for sale, and lots of modern rings are being designed with an antique feel to them as well. Here are some of the popular style choices for vintage rings.

Halos

As suggested by the name, halo rings have a border of smaller stones surrounding the main centre stone. Most halo rings are either round or square, but they can in fact be of any shape, as long as the border exists. The halo is very common in vintage engagement rings and can be defined by two categories: flush and gap. A flush halo has no space between the centre and border stones; a gap halo has space between the border and main stone with the centre often being raised to draw attention to it. The effect of any halo is beautiful, complementing and accentuating the centre stone perfectly.

Pave Setting

Pave is a ring setting technique in which the ring is covered with small diamonds. This style is very popular, as even though this technique takes a lot of time and each tiny diamond requires setting, the carat weight of the ring is lighter than a ring with no pave setting and a single large diamond. This makes a pave style ring a lot less expensive than those with big stones. Pave settings weren’t common until the 20th century when jewellery style changed and it became all about size and sparkle! This is why the pave setting is common in vintage engagement rings, as the wall of diamonds image it creates became very much the fashion.

Milgrain

Milgrain is a tiny detail that can make all the difference. The word milgrain translates as "a thousand grains", which is an accurate representation of the effect it creates. Milgrain is normally found along the edges of rings or surrounding side stones. It requires the most skilled craftsmanship, which is why it is highly sought after in antique rings. It accents the ring beautifully, giving it a softer and more feminine look, as it erases any harsh edges. Quite often, vintage engagement rings lose their milgrain detailing through wear and tear and need to be restored, so make sure you inspect any potential choice very carefully before purchasing it.

Frederick Holm is staff writer for the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From learning about vintage engagement rings to the use of precious metals and coloured stones, 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.