See How the Engagement Ring has evolved in the Last Century!
Let’s see how the engagement ring has evolved in the last century!
If you are into the history of objects but mostly jewelry, this is your zone! Especially if you love history, because we are about to talk about the history of engagement rings.
Everything is here, from the Victorian Era’s romanticism to the geometric lines of the Art Deco Era to the more modern times!
The history of the engagement rings starts very early, in the ancient past, where the Egyptians have been known to have worn metal wire around the third finger of their hands.
It then continues in the Middle Ages where the first use of a diamond ring to mark an engagement has occurred, back in 1477; Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a gold ring with the letter M spelled out in tiny diamonds.
The Victorian Era (1835-1900)
This formidable era was named after the famed Queen Victoria. The Victorian era of jewelry was inspired by the trends of the time and the queen’s taste in expensive things.
That era was an extremely romantic, bold and inspired by nature era.
Colored gemstones as well as diamonds such as black onyx, opal, sapphire, ruby, emerald, garnet and amethyst were very common, and the design of the ring settings were especially intricate and unique.
The Edwardian Era (1900-1915)
Named after the Queen Victoria’s son, Edward, this era brought elegance and sophistication with it when the king rose to the throne.
During this era, engagement rings become widely popular and accepted as social custom. Platinum and white gold were being used for the first time in fine jewelry.
Gemstones of choice reflected the colorful opulence of the times such as sapphires, diamonds and pearls.
Art Nouveau (1895-1915)
Best remembered for its handcrafted and unique design basic, the Art Nouveau era was artistry at its finest.
Moonstones, opals, pearls, enamel and agates were the most popular stones, though each ring could be customized and hand-crafted for anyone’s taste.
Art Deco (1915-1935)
In this era women were already feeling confident and braver than ever, which was highly reflected in the jewelry design.
Geometric and bold designs were seen for the first time in the engagement rings’ designs.
Diamonds, onyx, coral, sapphires and emeralds were all extremely popular in this era.
Retro (1935-1950)
The Hollywood Glam in the 50s brought a desire for expensive and shiny things. This period can be defined by its use of polished yellow and rose gold.
More often than not, large colored gemstones were set within smaller diamonds.
The Retro period saw the rise in popularity of Aquamarine, citrine and amethyst.
Modern (1950-Present)
From the 1950s to the present we call it Modern Era. Diamonds and more diamonds is how we describe this era.
There isn’t much to say to this. Check out the most expensive engagement rings!
Future
Sadly, we cannot predict the future, but we do expect that some of the today’s trends will reflect on how we are going to design the engagement rings in the future.
What do you think the engagement rings will look like in the future?
What do you say about the engagement ring evolution?
