The
History of Wedding
Rings

Understanding the history of wedding rings will help you to find antique wedding rings and vintage rings from specific ages, and you'll have an added advantage towards identifying authentic antique wedding rings:

*Rings before the Georgian era are quite rare, and authentic antique wedding rings before this era are usually only found in museums.

The Georgian Ring: 1714 – 1830

An authentic Georgian Ring may be difficult to find, but they can sometimes be found through specialized retailers and in some cases through estate or private sales.

Metals used in the Georgian era were usually 18 karat gold; no lesser karat forms (such as 14 or 10 karat gold) were legal for sale. In some cases silver was also used to create Georgian Rings.

The styles of the time were Greek inspired designs. Many of these antique wedding bands were shaped with intricate metal work designs including acorns, doves, flowers, leaves, scrolls, and wheat stalks. Additional rings of the time were mourning rings, locket rings, and the poesy ring.

• An important date in the history of wedding rings occurred in this era. Before 1750, all rings were created with hand-hammered alloys. After this date, machines were invented to cut out the hard work needed to create alloys by hand.
• Gemstones of the time included emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and in rare cases small diamonds (large diamonds would not become available until the late Victorian era). All gemstones from this time were set in silver, and gemstones were given simple old world cuts such as the table and rose cut.
• Additional decorations of royal blue glass, coral, mother of pearl, and shell were also used to create rings from the Georgian era.

Rings from this era were most often crafted from gold.

Before 1854, rings were created with 18 karat gold; after this date, the manufacture of 15 karat, 12 karat, and 9 karat gold became legal. (This is an important date in the history of wedding rings for antique wedding ring shoppers to keep in mind).

The different Victorian eras defined many significant changes in the history of the wedding ring:

Early Victorian wedding rings that were created between 1837 and 1860 had a large, bright, bold, and lively style. Popular designs included the Victorian snake ring and rings which had Celtic designs. The use of gemstones (brightly colored ones at that) was a frequently used style during this time.

• Before the South African diamond mines were opened in 1870, diamonds were still quite rare. Diamonds on Victorian wedding rings before this time were usually quite small and cut using the rose-cut style, and they were often set in clusters to form a larger ring.
• Gemstones of this period included amethyst, chalcedony, garnet, ruby, and topaz. It was also popular to create engagement rings using the bride’s birthstone.

Mid-Victorian Period rings, (1860 - 1885) began to take on a different tone. Silver was used more often to create rings, and the different types of gold karats that were now allowed on the market became very popular, especially the rose gold rings. (Shoppers looking for antique gold rose rings should look for rings created during this time.)

• Popular gemstones and designs during the Mid-Victorian period included opals, crystals, emeralds, pearls, black glass, and the ruby.
• New styles for this era include designs that featured acorns, hearts, bees, birds, stars, and daisies.

During the Late Victorian Period from 1890 – 1901 wedding and engagement rings went through big changes with the diamond rush, the use of platinum for ring settings, and the shift from hand-crafted rings to rings that were mass produced using machines.

• Important History of Wedding Rings Date: This is the first time that platinum was widely used to set gemstones instead of silver.
• Styles of this era included Egyptian designs.
• Another Important History of Wedding Rings Date: This was also the period of time when the solitaire diamond engagement ring made its first debut.
• Victorian wedding rings during this period were a lot lighter and easier to wear than the larger, more colorful and bulkier Early Victorian era wedding rings.

Art Nouveau Rings: 1890 – 1915

Art Nouveau rings are defined by their imitation of natural themes and symmetrical lines.

• Rings of this era were most often crafted out of gold, particularly 14 karat gold.
• This is the era when fired enamel processes took off, and many Art Nouveau rings feature an almost stained glass appearance due to the new enamel works that became available.
• Popular motifs during this time included flowers, animals, and insects.
• Diamonds were not usually used in the design of rings from the Art Nouveau period.
• Gemstones such as agate, amber, amethyst, garnet, opals, and seed pearls were most often used for rings designs from this time period.

Edwardian Rings: 1901 - 1910

Edwardian rings were often very delicate, light, lacy, and feminine pieces.

• While gold was used to craft rings from this era, Edwardian jewelry, and especially rings, are most often recognized by the use of platinum and diamonds (particularly large diamonds).
• Important History of Wedding Rings Date: This is the first era when platinum rings (not just settings) became available.
• Gemstones popular during this era were amethysts, aquamarines, black opals, emeralds, garnet, pearls, rubies, sapphires, and peridot.

Art Deco Rings 1915 – 1935

Art Deco Rings, much like their name, were sharp pieces that featured geometric designs and strict linear styles created from the artistic cubism styles of the day.

• Diamonds were the most popular gemstones used in Art Deco rings; additional gemstones included black opal, coral, emeralds, jade, mother-of-pearl, rubies, sapphires, and quartz crystals.
• Platinum was the main metal used to create Art Deco Rings, but white gold and sterling silver were sometimes used as well.

Retro Rings: 1935 – 1945

Retro Rings reflected the times of World War II, and as a result rings from this period are also very notable in the history of wedding rings.

This is the period of time when platinum disappeared from use until the 1950's, and white gold mixed with silver and palladium alloys came into commercial use for the creation of rings.

Gold made a big comeback as well, in addition to gold alloys used to create rose gold.

• The most popular gemstone during the Retro period were rubies, but amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, large and small diamonds, moonstones, and pearls were used as well.
• Many of the gemstone pieces from this era very bold and dramatic, and in direct contrast to the delicate Edwardian period styles.
• The main style feature of Retro rings is symmetry meets asymmetry, as result of a combination of Edwardian and Art Deco influences.

New History of Wedding Rings: 1950’s Antique Wedding Rings

Only recently have jewelry pieces from the 1950’s been recognized for their unique style and now ‘antique’ status in the halls of wedding ring history. It was during this age that the DeBeers company advertised the slogan “Diamonds are Forever,” and it was during the post World War II boom when the middle class were able to afford luxurious wedding and engagement rings. The DeBeers slogan was a hit, and the 1950’s era wedding rings are usually defined by their large diamonds or large clusters of diamonds.

Popular designs of this period are the opposite of the Art Deco style and include twisted ropes, braided styles, and curvaceous lines; styles of leaves, flowers, stars, bees, and butterflies were also popular. Yellow gold became the metal of choice, but platinum came back into use after the war. Some 1950’s rings are composed of platinum or white gold, and many jewelry pieces from this era combined diamonds with gemstones.

This was also the time when Rhodium plating became used commercially for white gold and silver rings.

Now that you are familiar with the history of wedding rings, check out antique wedding rings for more info and additional tips if you are interested in purchasing an antique or vintage wedding ring.

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