The Victorian Wedding Ring
&
Victorian Engagement Rings
The styles of the Victorian wedding ring and the Victorian engagement ring were defined by the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 - 1901 and her everlasting affection for her beloved husband Albert. Two very important changes to the metals and diamond gemstones used to create wedding rings and engagement rings occurred during the Victorian Era.  The Josephine Ring
fromBrilliant Earth's Antique Ring Collection
The first was the introduction of lower karat gold alloys; before 1854, rings were created only with 18k gold (75% pure gold alloyed with copper, silver, nickel, or a mixture of these metals), but after 1854 the gold standards changed and rings created with 15k gold, 12k gold, and 9k gold became legal on the market.The second important change was the opening of the South African diamond mines in 1870; before 1870 diamonds were quite rare and most diamond rings contained clusters of small diamonds, but after 1870 when the South African mines opened large diamonds became available for use in wedding rings and engagement rings. Early Victorian wedding rings created between 1837 and 1860 are recognizable by their bright colors and large size, use of gemstones, and bold designs which included snakes (a sign of eternal love) and Celtic type designs. Rings often included multiple gemstones and other types of materials such as coral, ivory, tortoise shell, and seed pears. In some cases, inlaid images were placed under a gemstone. The early Victorian wedding ring symbolized the heydays of the early reign of Queen Victoria and her marriage to Albert. The Victorian snake ring became extremely popular during Queen Victoria's first years of marriage because Albert had given her a snake and emerald engagement ring. Whatever Queen Victoria wore soon became 'all the rage', and from this time the Victorian snake ring enjoyed years of popularity. Gemstones of this early period included amethyst, bloodstone, chalcedony, garnet, moss agate, ruby, smoky quartz, and topaz. It was also popular to create engagement rings using the bride’s birthstone. Diamond rings often included small clusters of diamonds or small diamonds which framed circular or square shaped gemstones. During the Mid-Victorian Period between 1860 – 1885, rings began to take on a different tone. Albert passed away in 1861, and memorial rings (also known as mourning rings) became very popular again. Silver was more affordable, and the different types of gold karats increased in popularity. Victorian wedding rings from this middle era are made from silver and various gold karat alloys (18k, 15k, 12k, and 9k). Rose gold rings created from gold alloyed with copper also became very popular during this time. Couples looking for rose gold antique wedding rings should use the middle Victorian era as a starting point for their search. Popular gemstones and designs during the Mid-Victorian period included opals, crystals, emeralds, pearls, black glass, and the ruby. New designs included: acorns, hearts, bees, birds, stars, and daisies. During the Late Victorian Period from 1890 – 1901 the Victorian wedding ring and Victorian 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. Many of the designs of this late period included gemstones set in insect shaped designs and Egyptian type designs; platinum became widely used for gemstone, and especially diamond, settings for the first time. The Late Victorian era was also 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. Authentic Victorian rings are often a source of affordable antique rings. Some of these rings are available for as low as $500, while other Victorian rings cost thousands of dollars. The type and weight of the metal and gemstones used to create the rings can create wide differences in the costs of these rings.
To help you shop for an antique Victorian ring, keep in mind the metals and gemstones used during the different periods of the Victorian eras. In addition, only deal with a seller who can offer you verifiable paperwork and who is experienced with selling rings from this age.
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Possible Victorian Ring?
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Hi. I was wondering if you could possibly tell me a bit more, if anything, about a ring I actually found in a garbage dumpster (in a bag of what looked ...
Is this a Victorian Engagement or Wedding band?
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Question : My partner and I recently purchased this ring from a shop in New Hampshire that identifies itself as being a "purveyor of fine antique and ...
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