A Buyer's Guide To Victorian Style Engagement Rings

A Buyer's Guide To Victorian Style Engagement Rings

If you are an old-school romantic at heart and a modernist by action, what better way to propose to the love of your life than our Victorian-style engagement rings! Whether it is your first time around or you know your rings, these will remain a classic. Victorian-style engagement rings are vintage by nature but they come with a modern twist these days, therefore catering to women of all age groups. If you and your partner aren’t sure about what ring to choose, Victorian-style rings will definitely top your list once you get through this article.

Apart from Victorian-era rings, we have Edwardian and Art Deco-era rings in the vintage category. However, Edwardian rings are larger and opulent whereas Art deco rings have a bold symmetry with fierce patterns like octagons and chevrons. Victorian engagement rings on the other hand tread the line between vintage and contemporary.

History of Victorian Style Rings

Staying true to their name, these rings belonging to the Victorian era (1837-1901) were named after the mighty Queen Victoria. These rings were usually yellow or rose gold with diamonds in them. Clusters of diamonds or gemstones, rows, and halos were popular in this era. However, the Victorian era can be differentiated into three distinctive timelines- The early, Mid, and Late Victorian periods. Before 1854, these rings were made out of gold and silver (75% gold and 25% silver/copper/nickel) due to the unavailability of diamonds. As time went on, around the 1870s, South Africa opened its diamond mines to the jewelry trade.

Victorian rings often had gemstones in them and some of the common gemstones used were amethyst, bloodstone, ruby, smoky quartz, and topaz among others. It was quite common to construct these rings around the bride’s birthstone. The most popular shapes were round and square. The cuts used were round brilliant and old-world rose cuts. As time passed, the designs became more sophisticated and motifs like flowers, hearts, and acorns were preferred over butterflies, daisies, and snakes.

Finally, in the Late Victorian period, solitaire diamonds made their big debut, where cluster and marquise-shaped diamonds were used. By this time, platinum was considered the characteristic metal, and the customary motifs used were lace-type filigrees, ribbons, and double hearts. Though Victorian Style Engagement Rings have a rich history, an engagement ring should above all reflect your and your partner’s personal values. 


/victoSolitaire cushion shaped halo engagement ring with round center diamond

Modern Victorian engagement rings

A modern Victorian-style engagement ring can be characterized by a solitaire diamond or gemstone in a claw prong or cathedral setting with either old world rose cut or round brilliant cut. These rings feature delicate intricate metal work like milgrain (tiny metal beads used as borders or to outline the design) and filigree (detailed metal work like twisting and swirling on the shank) to create stunning rings which not only focus on the center stone but also on the band. In vintage Victorian engagement rings, sentimental designs were prevalent, as the rings often held a hidden meaning through engravings and gemstones. Yet another common feature of these rings was the use of motifs and the incorporation of pearls.

Now that times have changed and most women don’t prefer wearing fancy gemstones on a daily basis, the design elements have evolved to reflect that. Obviously, the essence of the ring is still the same but it is now more cosmopolitan and less cottagecore. The rings tend to stay with people for a long time and one of the major concerns for women, and rightly so, is if these rings would match all of their outfits. In order to address these concerns, we have modern Victorian-style engagement rings which are mostly made of diamonds and seldom with gemstones. The setting and the filigree is more or less the same as the vintage ones but motifs aren’t used as much. It also comes in three-stone settings and pave settings to appease the Millennials and Gen-Z.

Our Victorian-style engagement rings are made to your taste and are easy on the pocket. One of our most tantalizing pieces, thehttps://gemvy.com/pave-set-cathedral-victorian-style-halo-diamond-engagement-ring-wist-1517-f.html is the ring of every woman’s dreams. The slender band with a pave setting, the high profile cathedral setting, and the floral-inspired halo make this ring enticing.

For those who don’t like the glitz, here’s ourhttps://gemvy.com/rare-victorian-style-halo-engagement-ring-heir-1140s-ls.html. With its delicate filigree and bold accent, it makes a statement without being over the top. The center diamond set on top of the diamond-encrusted channel is the icing on the cake. 

victorian style engagement rings on a flower

The Pros on Cons of Victorian Style Rings

i. Beauty, character and elegance

At the end of the day, the main criteria for any ring is for it to be easy on the eyes and light on the hands. The rings were inspired by nature and influenced by the love between Victoria and Albert, hence this a product of love! Furthermore, they can be passed down as heirlooms and its value increases over time. If you or your partner still have a little bit of the old school soul, a pop of colour i.e. gemstone can be added to your very own modern Victorian style engagement ring. An emerald or sapphire is the most common choice but your partner’s birthstone is a great choice too! Even adding pearls can accentuate the ring and make it look vintage. It is designed with utmost care, while having history, design and people in mind, making it the perfect concoction of what a ring should be.

ii. Care and Maintenance

When made by a skilled Artisan, a Victorian ring can be worn like any other ring without the need to extreme care. The however have feature a high profile or unusual curvature that may require some getting used to. Intricate curvature, milgrain, scrollwork and the like also require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

iii. Skill requirement and Scarcity

Most importantly, there are not many jewellers who specialize in making these rings as it requires them to have exemplary skills. There are not many good artists, CAD designers and manufacturers who can give life to the stunning Victorian-style engagement rings. Obviously, it is even harder to find original pieces from that era. Given its uniqueness, it might be hard to find a matching wedding band for these rings. Lastly, if you want to retain its essence, you might have to custom make them which can be a tad bit expensive.

Fortunately, designers like Gemvy make these pieces and they can be tweaked and modified according to the clients’ needs. For example, you can choose the metal type and the setting can be modified or redesigned to fit any shape and size of diamond you select. These are designed by trained artists who have in-depth knowledge in this field. Moreover, you can buy the Victorian setting separately and use your own centre stone! That is why you can reach out to experts like us and make your special day extra special. There’s no right or wrong ring but there is definitely a right place to buy rings and we make sure your ring is as exquisite and as original, as you are. 


Gallery view of an intricate designed 18k yellow gold vintage style ring


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