Vintage 1920s art deco engagement rings and wedding ring sets are stunning. Set with romantic diamonds, mesmerizing sapphires and other rare stones, these rings are enhanced by the cool flat planes of Art Deco design. Certainly a very special and precious addition to any jewelry collection!
A stunning 1920s inspired art deco engagement ring set with a vintage style sapphire and sparkling diamond center stone. This three stone vintage style engagement ring set has an old look that will add elegance to any outfit. This 1920s inspired engagement ring would make the perfect wedding band due to its beautiful design, combined with a low profile and light understated setting for optimal comfort for everyday wear. This 1920s style wedding band is also available in 18k gold and platinum, as well as smaller or larger sizing options.
This 1920s style vintage sapphire vintage engagement ring and wedding band set is expertly crafted in platinum with a beautiful claw setting. The three-stone design has a cushion cut center sapphire and accent diamonds on the side.
Vintage art deco engagement rings
This Art Deco engagement ring is timeless and chic. Inspired by the roaring 20’s, this ring features a beautiful sapphire in a single prong setting, surrounded by sparkling diamonds. The white gold gives this piece a crisp and clean look that will be timeless for generations to come.
This is a beautiful vintage engagement ring from the early 1930s. Crafted in 14K white gold, the ring features a cushion-cut blue sapphire in the center with side baguettes of diamonds that frame it beautifully. Fun, stylish and romantic. The 1920s rings are classic. They are distinctive and simple with a twist that is the ultimate of designs.
1920s art deco engagement rings
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1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings — In comparison with Edwardian rings, Art Deco engagement rings were less conservative and more geometric. Browse our collection of authentic Art Deco engagement rings, recognizable by their bold, geometric styles … 1920s Vintage Square Diamond Engagement Ring.
If you’re interested in vintage inspired engagement rings, one era that deserves attention is the 1920s. Known as the start of the Art Deco period, the engagement rings of the 1920s are distinctive and modern, reflecting the social and economic changes of the period.
This period remains one of the most notable for jewelry and engagement ring designs from the 1920s still continue to inspire modern jewelry designers. Let’s take a closer look.https://1f1744d21e4e9ddcf451c6af54cc0f9e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
The Context – 1920s
1920s Flapper Girl
Prior to the 1920s, jewelry designs tended to be elaborate and fussy, worn to showcase status and wealth. However, the First World War brought in a shift of attitude – jewelry was no longer seen as a way to show off your position in society but rather worn for decorative purposes.
The 1920s were a time of economic and social change and growth. Known as the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age, the 1920s showcased economic prosperity and living life on your own terms. People owned modern technological objects like cars, telephones and radios, and for the first time, However, this prosperity only last a short while, as it ended in the Great Depression with the crash of the stock market in 1929.https://1f1744d21e4e9ddcf451c6af54cc0f9e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Women were given the right to vote, which gave them a voice for the first time. The 1920s also saw the emergence of flapper girls, a generation of young women who rebelled against tradition through fashion and flaunted their contempt for socially accepted behavior.
These changes reflected in the new styles seen in 1920s engagement rings. These were bold and different to previous designs. However, it’s important to note that at this time, the custom of proposing with a ring was not as pervasive as it is today, and diamonds weren’t the top stone for engagement rings. Colored gemstones were also popular at this time. These two points would change in the 1930s with the De Beers diamond campaigns, which helped make engagement rings a tradition and diamonds the first choice.
Features of 1920s Engagement Rings
Even today, many vintage inspired designs feature rings from the 1920s. The engagement rings of the 1920s are easy to identify, with styles that gravitated towards the modern and the non-traditional. Here are the main characteristics of 1920s engagement rings:
1- Geometric Designs
By Filigree Jewelers. Check price here.https://1f1744d21e4e9ddcf451c6af54cc0f9e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
The designs of 1920s engagement rings were less feminine and more geometric, less extravagant and more minimalistic. Geometric shapes, like hexagon, square, rectangle and circles, were used in the designs, often with several shapes incorporated into a single design. This was unlike the gentle curving and swirling elements of the Victorian and Edwardian jewelry styles where floral and natural elements featured extensively.
2- White Metals
By Thomas Estate Jewelry. Check price here.
1920s engagement rings were typically made of white metals, notably platinum or white gold. This was in contrast to the Victorian and Edwardian eras, when yellow and rose gold were commonly used. This was the metal color of choice and can be seen in most of the ring designs of this period. The white metals gave a modern, stark look to the rings making them stand out.
3- Diamonds and Gemstones
By Soho Jewelers. Check it here.https://1f1744d21e4e9ddcf451c6af54cc0f9e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Diamonds were a popular choice for center stones in the rings of this period, but colored gemstones were also popularly used, especially for engagement rings. Accent stones of contrasting colors were used to create intriguing patterns and sharp contrast, and many designs feature a center diamond with stones like sapphire, emerald or ruby used as accents.
4- New Cuts
By Your Jewelry Finder. See it here.
Caliber cut gemstones and new shapes like baguettes were popular during this period, due in part to the advancements in gemstone cutting methods. This meant that rings could feature unique designs and patterns with the layout of the stones.
5- Decorative Elements
Ring by Papier De Lapin. Check It Here.https://1f1744d21e4e9ddcf451c6af54cc0f9e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Popular elements included milgrain and filigree, which added detail and texture to the ring designs. These were elements that were commonly used in previous eras too, and had made their way into the modern 1920s jewelry era.
Are 1920s Engagement Rings in Style Today?
In recent years, vintage jewelry designs have come back into vogue, with engagement rings often featuring vintage inspired elements. Most retailers have a ‘vintage’ engagement ring collection, with Art Deco rings being a popular style.
Art Deco style vintage inspired ring. See it here.
If you are attracted to vintage styles, but still want something with a modern touch, the engagement rings of the 1920s might be just the right balance for you. Vintage but modern, elaborate yet simple, the ring designs of this period are truly eye-catching.https://1f1744d21e4e9ddcf451c6af54cc0f9e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Where to Buy 1920s Engagement Rings
One excellent source for vintage and vintage-inspired modern engagement rings from the 1920s is Etsy, where you can find a wide collection of designs, reflecting the unique characteristics of that period.
You can also search on retail sites like James Allen and Blue Nile, both of which have excellent vintage-inspired engagement ring collections. Note that these are modern replicas or designs inspired by the styles of the 1920s and not actual antiques.
If you’re looking for antique rings from this period, it’s best to take your search to antique or estate sites, where you can find authentic pieces from that time. Always compare prices and make sure you aren’t overpaying for a piece of lower quality than implied.
As Jewelry Shopping Guide editors, we write about things that we love and we think you’ll like too. We often have affiliate partnerships, and may generate some revenue from these links at no cost to you.
Many modern brides want a unique engagement ring and going vintage is an excellent way to go. Vintage engagement rings have an old world charm and are perfect if you want a bit of history with your ring.
With that said, the 1920s was an era of immense change, reflected in the stunning engagement ring designs. Intrigued?
Take a ride back in time with us to the Art Deco era and discover the 1920s engagement rings that fit your style.
While reading this article listen to this song from 1920s in the background
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1920s Art Deco: The Decadent Era
The Art Deco era spanned from 1920 to 1930, and was defined by artistic rebellion, flapper styles, and a very distinct look in jewelry design. After World War I, the Roaring Twenties became a time of change. People needed an escape from the aftermath of war, and women enjoyed a period of liberation through their lifestyles, clothing, and jewelry. A dramatic shift in fashion style required rethinking of jewelry designs, along with engagement ring styles.
In the 1920s, the cocktail party became popular and so did the cocktail ring and engagement ring as a fashionable piece of jewelry. Flappers of the Roaring Twenties became interested in wearing jewelry that complemented their styles. If you have watched the Great Gatsby, you’ve seen the very definition of Art Deco. It portrayed the modernist decorative style of 1920s from interior decoration to architecture, fashion, and jewelry.
1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Modern replica of 1920s ring. See it here.
Engagement ring styles at the time were inspired by Cubism, Modernism and Futurism. The theme of Art Deco was geometry, bold colors, and symmetry—but in jewelry in particular, engagement rings reflected the era with a streamlined geometric look.
The engagement ring styles were also influenced by two design periods that preceded Art Deco—the Art Nouveau and the Edwardian era.
The early Art Deco engagement rings adopted some of decorative and flowery accents of Art Nouveau in sleeker designs, like this antique art nouveau engagement ring, but later replaced them with harshly geometric and symmetrical motifs.
The Edwardian style influenced Art Deco jewelry designers in the use of platinum and diamond on engagement rings, as this antique Edwardian diamond daisy ring shows. In comparison with Edwardian rings, Art Deco engagement rings were less conservative and more geometric. In its structure, the 1920s engagement rings had straight lines and distinct geometric shapes, opposed to Edwardian rings’ curved lines and nature-inspired motifs.
The 1920s was a revolutionary era in engagement ring design—it introduced geometric shapes, symmetrical patterns, faceted gemstone cuts, and bold color contrast. Although a great deal of Art Deco jewelry was mass-produced, the finest engagement rings of the era were handcrafted and designed by famous jewelers and fashion houses at the time.
The onset of the Great Depression and World War II gave an unexpected end to the Art Deco era, but there have been a number of revivals of the style, and its influences are still in vogue today. The 1920s engagement rings still recall an era of glamour and sophistication. Although the Art Deco era was a brief period in history, it made lasting impact to jewelry design and engagement ring trends.
1920s Engagement Ring Trends
If you’re thinking about a 1920s engagement ring for yourself, here are the characteristics that defined them.
Platinum Rings
Aardvark Jewellery. Check price here.
During the Art Deco era, platinum was favored for its malleability, luster, and strength, which allowed jewelers to create precise details and intricate shapes on engagement rings. Also, the advancement in technology and the discovery of world’s largest platinum deposit in South Africa made platinum engagement rings popular throughout the era. However, at the end of the era, during the Great Depression, white gold and yellow gold became the more affordable alternatives.
Diamond Rings
See this ring here
Diamonds were the gemstone of choice on engagement rings during the Art Deco era. However, because 1920s diamond rings weren’t cut to precise proportions, they were less brilliant. Diamonds with yellow tints were also common and because these were usually worn in the evening, low lights masked the yellowish tint of the gemstone, making warmer diamonds acceptable for flappers.
White jewelry was a trend in 1920s, so diamonds were often set in platinum engagement rings. “Old European” cut diamonds were popular because of the geometric influence of Art Deco in jewelry. However, it doesn’t have the sparkle of a modern round-cut diamond today.
Halo Ring Setting
Halo engagement ring. See it here.
The halo ring setting on engagement rings features a large center stone surrounded by smaller stones. The 1920s engagement ring design reflected the geometric influences of Art Deco, and had a negative inner space around the halo to draw the focus on the center stone.
Geometric Shapes
Octagonal halo engagement ring. See it here.
Geometric shapes were very popular in the ring designs and captured the streamlined, angular, mathematical feel of the era’s jewelry. Gemstones were cut in geometric shapes and were set into geometric shaped settings like octagons and hexagons. In fact, picking out a geometric shape for your engagement ring is one easy way to get a 1920s vibe.
Bold Color Contrasts
Tourmaline baguette cut ring by Ardonn. See it here.
While a lot of jewelry from this era was black and white, the fruit salad motif was popular in the 1920s engagement rings. Jewelers incorporated colored gemstones—sapphires, emeralds, rubies, lapis lazuli, black onyx—with diamonds. Some engagement rings had white diamonds framing bold colored gemstones and vice versa. The bold color contrast on engagement rings marked an end to the pastel colors of the Art Nouveau era.
Filigree Design
Antique 1920s filigree ring by Thomas Brothers. See it here.
During the Art Deco era, jewelers and artisans paid attention to detail. The malleability and strength of platinum allowed them to create intricate designs on engagement rings without compromising the security of gemstones. These filigree rings took the influences of Art Deco motifs, featuring small intricate cutouts and geometric lines.
Are 1920s Engagement Rings in Style Today?
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Art Deco is one of the most enduring movements in jewelry design that inspired many trends in engagement rings. Most modern-day engagement rings took inspiration from the Art Deco era. Some couples prefer antique engagement rings, while others embraced modern styles with Art Deco influences.
We see this influence in modern engagement ring styles that feature halo, double halo, filigree settings, unconventional gemstone shapes and geometric lines.
Whether it’s an antique engagement ring from the 1920s or a modern revival of Art Deco, couples can find something unique that fit their style. The 1920s engagement rings from geometric shaped gemstones to halo designs are proving irresistible to brides-to-be, and it’s safe to say that most Art Deco jewelry trends will continue for a long time into the future.
Where to Buy 1920s Engagement Rings
Before shopping for a 1920s engagement ring, decide if you want something antique, vintage, or Art Deco-inspired. These each have their pros and cons and which you choose depends on your preferences.
Antique 1920s engagement rings are those that were made during the period and are around 100 years old. When it comes to 1920s-inspired or Art Deco inspired engagement rings, the designs are often created using the styles and techniques from the era using modern materials—or repurposed antique or vintage gemstones just to evoke a vintage feel.
We suggest taking your search online for the best prices and a wider range of designs. Based on our experience, we recommend the following stores:
For an antique or vintage ring, check out Etsy which has a great selection of 1920s engagement rings, reflecting the diverse style of Art Deco era.
For 1920s inspired engagement rings, check out James Allen’s impressive vintage engagement ring collection.
We also recommending searching through Blue Nile’s high-quality, competitively priced vintage rings.
The era of Art Deco has proven to be a source of inspiration in jewelry design. Getting engaged is one of the most unforgettable moments in life—and a perfect 1920s engagement ring is the cherry on top!
