There are several factors that can influence the overall look of your engagement ring. From modern to antique and everything in between – here’s what to consider if you’re looking to create a vintage inspired engagement ring.

1.     Consider the Decade

When we think about ‘antique’ or ‘vintage’ style – each decade throughout the last 100+ years has had its own unique flavour. Generally, people who love vintage engagement rings are drawn to a specific era. From art deco style engagement rings, Edwardian style engagement rings to mid-century engagement rings – each one has distinctive design elements.

If you’re stumped at where to start, try to find an inspiration image that your partner is drawn to.  An experienced jeweller can help you understand the decade it comes from.

2.     Making it Your Own

Antique rings have often been worn for a lifetime (sometimes more!).  This means that you’re purchasing a ring with a lot of wear and tear.  Antique rings require much more maintenance, as the band and prongs holding the stones are often on their last legs.  Having a custom engagement ring made in an antique style ensures your ring looks ‘old’ but is ‘new’.

While your custom engagement ring may be inspired by the past, it can incorporate modern elements.

An engagement ring can look like it’s from specific era without being bought second-hand. 

• Don’t go too trendy – copying an iconic design is different than gaining inspiration from it.

• Dainty but not fragile – because of their setting style, often art deco halos can be very fragile. Work with your jeweller to create a ring that is durable.

• Less is more – often, clients are so eager to make a ring unique that they think adding ‘more’ is the answer. Usually stripping down a design to its core elements and adding just the essentials is the best approach.

3.     Centre Stone Selection

Once you narrow down the era, the next step is selecting the centre stone.  This will have the biggest overall impact on the look of your ring. A blue sapphire pays homage to Princess Diana’s iconic ring, while the subtle twinkle of a white rose cut diamond is more reflective of the cutting style of the 1600’s.

4.     Halo, Halo, Halo

If you’ve been busy Pinning vintage engagement rings, one common element you may have noticed is the halo. A halo can add a lot of drama to your vintage engagement ring, depending on the size and shape of the stones, setting style and scale.

5.     Consider the Details

Final design details like gold colour and hand-applied textures are what can really elevate your design. Some classic options to consider are: