Antique rings are rings which are more than 50 years old. Rings which are bought in used condition and which are less than 50 years old are called 'Estate' rings. The main periods for antique rings are the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Art Nouveau periods.
Victorian rings were made in the period from 1837 and 1901, Edwardian from 1901 to 1910. Art Deco rings were made from around the mid 1920s until the 1940s, Art Nouveau rings were made at around the turn of the 20th century.
Emeralds have been a feature of rings in all of these periods, despite other gemstones coming in and out of fashion. In Victorian times, engagement rings would often feature emeralds as part of their designs. One example is the 'Regards' ring, where emerald as well as other stones were use to spell the word 'REGARDS'. The first letter of the name of each stone would be used to form the word, usually the stones were Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond and Sapphire.
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 Antique Deco 1.00 ct Emerald Cut Diamond Engagement Ring Platinum  US $2,200.00
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 2.6 Ct Antique Emerald Cut Anniversary Bridal Engagement Wedding Ring Set SIZE 8 US $39.85
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 2.30 Ct Emerald Cut Diamond Vintage Antique Engagement Ring 14K Gold VS2-I GIA US $8,599.99
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 Antique Deco 1.20 ct Emerald Cut Diamond Engagement Ring Platinum US $2,700.00
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 1.15 Ct Emerald Cut Diamond Vintage Antique Heirloom Engagement Ring 14K VS1 GIA US $4,399.99
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 1.10 Ct Emerald Cut Diamond Vintage Antique Engagement Ring VVS2-G GIA 14K Gold US $3,599.99
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Another popular type of engagement ring in the Victorian period was the 'Dearest' ring, which used Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Topaz. On a similar theme, the 'Love' ring used Lapis lazuli, Opal, Vermarine and Emerald to spell the word 'LOVE'.
The metals used for Victorian engagement rings were usually gold or rose gold, but sometimes silver or platinum was used. Edwardian engagement rings frequently were made from platinum as this was fashionable in the Edwardian era. In addition to emeralds, Edwardian engagement rings often used diamonds or sapphires in their designs.
The Art Deco period was a combination of several different styles and movements, including Cubism, Modernism and Art Nouveau. Art Deco rings were often made with bold designs using contrasting colours, and in addition to the use of emeralds in Art Deco Rings, other gemstones used were rubies, sapphires and diamonds.
Antique rings can be found on sale in specialist jewellers, at antiques fairs, antiques shops, antiques auctions and are also sold by online retailers. Antique rings are becoming more popular these days, and several celebrities have opted for antique rings for their engagements.
Antique jewellery has the benefit of making people more aware of the history and also the culture of the period of time that the ring belongs to. For example, the Georgian fashion of wearing delicate dresses gave rise to the use of smaller, lighter jewellery. Antique rings are a reflection of the changing fashions over time, and with each antique ring you also buy a piece of a long lost era. When you get married, on the big day even the best wedding gifts couldn't be any better than the emerald engagement ring you will be wearing.
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