The Allure of Vintage Engagement Rings

There’s something undeniably romantic about vintage style engagement rings. Their intricate detailing and old world history transport us to a bygone era — where craftsmanship reigned and every ring told a story. From the geometric flair of Art Deco pieces to the soft femininity of 1950s designs, vintage engagement rings have never truly gone out of fashion. In fact, they’re more popular now than ever, especially among couples seeking something timeless and unique. Here is all you need to know about the world of vintage engagement rings.

What makes an engagement ring ‘vintage’?
What is an old mine cut?
Which gemstones are in vintage engagement rings?
Are vintage engagement rings popular today?
Summary
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What makes an engagement ring ‘ vintage’?

To understand vintage engagement rings, we must first explore what gives a ring its “vintage” status. Typically, a ring is considered vintage if it is at least 20–30 years old. However, vintage style engagement rings may be newly made but are inspired by design elements from the past.

The roaring twenties brought a bold new look with Art Deco rings, known for their symmetry, clean lines, and geometric patterns. Platinum was the metal of choice, often paired with bright diamonds and coloured gemstones. This was the era where emerald-cut stones were popularised, as they complimented the bold, glamorous aesthetic.

Moving onto the 1930–40s, during the Great Depression and World War II, designs became more delicate. White gold began replacing platinum, and filigree details emerged in complete juxtaposition to the geometric designs of the Art Deco era. As for the centre stones, round brilliant cuts were popularised here – and is the era many of today's old mine cuts (which we’ll cover later) originate from.

Post war, in the 1950s, the economy was booming and it’s clear to see this change in the engagement rings from this time. Rings from the '50s were luxurious, feminine, and featured larger centre stones often surrounded by accent diamonds — giving rise to trilogy engagement rings which we are seeing become more popular recently. Other cuts popularised in this time include asscher , emerald and marquise which have all been on the rise again – so we can see that bold opulence is seeping back into engagement jewellery.

What is an old mine cut?

Our range of sapphire rounds exhibit a similar faceting pattern to that of old mine cut and are a great choice for recreating a vintage style ring.

One of the most beloved features in many vintage engagement rings is the old mine cut diamond. This antique diamond cut, popular from the 18th century through the early 1900s, has a cushion-like shape with a high crown, small table, and large facets. Its softer sparkle gives a romantic, candlelit glow. But make no mistake, this look can be obtained with lab-grown gemstones – Our range of sapphires exhibit a similar faceting pattern to that of old mine cut, particularly in the round shape.

Which gemstones are in vintage engagement rings?

Arielle - Oval Halo with Cathedral Setting and Scarlet Red Sapphires to add a vintage feel

Champagne moissanite stone in the princess cut

While diamonds remain a classic, many vintage engagement rings feature other gemstones. The popularity of bold designs during the 20s means the bolder the gemstone the better. Jewellery from this time will generally include bold coloured gemstones like emerald and onyx. Another extremely popular gemstone since this era are sapphires. Through history whether celebrities or royalty, sapphires has been a focal stone for high jewellery and engagement rings. Sapphire engagement rings became iconic thanks to Princess Diana — and later, Kate Middleton — whose striking blue ring sparked renewed interest in coloured stones. Due to the rarity of sapphires in the deep colour and size of Middleton’s engagement ring, this can be a difficult look to achieve. Our range of lab-grown sapphires ensures you’ll have a beautiful ring of unrivalled quality.

A more recent vintage trend is champagne-coloured gemstones which was popularised in the early 2000s. Now, brown diamonds are seeing a spike in popularity again in engagement jewellery. Today’s rise of alternative engagement rings has led to a renewed love for champagne-coloured stones like our champagne moissanite .

Are vintage engagement rings popular today?

Meesha - Oval Floating Bezel with Accent Stones paired with our Petra - Half Eternity Wedding Ring

Imani - Bezel Set Emerald Solitaire paired with our London - Emerald Basket Set Eternity Ring

As couples find ways to personalise their love stories, vintage engagement rings are making a strong comeback. That said, traceability is also an important factor for couples today, and vintage engagement rings generally can’t be traced to an owner or stone origin – nor can we be certain about the conditions in which mined gemstones were obtained. Today’s couples are therefore taking these vintage aesthetics, and mixing them in with lab-grown gemstones and sustainably sourced metals to get a look that doesn’t compromise their morals.

Summary

Whether it’s the geometric precision of an Art Deco piece or the soft glamour of a vintage cushion cut ring, these styles hold more than just aesthetic value — they carry a legacy. Today’s generation of couples are finding ways to carry this legacy in a way that suits their lifestyle and preferences, though lab-grown stones or more personalised styles. To speak to us about designing a ring, get in touch for a virtual or in-person appointment here .

Explore our range of round cut engagement rings today