Vintage wedding rings are not only a symbol of love and commitment, but are also cherished items that increase in value over time making them a great investment as well. These are timeless rings that are heirlooms to be passed down through the generations.
So what are the differences between vintage and traditional rings? First of all, to be considered "Vintage" or "Antique", these rings must be at least 50 years old. They are usually hand crafted, consisting of white gold or platinum and can come with a variety of stones and gems depending on the era they were made.
The most popular time periods for vintage or antique wedding rings are the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras.
The earliest era of wedding rings would be the Victorian style rings. These rings date anywhere from about 1835 to 1900 and were mostly crafted from yellow or rose gold. These are probably the most ornate of styles out of the 3 most popular eras. Victorian wedding rings usually have elaborate and very intricate designs incorporating traditional white cut diamonds set into the band. These vintage wedding rings are the rarest to find out of the 3 varieties we are talking about and can fetch for very high prices.
Edwardian wedding rings are also another popular era of ring that date from approximately the 1900-1920s. In this time period, it was very much in fashion to craft rings out of platinum and rose cut diamonds or sapphires. The Edwardian style incorporated interlaced intricate scrollwork, milgraining and filigree details that have been admired throughout the generations and is one of the reasons why they are still in demand today. Depending on the quality and rarity, these can be very expensive rings, however they can also be a very good investment over time.
Art Deco rings are probably the most popular out of all 3 eras, which date from about 1920's-1930's. These were very exciting times in the US, expressed through a revolution of art and culture not previously experienced in the century past.
Thus Art Deco was born, and with it came a variety of innovative designs that encompassed many cultures that ranged from Native American, Egyptian and Asian influences, creating expressive and very exciting themes never before seen. The beauty about art deco wedding rings is that many have contrasting gemstones such as jade, diamonds and rubies all in a single setting, giving off some very eclectic and exotic designs. These are definitely the most "modern" of wedding ring designs which probably contribute to their immense popularity. Vintage art deco wedding rings can also be quite expensive, yet there are more chances of finding a more affordable ring in this style as opposed to Victorian or Edwardian antique wedding rings.
If you are in the market for a vintage wedding ring, there are a wide variety of resources available online to give you some ideas on what you may be be looking for. Remember these are not cheap and can cost into the thousands of dollars for an authentic ring. However an original hand crafted design from a previous era can make for a great investment as these are also collectible items that will increase in value over time.
Written by Patrick Sheen. For more information please visit: Vintage Wedding Rings