Art Deco Engagement Rings

Art Deco was an international art design movement that started around the mid 1920s and carried on until the 1940s.  It influenced many areas of design  including architecture, industrial design and interior design. It also had an influence on fashion, art and the cinema. During this period, Art Deco style was considered stylish and modern and was incorporated into jewellery designs including engagement rings.

Art Deco engagement rings often used Emeralds, Sapphires, Genuine Rubies and Synthetic Rubies. Columbian Emeralds, Burmese Rubies and Sapphires from both Burma and Kashmir were in high demand.

There is some confusion as to what exactly makes Art Deco Jewellery because of the many different influences that together make up the Art Deco style. The style was a combination of a large number of different styles and movements including Neoclassical, Cubism, Modernism, Constructivism, Futurism and  Art Nouveau. Art Deco engagement Rings can be difficult to find, and are in demand and very collectable.

Engagenment rings from the Art Deco period have a fairly flat band and usually a large stone or large groups of stones. When it comes to cuts, the stones can be emerald cut, pentagon, pear cut, trapezoid, triangle trillion cut, or marquise . The metals used in the rings were platinum, palladium and rhodium. Often these rings are made with a large stone in the centre surrounded by several small triangular or square stones. Bold contrasting colours were often used in the design.

When it comes to their style, these rings were never meant to be simple like diamond solitaires.  Due to the large number of  stones used in the rings of this period, the bands are usually not as thin as band from other periods. The band needs to be thicker to hold the larger number of stones in addition to keeping the band in position on the wearer's finger to show the ring at its best.  Engagement rings from the Art Deco era frequently had a stepped design of stones leading up towards the centre stone, similar to the design of the tower on New York's Chrysler Building.

The elaborate  designs with their use of contrasting colours and angular design make these antique engagement rings a popular choice for couples who appreciate vintage jewellery.  These rings have historical significance, plenty of style and sophistication.  Art Deco engagement rings are currently very popular, and are not just pieces of jewellery, they can also be considered as pieces of art. Although modern rings such as those from pandora jewelry are high quality and very popular, many people will still appreciate the craftsmanship of the Art Deco ring.

Tagged with: art deco engagement rings • art nouveau • constructivism • cubism • futurism • modernism • neoclassical

Filed under: Periods

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