Edwardian engagement ring with diamonds, platinum on yellow gold

Antique jewelry object group: engagement rings

Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of French or Belgian origin.

Style: between Edwardian and Art Deco
(more info on styles)

Style specifics: As for its elegant design, this jewel has the finesse of an Edwardian piece reacting gracefully against the very geometrical forms of Art Deco that was strongly influenced by Cubism. However, because both Edwardian and Art Deco styles were contemporaries of each other, we sometimes notice pieces - like this one - that carry both influences.

Period: ca. 1920
(events and facts in 1920) < br/>
Material: 18K yellow gold and platinum, although most of this jewel is in yellow gold, the diamonds are set in platinum. This finds it origin in a much older period (see explanation on silver on gold).
(more info on precious metals)

< b>Technique: The "gold-backed silver" or "silver on gold" technique: This technique finds its origin centuries ago, when jewelers believed that only a silver mounting could render the true beauty of a diamond. Backing the silver jewel with a (thin) layer of gold was a practical precaution taken to avoid the silver jewelry leaving black stains on clothing or skin. Over the years, with the recognition (and thus use) of platinum as precious metal and the development of white gold the practical necessity to use bi-colored material became obsolete. The argument to use bi-colored metals became more an estetic then a practical one.

Extra information: engagement ring - In Western tradition, an engagement ring is a ring, of no generally accepted form, worn by a woman indicating her engagement to be married. Conventionally, the ring is presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective bride while he proposes marriage or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage.

In recent years such rings have normally been set with a gemstone, usually a diamond, as a solitaire, of varying sizes, cuts, styles, and cost, but in the 19th century some were set with a pearl. In the same century the custom arose in England of separate engagement ring and wedding ring, and in very recent years such rings have sometimes been made en suite as a matching pair of similar style. In recent years, antique gemstone engagement rings are rapidly gaining in popularity.

In some countries, such as the United States and the U nited Kingdom, it is worn on the left-hand ring finger, while in other countries, such as Poland and Ukraine, it is customary for the ring to be worn on the right-hand. Similar traditions purportedly date to classical times, dating back from an early us age reportedly referring to the fourth finger of the left hand as containing the vena amoris or "vein of love". In the United States and Canada today it is becoming more common, but still quite rare, that a woman will also buy her partner an engagement r ing (also called a pre-engagement ring, promise ring, or 'mangagement' ring) at the time of the engagement.

Diamonds: One old mine brilliant cut diamond with an estimated weight of approx. 0.15 crt. 34 senailles. A senaille is a simplified rose cut diamond, a small diamond chip with perhaps a few polished facets. We do not have the weight of these diamonds which is normal in our trade when it comes to senailles.
Note: All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since the stones were not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting.

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
(more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: No trace.
(more info on hallmarks)

Condition: excellent condition
(more info on our condition scale) < br/>
Dimensions: length of top of ring 1.98 cm (0.78 inch)

Weight: 5.10 gram (3.28 dwt)

Ring size Continental: 54 & 17¼ , Size US 6¾ , Size UK:  N

Resizing: Free resizing, but because of the the way the ring is made, we cannot guarantee to make it on every size; so please ask in advance (only for extreme resizing we have to charge).
(more info on ring sizes)

Reference Nº: 10121-4252

Copyr ight photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

See also our:
art deco rings, estate rings, engagement rings, all our rings, somewhere between Art Deco and Interbellumedwardian jewelry, art deco jewelry, 20th century jewelry, antique jewelry, antique rings, platinum on gold jewelry, bi-color jewelry, platinum jewelry, jewelry with rose cut diamonds, jewelry with diamond, latest acquisitions,
antique jewelry, estate jewelry, vintage jewelry or modern jewelry

Jewelry with birthstones (or month stones) for:
January - < !--February-->February - March - April - May - June - July
August - September - October - November or December.


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