Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Late 20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s American Contemporary Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum
1950s Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1980s Classic Retro Engagement Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Unknown Modern Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1950s American Retro Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
1960s Modern Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1950s Unknown Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1960s North American Modern Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1990s American Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Retro Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Gold, 10k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Contemporary Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, Indicolite, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s American Contemporary Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1980s Retro Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Tourmaline, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Modernist Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1970s Art Deco Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
1980s Unknown Modern Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Peridot, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Indian Art Deco Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
1950s Retro Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1980s Art Deco Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Contemporary Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1980s American Modern Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
1990s Contemporary Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
1990s American Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1950s Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1950s Unknown Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Classic Retro Engagement Rings
White Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Italian Belle Époque Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Gold
1960s Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1980s Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
1990s Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1990s American Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s British Modern Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
1990s American Contemporary Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Unknown Contemporary Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Classic Retro Engagement Rings
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
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Classic Retro Engagement Rings For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Classic Retro Engagement Rings?
Finding the Right rings for You
Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.
No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.
Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.
Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings.
The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry.
The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.
Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023The difference between vintage and classic engagement rings has to do with taste and time. Vintage engagement rings date back 20 to 80 years and occupy the sweet spot between historic and modern. Whether or not an engagement ring is "classic" may pertain solely to the style of the ring. The solitaire setting is considered a classic setting for engagement rings. Tiffany & Co. broadly helped put diamonds on the map in 1886 by introducing the American marketplace to the solitaire diamond design, which is still the quintessential engagement ring style. Designed to maximize a diamond's sparkle, the trademark Tiffany Setting elevated the stone on six prongs (in contrast to the bezel setting, which was common at the time). In the late 1800s, Cartier sought to render the diamonds in their engagement rings and other rings as brilliantly as possible, and the house's Solitaire 1895 engagement ring is considered a classic engagement ring. Find antique and vintage engagement rings on 1stDibs.
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