All posts in Estate Engagement Rings

An elegant solid platinum band featuring two triangle-cut diamonds suspended in four-prong mountings serves as a throne for this breathtaking GIA-certified D/VVS2, 1.37-carat Princess Cut diamond. The minimalist platinum and diamond setting, combined with a near-perfect diamond, ensures that this matchless engagement ring is ideal for a woman of distinction.

Rivaling the fashionable Round Brilliant Cut in popularity, the distinctive Princess Cut features either 57 or 76 facets carefully positioned to elicit an inverted pyramid profile. From the top, a Princess Cut diamond appears as a beveled square or rectangle.

Compared with typical square diamond cuts, the Princess Cut allows maximum light dispersion, eliciting dazzling brilliance, masking inclusions, and preserving more of the original rough stone. This makes it a favorite among diamond cutters, and a prize among women.

Several cuts serve as predecessors for the modern Princess Cut. In 1961, the cut now known as the Profile Cut was introduced by London diamond cutter, Arpad Nagy. In 1971, South African lapidary Basil Watermeyer perfected a square cut with rounded corners called the Barion, while Perlman, Ambar and Itzokowitz were busy developing the Quadrillion, a similar style featuring 49 facets.

In 1979, following intensive optical research, Perlman, Ambar and Itzokowitz perfected the Princess Cut as we know it today (patented as the Square Modified Brilliant). With its sleek modern lines, it is no wonder that this compelling alternative to Round Brilliant solitaire stones has made its mark in contemporary high fashion.

This magnificent Art Deco engagement ring features three 2.5mm Old European cut diamonds in a vertical line accented by 10 single-cut genuine diamonds and eight French square-cut synthetic blue sapphires in a geometric shape characteristic of the Art Deco style. The neck and shoulders of its solid 18k white gold band are carved in intricate filigree.

From the Latin words for ‘thread’ (filum) and ‘seed’ (granum), the term filigree refers to thread-like wires of precious metal twisted, shaped, and soldered into delicate sculptured lines. Dating back to the ancient Greeks and Phoenicians, filigree is an Old-World technique which requires hours of intensive hand labor by skilled artisans in precious metals.

The use of filigree in jewelry has come in and out of favor for the past 5000 years, with its heaviest revivals falling in the Byzantine, Renaissance, and Edwardian periods. The Edwardian Era of jewelry overlapped with two important and distinctive movements in the arts, the Arts & Crafts Movement and the Art Nouveau Movement.

Both movements emphasized a return to excellence in hand craftsmanship and a revival of ancient techniques in the arts, including a heavy-handed use of filigree. Where the Arts & Crafts Movement found its optimal medium in decorative arts and textiles, the Art Nouveau principles lent themselves most favorably to the intricacies of jewelry design.

Though made during the same time period, Edwardian and Art Nouveau are distinctly different, though they share elements in common, such as the use of filigree to create ornate settings for beautiful gemstones. The Edwardian and Art Nouveau jewelry periods came to an abrupt end at the start of World War I in 1914, when industry turned sharply toward military manufacture and precious metals were smelted down to make war machines and armaments.

As the post-war economy slowly recovered in the early 1920s, a new jewelry style emerged. Called Art Deco, this new style favored straight lines and angles, sometimes connected with symmetrical arcs, patterned after the mighty machines of the time–airplanes, trains, and automobiles.  Though the sensuous lines of the Art Nouveau period were replaced with geometric shapes, as seen in this magnificent antique engagement ring, Art Deco jewelers maintained the Edwardian and Art Nouveau use of filigree in many of their beautiful designs.

Since the Royal Wedding, all eyes have been on Kate Middleton and the antique rings, skirt suits and shoes she's worn while out in public. However, a new woman of royalty may soon be stealing some of the attention away from Middleton – Princess Madeleine of Sweden.

Recently, the princess announced that she has finally gotten engaged to her "soulmate," Chris O'Neill, a U.S. financier. Princess Madeleine told People Magazine that the two had been engaged for almost a month before announcing it in front of the royal court. The princess and O'Neill have been seeing each other for about two years.

"I appreciate Chris for his warmth and his humor," Madeleine told the news source. "He has a very big heart and he manages to make everyone in his presence feel good. Christopher is a very thoughtful and generous person."

There's no doubt that the princess has quite the sparkler on her finger, being from a line of royalty. However, jewelry buyers can find similar priceless rings through estate sales and auctions. At these events, valuables that can no longer be found at traditional vendors often come up for sale.

As more women flaunt estate engagement rings, people continue to show a preference toward aged jewelry, which tends to be unique in style and timeless in design. One woman who might soon be flashing such a ring on her finger for the paparazzi is actress Mischa Barton.

Recently, the star was seen in Ireland wearing what looked to be an engagement ring on her ring finger after leaving a party. Barton has confirmed that she's seeing actor Sebastian Kapp, but has he finally decided to pop the question?

The actress has yet to confirm the news, but rumors continue to swirl about Barton and Kapp making it official. The shots of the ring on her finger give people little to work with – it appears to be relatively simple in style with a single diamond that glistened under camera flashes.

However, more details on the ring might become apparent once Barton confirms or denies the engagement rumors and the bauble can be seen in detail.

If you're interested in proposing to your loved one in the near future, you might want to consider an estate engagement ring. These timeless pieces can be unlike any other rings you'll find in a standard jewelry shop today.

While summer may be wedding season, it’s also just as wonderful a time to take a step toward that special day. Whether you’re looking to propose on a beachside vacation, at a family gathering or on a simple and romantic evening out somewhere of particular resonance, there’s no finer time than summer – a season brimming with adventure, natural beauty and the exciting air of expectation.

When choosing an engagement ring, you might want to take the occasion into account. Perhaps an emerald stone crowned by diamonds would be a pleasant reminder of a summer picnic proposal – or a sapphire stone indicative of a seaside engagement. Whatever theme you choose for your proposal and your ring, consider looking into antique and estate jewelry. Antique engagement rings are not only beautiful, but unique. Rather than being sold retail in models or styles, they have a life and history of their own. Each one has a story that you will, in turn, add to.

Seize the season – make the leap to a new life together and find the perfect ring and stone for the occasion.