Diamond + filigree = true love.
Ring roundup: Art Deco engagement rings.
I think we’ve known each other long enough by now that you can suspect how excited I am to write this post. I’m rather in love with all of these. If only I had more fingers (and money).
Without further ado: Art Deco engagement rings.
I really love this one. I think the shape of it is just gorgeous – almost floral in outline, but in a geometric way. This ring is circa 1920s-1930s, centered by a 1.40 carat European-cut diamond with a spready cut that gives it the outline of a 1.75 carat diamond. The diamond is flanked on each side with sparkling geometrically designed shoulders leading down to hand-engraved details adorning the top half of the ring shank. I think the way the shoulders lead into the engraving on the ring shank is just perfection.
This little beauty centers a very fine 1.13 carat European cut diamond set in a square box head with both baguette and round cut diamonds surrounding in a geometric platinum setting. It has a low profile and a beautiful overall silhouette. I just love the delicate shoulders.
This lovely ring has a relatively low diamond carat count but it’s so sprinkled with sparklers that it would definitely still catch the eye. The center diamond is the largest, at .15 carats, with smaller accent diamonds throughout the rest of the geometric millegrain setting.
All images and info in this post are thanks to Lang Antiques. Please see individual descriptions of the Art Deco engagement rings for links to item listings.
Floral Art Deco engagement ring.
I adore this floral Art Deco engagement ring. It’s a very stylized flower design, so it gives off an organic prettiness without being overly saccharine or cartoonish.
See? So pretty, and with all of the geometric fabulousness you’d expect from a 1930’s Art Deco engagement ring.
The ring is platinum with a half-carat European-cut diamond sparkling in the center. It’s also beautifully detailed. You know how I swoon for an embellished shoulder.
This floral Art Deco engagement ring is currently for sale at Lang Antiques (and, for the record, it’s less than $4,000). It’s a rather large size, but Lang says this ring can be resized. All images and info are thanks to Lang Antiques.
Kick-off of V-day blingfest.
One week until Valentine’s day! I’ve decided to celebrate by bombarding you with engagement rings. There will be scores of sparkles. Piles of pretties. Avalanches of rocks. It’s going to start today. You are forewarned.
If that doesn’t sound fun, you have two options:
1. Picture these sparklers on your right hand; or
2. Come back on February 15th for our regularly scheduled programming. I will miss you while you’re gone.
A moment of seriousness before we launch in to the blingfest:
Diamonds, as pretty as they are, are something that have caused a lot of strife in the world. This isn’t a political blog, so I’m not going to go on about this at length. But I urge you to be informed when you make a diamond purchase: find out where your stones came from and educate yourself about what that means. If a retailer doesn’t provide any information about their diamond sources, take the time to ask them and research their answer.
Pre-owned diamonds are always a responsible choice, but remember that antique, vintage, and estate pieces don’t always have antique or vintage diamonds; they are often reset.
Diamonds are a significant purchase, and you want to be able to look at the lovely sparkly thing on your hand and know that your buying it didn’t make the world a worse place. Whatever choice you make, please let it be an informed one.
That’s all I’m going to say about that for now. If you’d like to more information, please consider checking out the sources below. And don’t forget to check back later today for more pretties!
Conflict Diamonds article by Amnesty International
“Blood Diamonds” and How to Avoid Buying Illicit Gems by National Geographic
The Conflict-Free Diamond Council
The Kimberly Process Website
Jewelers of America Position Statement on Responsible Diamonds
(Fabulous image of antique diamond rings thanks to Barker’s Antique Jewelry.)
Art Deco diamond bracelet, Van Cleef & Arpels.
We can mentally put this Art Deco diamond bracelet in the pile of pieces I’ve posted that I would really love to own above all others. (It is a large pile.)
I think the contrast of the clean, geometric lines of the diamond design and the fluid, articulated nature of the bracelet and the tassel is just perfect. I’ve been looking forward to sharing this one with you for a while.
The central circular-cut diamond collets of this Art Deco diamond bracelet alternate with twin hexagonal-cut diamonds, within a tapered, flexible border made up of baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds. Suspended from the main bracelet is a circular-cut diamond tassel, with sliding clasp.
This Art Deco diamond bracelet was made in 1922 and is signed Van Cleef & Arpels Paris, no. 2071.
Unsurprisingly for a Van Cleef & Arpels’ piece, the workmanship and design are thoughtful and careful down to the tiniest detail. I think it is perfect.
This Art Deco diamond bracelet was listed in Christie’s November 2012 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.
Art Deco diamond and ruby bracelet by Lacloche.
Saying this is a diamond bracelet doesn’t do it justice. This Art Deco diamond and ruby bracelet, my friends, is diamond-encrusted.
This gorgeous thing was made by Lacloche in the 1920’s. The tapered bangle with openwork diamond-set scale patterns is enhanced by calibré-cut ruby lines, to the stylized acorn swiveling terminals. It is signed Lacloche.
I imagine it doesn’t fit everyone, since it certainty doesn’t look like it can be sized. Fingers crossed that it’s for a small wrist – in case I’m ever in a room with it, I like to think it would fit me.
This Art Deco diamond and ruby bracelet was listed in Christie’s November 2012 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.