Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
1910s Unknown Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 14k Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Platinum
1890s Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1890s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 1800s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1860s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Platinum
19th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Ruby, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Platinum
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1890s British Early Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
White Diamond, Emerald, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Turquoise, Yellow Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
19th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Turquoise, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Pearl, Sapphire, Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold, Platinum
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 14k Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 10k Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
18th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Amethyst, Diamond, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1890s English Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 10k Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Platinum
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Platinum
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
White Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
White Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Amethyst, White Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Rose Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1890s Late Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1880s Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Victorian Antique Victorian Engagement Ring
Diamond, Yellow Gold
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Antique Victorian Engagement Ring For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique Victorian Engagement Ring?
A Close Look at victorian Jewelry
The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.
Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria & Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.
The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.
Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.
Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — on 1stDibs.
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, 2023Yes, many Victorians gave engagement rings to their fiancées. In fact, the tradition of giving engagement rings became more popular during the Victorian era due to the effects of the Industrial Revolution. The economic growth of the time led to the creation of a middle class that had the ability to save up for special purchases. At the same time, gemstones mined in South Africa began arriving in England, increasing the supply of precious stones and making prices more affordable. Explore an assortment of antique Victorian engagement rings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023Yes, antique engagement rings do tend to be popular. They especially appeal to brides-to-be who want something unique and like the idea of owning a ring that has a long history. Rings from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras are among the most highly sought-after antique options. On 1stDibs, explore a wide variety of antique engagement rings.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023The difference between vintage and antique engagement rings is age. For an engagement ring to be considered an antique, it must be at least 100 years old. Vintage engagement rings are pieces made at least 20 years ago. Shop a collection of vintage and antique engagement rings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 23, 2024The difference between vintage, antique and estate engagement rings comes down to age and history. Rings that are over 100 years old are antiques, while those produced 20 to 99 years ago are vintage. Estate engagement rings are any rings that have had a previous owner. They can include antique, vintage and even contemporary rings produced during the last 20 years. Shop a large selection of engagement rings on 1stDibs.
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Our Guide to Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco Engagement Rings
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
How to Buy a Vintage or Antique Engagement Ring
Will your beloved be enchanted by an Edwardian ring or a trendy Art Deco piece? We clue you into period styles and tips for finding the perfect ring.