Art Deco Rings vs. Victorian Rings: Whats the Difference?
Aug 14, 2024
by Suzanne Sachs • 5 min read
Both Art Deco engagement rings and Victorian engagement rings can be stunning options to represent a special couple’s commitment to one another, but what are the differences between the styles? How are both eras distinctive? Learning more about each jewelry era can help you more easily recognize each type of ring and choose which best fits your fashionable flair.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW--
In this guide, we will explain the following:
- Victorian Era
- Symbolism
- Diamonds & Gemstones
- Art Deco Era
- Bold Lines
- Diamonds & Gemstones
- Which Era is Best For You?
Victorian Era
The Victorian Era mirrored the reign of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, from 1837 to 1901. The era was noted for romanticism in design, and is also called the “Romantic” period. Classic symbols of romance infused all of fashion, including jewelry, such as love knots, vines, leaves, clovers, hearts, and luxurious curves. Roses and other flowers were used frequently to create messages and secret meanings in floriography – the language of flowers – and animals, particularly snakes, were also common symbols in Victorian era jewelry.
Symbolism
Victorian engagement rings are filled with sentiment and symbolism, most often crafted from the warm tones of yellow gold, though other metals could also be used. Romantic gems – opals, pearls, garnets, turquoise, rubies, emeralds, amethysts, and classic diamonds – are most common, and prong settings show off the stones with extra sparkle or luster. Halo settings are also popular in the era, especially as they give a floral-esque look to the gem settings, adding even more romance to the ring design.
Diamonds & Gemstones
Stone shapes for Victorian engagement rings often include older, more antique cuts such as the rose cut or old mine cut, as well as smooth cabochons. Round stones are also common in the era, while extra details such as filigree add even more dimension and delicate detail.
Gemstones such as amethyst, with its regal purple hues, and garnet, known for its deep red or purplish-red tones, were highly favored. Turquoise, with its bright blue allure, and coral, in warm reddish-orange shades, were commonly used in brooches, cameos, and necklaces. Pearls were particularly prized for their natural luster and were often featured in necklaces, earrings, and brooches, adding a touch of elegance to the designs. Opals, admired for their unique play of colors, also found their place in rings and other fine jewelry.
Art Deco Era
The Art Deco Era is more recent, stretching from roughly 1910 into the 1930s or as far as 1945, depending on how different eras are classified. The most notable influences on fashion and jewelry in the Art Deco Era come from the “Roaring 20s” and the glitz and glamor of that decade. Vivid, bold colors and geometric symmetry are hallmarks of Art Deco jewelry, with large and flamboyant designs common for the era.
Bold Lines
Art Deco engagement rings tend to have sharper lines and straighter edges than their Victorian counterparts. Sharper stone shapes such as emerald cuts, asscher cuts, and baguette cuts are popular with Art Deco styles, often set in cool white metals, most often platinum or white gold. Of course, classic old mine and old European cut diamonds are always popular, in any era.
Diamonds & Gemstones
Diamonds are by far the most popular center stone for Art Deco rings, though they are often accented with colorful side stones or accents. The more glitter and fire in the ring, the better it fits with the era. Aquamarine is also a popular choice, but deeper colored stones tend to be used more as accents rather than center stones for engagement rings during the time period. Invisible settings that maximize the stones are characteristic of Art Deco engagement rings, with pave, bezel, and channel settings very common. Prong settings remain popular as well, though the center stone is often surrounded with elaborate detailing and geometry, so the prongs are not as noticeable.
Which Era Is Best for You?
Both Victorian and Art Deco engagement rings are beautiful — but as their styles are very different, the best way to choose is simply to look at both. Victorian rings carry a romantic warmth that feels deeply personal. Art Deco rings have a boldness and precision that feels entirely modern despite being nearly a century old. Neither is better. They are just different — and the right one is the one that stops you. If you find yourself drawn to both, that is not unusual. Many customers wear one era as an engagement ring and another as an anniversary ring or everyday piece — each one telling a different part of the same story.
Suzanne Sachs
