In the realm of antique jewelry, the terms "vintage" and "antique" are often used interchangeably.
However, in technical terms, a vintage engagement ring should be at least 20 years old to be classified as such. Conversely, an authentic antique engagement ring should be a century old, hailing from specific historical eras. At Erstwhile, our name embodies this concept of the former, resonating through our collection of vintage rings. Each engagement ring, vintage or antique, is a distinct piece from the past, often one-of-a-kind due to its age and history. Our curated selection focuses on renowned eras: During the Victorian era, spanning from 1830 to 1900, engagement rings took on the warm glow of yellow gold, embraced the clustered setting style and featured imperfect chunky diamonds like the old mine cushion. Moving into the Edwardian era which lasted just a decade from 1901 to 1910, rings featured intricate floral patterns, delicately designed in platinum filigree. As the 1920's ushered in the Art Deco era, engagement rings embraced geometric patterns, accentuated by vibrant colored gemstones. The 1940s, known as the Retro Era, witnessed a resurgence of yellow gold, challenging the dominance of platinum with the rising popularity of white gold. Shifting to the Mid Century period, from 1950 to 1970, engagement rings embraced a modern, space-age look, often reimagining sentimental family stones within sleek contemporary designs.
