To start with, we’re going to define vintage. In engagement rings, vintage refers to a ring that was made 50-plus years ago. You may also hear them referred to as antique or heirloom if they’re passed down a family line. Vintage rings used different cuts and techniques than we do in modern jewellery making, which adds charm and story to the ring. Many people also like to feel connected to a different point in time, which they feel they can through a vintage ring. There are typically three main eras that are popular when choosing a vintage engagement ring. Victorian era rings are known for their intricate gold bands, mine cut diamonds, and often feature romantic motifs like flowers and birds. Edwardian era rings are known for their fine details, such as lace effect patterning on the bands and most featured diamonds. Finally, Art Deco era rings typically have bold contrasting colours and symmetrical geometric patterns.
On the other hand, modern rings are known for having many customisable elements and for embracing newer trends such as minimalism. Modern rings tend not to have a set style like Victorian or Art Deco and instead embrace trends and focus on individuality to ensure each couple can find the right ring to tell their story.
For those who can’t decide, many jewellers offer vintage-inspired rings. These often combine sleek modern bands with the traditional eye-catching centrepiece. By choosing a modern ring with classic elements, you’ll stay in style through trends and can benefit from modern sustainability techniques like recycled metals and lab-grown gemstones. Whereas a vintage ring can be passed down with the stories of all those who’ve worn it before, creating a new ring that blends vintage and modern ensures you start your engagement fresh and let your ring tell just your love story.
Comparing Vintage and Modern Cuts
The main difference between vintage cuts and modern cuts is that vintage gems were cut by hand, while modern rings tend to be cut with computer-assisted technology. This has reduced waste and led to cuts being more precise, so modern designers can play with symmetry and consistency. We’ll look into vintage cuts more closely first.
Before the 1890s, mine-cut diamonds were popular. These are a square shape with rounded edges and a flat top. There were 58 different facets to catch the light, and as these were cut by hand, each mine-cut diamond was unique. These look especially good in candlelight, and the sparkle is second to none. Between the 1890s and 1930s, the Old European cut was in style. This is rounder than a mine cut with smaller flat tops. The facets are again unique as they’re cut by hand, and diamonds with this cut catch the light in flashes, so designers could experiment with light and shadow for beautiful contrasts. After this, people began to work with mathematical precision, and although not as consistent as modern methods, rings from this time are more uniform.
The most common modern cut is the brilliant cut. This has 58 facets like a mine cut, but the pattern has been meticulously planned to ensure a consistent sparkle, so this gives a bright ring that catches the eye. Computer-assisted cutting means perfect precision, so modern jewellers have been able to experiment with dramatic cuts like pear cuts for a beautifully shaped diamond or halo rings where a central stone is surrounded by smaller stones to emphasise the size of the central stone. Many designers are using the geometric shapes of the Art Deco period through consistent cushion or emerald cuts with bold coloured stones. Ultimately, the rise of computer-assisted cutting has led to engagement rings being more affordable, so designers have been able to experiment and customise more.
Tips on Choosing Your Perfect Ring
Choosing between modern and vintage is a personal choice. Vintage rings are best if you want a true one-off piece with all the charm and fine details that come with hand craftsmanship. You also won’t contribute to further mining of resources, and you’ll have a link to history. They are expensive, though, due to the rarity and can be harder to clean or repair due to their age and the fact that they’re no longer routinely worked with. Modern rings are a cheaper choice and offer customisation, so you can make sure you get exactly what you want. Modern rings are also more durable, so they’re best for the daily wear most people want from their engagement ring. Ask yourself whether you want a piece of history or a ring that’s entirely your own to ultimately decide between vintage and modern.
At Vinny & Charles, we have a wide range of engagement rings, whether you want to embrace the modern or be inspired by vintage classics. We also have a passion for sustainability, so your new ring won’t have a large carbon footprint thanks to our gold recycling programme and tree planting with every order. It may not be quite as green as a vintage ring, but we’re doing our best. Get started by browsing our engagement ring range here.
