1920's Love Affair: Art Deco Engagement Ring

An elegant Art Deco engagement ring, originating circa 1920, represents the zenith of early 20th-century design. Crafted from platinum, this piece features a central old European cut diamond, flanked by eight single brilliant cut diamonds and accented with 16 carre cut emeralds. Its geometric forms and abstract motifs embody the era's pursuit of decorative opulence. Despite the absence of control marks, this ring is believed to be of Belgian provenance, a silent witness to a promise of matrimonial bliss.

Antique jewelry object group: engagement ring (or anniversary ring)

Condition: very good condition
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Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of Belgian origin.

Style: Art Deco - Art Deco is an eclectic artistic and design style which had its origins in Paris in the first decades of the 20th century. The style originated in the 1920s and continued to be employed until after World War II. The term "art deco" first saw wide use after an exhibition in 1966, referring to the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes that was the culmination of high-end style modern in Paris. Led by the best designers in the decorative arts such as fashion, and interior design, Art Deco affected all areas of design throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including architecture and industrial design, as well as the visual arts such as painting, the graphic arts and film. At the time, this style was seen as elegant, glamorous, functional and modern.
  -  See also: Art Deco or more info on styles

Style specifics: Abstract motives and geometrical forms are quite typical for the Art Deco period. Art Deco moved away from the soft pastels and organic forms of its style predecessor, Art Nouveau, and embraced influences from many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, and Futurism. Its popularity peaked in Europe during the Roaring Twenties and continued strongly in the United States through the 1930s. Although many design movements have political or philosophical roots or intentions, Art Deco was purely decorative.

Period: ca. 1920
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

Material: platinum
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Extra information: engagement ring - Especially in Western cultures, an engagement ring is a ring indicating the that the person wearing it is engaged to be married. In the United Kingdom, and North America, engagement rings are traditionally worn only by women, and rings can feature gemstones. In other cultures men and women usually wear matching rings, which can be plain. In some cultures, engagement rings are also used as wedding rings.

Conventionally, the woman's ring is presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective spouse while he proposes marriage or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage. Rings can be bought by the man, the couple together, or by each partner for the other.

In North America and the United Kingdom, it is worn on the left hand ring finger, while in Poland and Ukraine, it is customary for the ring to be worn on the right hand. In Germany, the ring is worn on the left hand while engaged, but moved to the right hand when married. Similar traditions purportedly date to classical times, dating back from an early usage reportedly referring to the fourth finger of the left hand as containing the vena amoris or "vein of love".

Betrothal rings were used during Roman times, but weren't generally revived in the Western world until the 13th century. The first well-documented use of a diamond ring to signify engagement was by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria in imperial court of Vienna in 1477, upon his betrothal to Mary of Burgundy.

In the 20th century, if he could afford it, the typical Western groom privately selected and purchased an engagement ring, which he then presented to his desired bride when he proposed marriage. More recently, couples frequently select an engagement ring together. (from Wikipedia)

Diamond(s): One old European cut diamond with an estimated weight of ± 0.75ct. (colour and clarity: H/I, vs/si).
Eight single brilliant cut diamonds (also called 8/8) with an estimated weight of ± 0.16ct. (colour and clarity: H/I, vs/si).

- All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since the stones were not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting.

Precious stones: 16 carre cut emeralds (signes of wear on top of stones)

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April and emerald for May.
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Hallmarks: No trace.
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Dimensions: top of ring 1,18 cm (0,46 inch) x 1,40 cm (0,55 inch)

Weight: 4,00 gram (2,57 dwt)

Ring size Continental: 56 & 17¾ , Size US 7½ , Size UK: O½

Resizing: Free resizing (only for extreme resizing we have to charge).
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Reference Nº: 17248-0031

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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