Antique & Vintage Engagement Rings
Timeless Pieces from the Georgian to Art Deco Eras
Welcome to Parkin & Gerrish’s collection of Antique and Vintage Engagement Rings — each piece hand-selected for its craftsmanship, character, and charm. From romantic Georgian designs to glamorous Art Deco creations, our rings span over 200 years of jewellery history.
💍 Why Choose Antique Engagement Rings?
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One-of-a-Kind: No two rings are the same — just like your love story.
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Sustainable Luxury: Antique jewellery is a conscious, ethical choice.
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Full of Meaning: These pieces were made to last and carry stories of the past.
🕰 Engagement Rings by Era
Georgian & Regency (1714–1830)
Secret inscriptions, acrostic messages, and early rose-cut diamonds — full of mystery and sentiment.
Victorian (1837–1901)
Romantic symbols like snakes (eternal love), gypsy settings, and forget-me-nots. Often rich with meaning and handcrafted detail.
Edwardian (1901–1915)
Refined and feminine. Expect millegrain platinum settings with delicate diamonds and pearls.
Art Deco (1920s–1930s)
Bold, geometric, and sophisticated. Calibre-cut gemstones, target rings, and architectural symmetry reign supreme.
Mid-Century (1940s–1960s)
Glamour and grandeur. Post-war optimism brought on statement rings and large central stones.
📦 What’s Included
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Free UK Shipping & Ring Sizing
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Beautiful Gift Wrapping & Antique-Style Ring Box
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Certificate of Authenticity with Every Purchase
📝 Did You Know?
The first recorded diamond engagement ring was commissioned in 1477 by Archduke Maximilian of Austria for Mary of Burgundy — a tradition that continues to sparkle today.
“Two torches in a ring of smouldering fire…
Two hearts, two passions joined in marriage by a diamond ring.”
– Vatican Manuscript
✨ Popular Gemstones in Antique Engagement Rings
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Diamonds
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Emeralds (May Birthstone)
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Sapphires (Symbol of loyalty)
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Rubies (For passion)
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Aquamarines, Opals, and Tourmalines
Whether you’re looking for a Victorian five-stone ring or an Art Deco showstopper, our antique engagement rings offer beauty, history, and lasting value.
Explore the collection below and find the piece that tells your story.
THE HISTORY
Engagement rings symbolise life and eternity.
They were first used in Roman times as a public pledge of marriage between a couple. They were later adorned with diamonds because of their own remarkable significance.
These diamond rings started to become not just a symbol of love, but excelled as an exquisite thing of beauty. Secret words of love were decorated with flora enhancing the romantic gestures.
"Two torches in a
ring of smouldering fire.
Two wills, two hearts,
two passions
are joined in marriage
by a diamond ring.”
- Lines and translation from the Vatican manuscript.
Believe it or not, there was a time when men didn’t offer diamonds for a hand in marriage. In the Georgian and Regency Eras, secret messages symbolised love; a 'posy ring', a 'forget me not ring' or even Acrostic rings. These often contained secret love messages or were a plain band with a description inside.
The Victorians continued the Georgian's love for romantic messages as engagement rings - Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a snake engagement ring- a symbol for eternal love. The Victorians were hopeless Romantics and did not stop at snakes to symbolise their love - knots and belts were also used with wild abandon. They also introduced the Gypsy rings and the half carved half hoop ring.
By the time the Edwardians arrived, platinum was introduced and the millegrain setting. Diamonds became brighter. While the Edwardians often loved pearls and diamonds, they adored coloured stones.
The Art Deco period gave us a fashion of target and geometric designs. The skill of cutting stones was at its height by this time. In the 1950s the rings simply got bigger and grander.
Today we live in an era of sustainability and love for the old times. While diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald rings are the most popular, there is a fashion for other gemstones too, such as tourmalines, opals and Aquamarines.
Like your own love, these rings are all unique and one of a kind.