EXQUISITE ENGAGEMENT RINGS FROM THE VICTORIAN ERA

Named after the youthful Queen Victoria, renowned for her love of exquisite jewelry, the Victorian era, spanning from 1835 to 1900, gave rise to captivating jewelry designs.

Crafted predominantly from rose or yellow gold, Victorian jewelry featured symbolic designs with delicate enamel and intricate engraving. Many individuals chose designs based on meaningful symbolism, with nature-inspired themes like thick branches and flowing flowers gaining widespread popularity. The snake, symbolizing eternity and wisdom, adorned many engagement rings.

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  Cherilyn Design Victorian Diamond Engagement Ring

Regarding stones used in engagement rings, the majority preferred their birthstones. For example, garnet for January, amethyst for February, aquamarine for March, and so on. However, not everyone adhered to this, and common precious jewels included topazes, amethysts, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and pearls.

It's worth noting that ring trends evolved during the Victorian Era. Early Victorian rings often featured an organic, serpentine design symbolizing continual love, crafted from 18 or 22-carat gold. In the Mid-Victorian Period (1860 to 1885), darker-colored gemstones like black opal and rose gold gained popularity. Finally, the Late Victorian era (1890 to 1901) witnessed a surge in the use of large diamonds.