Let's start with some vocabulary. The term “antique” means
different things depending on how it's applied. When used with jewelry,
it describes a piece older than 100 years. So, grandma's ring might or
might not be antique. Great grandma's probably is. It’s worth
noting that unless grandma or great grandma were from a wealthy (very wealthy)
family, they would not have been able to afford a piece of jewelry were it not
for the technological development of die striking jewelry. Before that,
all jewelry was a one off creation made by hand and only available to the
wealthy.
To give some perspective on this from a design point of view, it’s a good idea to define some terms as they apply to jewelry design with respect to eras of design as they apply to the periods of jewelry I deal in and what we have come to visualize when we think of the antique engagement ring (i.e. what I have the remaining the tool and dies for!)
A little bit of history in this is that die striking, as it
relates to mass produced jewelry, begins and ends with these periods. Can
you say “rare”? What was stamped is what was stamped. There is no
more…most of the tools used to make these pieces were destroyed and sold for
scrap as manufacturers converted to more modern (less expensive) casting
technology.
1.
Georgian 1714-1830
2.
Victorian 1837-1901
3.
Edwardian 1901-1910
4.
Art Nouveau 1880s-1910
5.
Art Deco 1918-1938
6.
Retro Art 1938-1948
So, not everything that is often described as antique…is.
And that leads us to a couple of other relevant terms.
1. Vintage…pertaining to a certain time period
2.
Estate…previously owned
“Engagement Ring” is less convoluted, but no less an interesting
term. The engagement ring is what you offer your beloved with a proposal
of marriage; and what she accepts as to agree to the proposal. It’s the
vehicle of a formal agreement to a future marriage. It's part of a
contract! It’s worth noting that if the person who offers the ring as
part of the proposal breaks the contract, they have no claim on the ring.
If the person who accepted the ring with the offer of matrimony later decided
not to marry, they are obligated to return the ring…basic contract stuff.
I think that we are all affected by a nostalgic sense that
bygone eras were more virtuous. Many of us are also the beneficiary of a
parent's or grandparent's ring that comes not only with the nostalgia of the
past, but also with the continuity of a family keepsake passed down through the
generations. From my perspective, the pieces of jewelry created using the
die striking technology that allowed the masses to begin to own jewelry made
some of the most beautiful and long-lasting pieces ever made…which allows the
term “antique engagement ring” to even be part of our vocabulary. Without
this incredible technology that stamped the metal, thereby hardening it enough
so it would last as long as it did, and creating a process that would allow
both highly decorative pieces and mass production, there would be no “antique
engagement ring” as we know it.
Check out all our rings.
