Vintage engagement rings: Have you ever thought about it? The trend, increasingly strong in recent times, is to give, for the most romantic promise of love, a engagement rings truly unique, as only the jewels of the past can be. A sustainable and careful choice, which makes the most exciting moment of life even more special.
The engagement ring of Kate Middletonfor example, is the beautiful sapphire which, at the time, King Charles III gave to his then betrothed Diana Spencer. In fact, in royal houses, it is an undisputed tradition to get engaged by wearing a jewel handed down from generation to generation. But we, who are not related to the Royals and who may not even have family jewels suitable for the occasion, how can we do? No problem, indeed. Just do a little research and rely on those who really mean vintage. And which style to focus on? There is something for all tastes: from rings from the 1920s to the 1950s up to antiques belonging to the last century, from design models from the Victorian or Georgian era to Art Nouveau and Art Déco.
Poetic and sparkling, classic or with an eccentric touch: they are precious promises, to be offered on the most romantic day. And we also explain to you what is the best way to do it. Tag proof
We went to interview Manuel Menini by Vincent Vintage Bijoux, a cult address in Milan for those who love jewels and objects with a timeless charm (but who have a precise and important time). A refined and refined shop in every detail, where you can breathe all the love of its owner for this universe full of style and history.
Are you not Milanese? You can follow him on his instagram accounts from over 26 thousand followers: every day his amusing and original story of vintage bijoux will fascinate you!
What type of vintage engagement ring are your customers most looking for?
«The most requested model is certainly the classic one: a large single diamond, always much loved, mounted with some precious detail around it, such as daisies. But there are also people who are looking for unusual compositions and colored stones. After all, those who choose a vintage creation want something special, one of a kind: this is precisely the beauty».
Who gets to the shop first? Who buys the gift or who will receive it (perhaps with the excuse of taking a look)?
«Many come to look and then give specific indications to their partner. Of the boys, in particular, there are two categories: those totally lost and those who are looking for something specific (maybe they have been well educated?). A large chunk remains on the solitaire: the dream of a lifetime».
What advice does he give to those looking for the perfect gift to seal their promise of love?
«What I always say is to focus on something fairly everyday. Always magnificent and that makes you dream, certainly, but also wearable in everyday life. The engagement rings, after all, they are designed to be worn and always carried with us. But then it depends a lot, there are also those who want to give something extra-ordinary (and decidedly bulky) just to make the moment of declaration even more unforgettable».
Brilliant, certainly. But also sapphires – the favorites – very rare rubies and impressive emeralds: from Diana to Camilla, from Kate to Meghan, in the British royal family the engagement rings are one more beautiful and original than the other. And precious
Vintage engagement rings are a big trend today, but that wasn’t always the case. What has changed?
«Fortunately, that prejudice towards the world of pre-loved items, whether considered vintage or antiques, has broken. The classic idea that led to the question “who knows who put it first” now no longer exists. The thought of young people and not, or rather contemporary thought is no longer so rooted in this vision. The fear of vintage seen as something unknown and tied too much to the previous life of the object has been cleared. This also with a view to greater attention to sustainability».
Many celebs, in the past, have already sported vintage love tokens and the jewelers their future spouses have entrusted to are all specialized in this field. Fred Leightonfor example, is a real institution in New York: from his collection comes the ring from the 1920s that Michael Douglas bought to ask Catherine Zeta-Jones as his wife (they have been together for over 20 years).
Another point of reference in the Big Apple for vintage jewels is The One I Love NYC: here, indeed on theirs instagram accountsZoë Kravitz found her dream engagement ring, and actor Karl Glusman quickly granted his sweetheart’s wish (for the record, the marriage only lasted 18 months).
So today what is the approach that you experiment the most?
«Today we are based on other sensations. For example, as I say, if that piece attracts you it means that it transmits the right energy, that there is a good story behind it or in any case the perfect one for you. One category of people, in particular, comes here looking for the history of the object but unfortunately for the most important pieces, such as antiques (with at least a century of history), it is difficult to trace their previous lives. If I know them, I obviously tell them because I believe it is important to pass on certain lives enclosed in jewels, but it is often difficult to trace the anecdotes they hide because the same people who sell family items do not fully understand the circumstances in which certain creations became part, perhaps, of the life of their great-aunt, grandmother, or even more distant ancestor. Too bad, that’s why I want to keep alive the stories I come across».
An emerald of over three carats: with this stone the shaman Durek Verrett asked to marry the Nordic princess. A precious and unique engagement ring, also approved by Gwyneth Paltrow
Each vintage engagement ring is a unique piece, how to treat it?
«They are not simple objects, in the sense that, since they are all unique, the sizes available are those, and stop. Many times it is possible to intervene on the diameter, thanks to the work of specialized goldsmiths, but I have noticed that many customers do not want to affect the model and therefore, from the start, they look for the one that fits perfectly. As if it were a sign of destiny.”
What do people love about these creations?
«The fact that they are unique, certainly, but there is also a lot of interest in their technical characteristics: it’s always nice to create a file where you can tell what era they belong to, the cut of the stones, if there is a reference model (many return to time, interpreted in various ways, such as the daisy)».
How to choose the most suitable style for us?
«Many times those who arrive let themselves be guided purely by instinct. Each of us is fascinated by a certain era: the girl who loves the forties, unconsciously, will probably fall in love with a ring from that period. Anyone looking for a piece from the late 19th century has a feeling for the Victorian era and will come out at the moment of choice. Each historical period represents a category of woman.
Diamonds top the wishes, along with colored stones. The question is: are pearl rings given away?
“So, in my opinion, yes. Because the rule that everyone must follow their own instincts always applies. Many are superstitious, though. The other day, for example, a customer came who tried on a few frames and, before leaving, left me 1 cent. I asked him why and he replied that when you try on the rings you have to pay a fee, even a symbolic one. It’s never happened to me before!”
Charlene of Monaco and the others, all royals who have a “complicated relationship” with their engagement ring
The love token appears and disappears on the ring fingers of queens and princesses, sometimes being reworked and sometimes even being replaced. If the marriage is solid, such changes do not give rise to any gossip. If, on the other hand, the union is talked about, even the precious rings become something to talk about
The choice of the ring is an important moment: do you have a particular episode to tell us?
«I remember very well this boy, all agitated, who arrived at the shop with his dog when I was about to close. He chose a strange ring, completely out of tradition, in bronze with the symbol of a little dog and he said to me: “I want to ask her to marry me”. And me, are you sure? With this ring? And he explained to me that that dog best represented their story and the beginning of their family. After a week he came back here, with her, that he had said yes! I think his choice was modern, outside the box, and I hope that many people understand that the most important value of the engagement ring is what it represents for us ».
Because every story is unique and special, just like a vintage engagement ring.
PS Manuel and I say goodbye and I go back to my computer to write the piece. After a while, I get a voice message from him: «Hi Silvia, you can’t believe it: the guys with the dog I told you about have just left the shop. More and more happy, they told me about the upcoming wedding. What an emotion!”.
And, with this coincidence, we just have to give them (including the dog) our best wishes for a very happy life together!
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
