Victorian Engagement Rings
The time interval when original Victorian engagement rings were crafted covers some seven decades from the late 1830s to the 1900s. Simple or intricate, such jewels still fascinate people who make Victorian jewelry their first choice when shopping for engagement or wedding rings. In case you are after an original item, mention must be made that you should not purchase anything that is not certified or authenticated by a reputable professional in the branch. Fine jewelry shops also sell imitations of Victorian engagement rings, and the items are marked as such; moreover, you will also see the difference in terms of price as well.
Original Victorian engagement rings were usually manufactured from yellow and rose gold with all sorts of colorful stones. Diamonds were not held in too high esteem at the time particularly due to their scarcity. Gemstones were, therefore, the first and favorite choice for the bridal jewelry that was worn much in the same way as it is today: on the third finger of the left hand. Normally, the colored stones are set in clusters, but there are also Victorian engagement rings varieties that have a central larger pearl surrounded by small diamonds. The popularity of the diamonds increased towards the end of the Victorian Age with the opening of the diamond mines in present-day South Africa.
Though falling in the same category of Victorian engagement rings, romantic rings stand apart by their different features. The bands of such jewelry displayed all sorts of colored stones, and on the inside they had love messages etched or engraved. Other names for such jewels are Dearest or Regard rings because of these very inscriptions that they carried. Under certain circumstances, the colored stones were alternated with small diamonds, without the use of a central large rock that would have caught all the attention.
Snake Victorian engagement rings should also be mentioned, since they were inspired by Queen Victoria's personal jewels. Serpent rings are held very high in esteem even today thanks to their symbolism: the ring as such consists of two intertwined snakes with diamond, ruby and sapphire accents that make them truly remarkable. Serpent rings suggest the couple in the eternity of love and faith. Presently, the yellow and rose gold of the Victorian age has been replaced by platinum and white gold, even if the rest of the design has been generally preserved. The choice as such is up to you!