Era of Romance: The Vintage Belle Époque Diamond Ring

Pi This captivating piece from the Belle Époque, this vintage crossover engagement ring illustrates the opulence and artistic talent of the early 20th century. Crafted in warm yellow and white gold, it is adorned with five “old mine” brilliant-cut diamonds, complemented by fourteen delicate rose-cut diamonds. Evoking the luxury of the era, the diamonds, symbols of strength and invincibility, blend the romance and majesty of the past. This exquisite jewel reflects not only a rich history but also the timeless charm of a love set in diamonds.

Object group of antique jewelry
engagement ring (or anniversary ring)

Condition
very good condition
more information on our condition scale

Country of origin
unknown

Style
Belle Époque – The Belle Époque is a period of European social history that began at the end of the 19th century and extended until the First World War. Taking place during the French Third Republic and the German Empire, the “Belle Époque” was named retrospectively, when it began to be regarded as a “golden age.” The great European powers and new technologies improved life, and commercial arts adapted Renaissance and 18th-century styles to modern forms. In the United States, newly wealthy and emerging from the Panic of 1873, this comparable era was nicknamed the Gilded Age. In the United Kingdom, this era overlapped the end of what is called the Victorian era and the period known as the Edwardian era.
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Style specifics
The Belle Époque (in French “Belle Époque”) is a period in European social history that began at the end of the 19th century with the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and lasted until the First World War (1914-1918).

Taking place during the time of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, the “Belle Époque” was named retrospectively, when it began to be considered a “golden age”: the great European powers, new technologies improved life, and commercial arts adapted Renaissance and 18th-century styles to modern forms.

In the newly wealthy United States, emerging from the Panic of 1873, this comparable era was called the “Gilded Age.” In the United Kingdom, this period coincided with the end of the Victorian era and the so-called “Edwardian era.”

In the Belle Époque, coal and cheap labor contributed to the cult of the orchid and enabled the perfection of fruits grown under glass, while the apparatus of state dinners spread to the upper classes; champagne was perfected during the Belle Époque. Exotic feathers and furs took on a greater role than ever in fashion, haute couture was invented in Paris, the center of the Belle Époque, where fashion began to evolve according to an annual cycle; in Paris, restaurants such as Maxim’s reached new splendor and prestige, becoming parade grounds for the wealthy, and the Opéra Garnier devoted immense spaces to staircases, similar venues for spectacle.

After the middle of the century, railways connected all the major cities in Europe to spa towns such as Biarritz and Deauville; their carriages were strictly divided into first and second class, but the wealthiest began to order private cars, exclusivity being the mark of opulent luxury. The bohemian lifestyle acquired a different glamour, practiced in the cabarets of Montmartre.

Period
around 1910
Events and facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Material 18K
warm yellow and white gold or platinum (tested with a touchstone)
more information about precious metals

Additional information
Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April and, in addition to being the most popular precious stone for engagement rings, it is also the anniversary gemstone for the 10th and 60th years of marriage.

Although diamond is the hardest of all gemstones known to man, its composition is the simplest: it is made of ordinary carbon. The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were splinters of stars fallen to Earth. Some even claimed they were the tears of gods, crystallized lightning, or hardened drops of dew. The exact origin of diamonds remained a mystery for centuries.

In ancient times, only kings wore diamonds, as a symbol of strength, courage, and invincibility. Over the centuries, the diamond has acquired its unique status as the ultimate gift of love. It was said that Cupid's arrows were tipped with diamonds, whose magic was unrivaled.

But it was only in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, that the tradition of diamond engagement rings began. The very reason a woman wears it on the third finger of her left hand goes back to the Egyptian belief that the vena amoris (vein of love) ran directly from the heart to the top of the third finger of the left hand.

Diamonds
Five old mine brilliant cut diamonds with an estimated weight of ± 0.85 ct, color and clarity F/I, vs/i
Fourteen rose cut diamonds. We do not have the weight of the diamonds, which is usual in our trade for rose cuts.
All diamond weights, color shades, and clarity are approximate as the stones are not removed from their settings to preserve the integrity of the mounting.
All the diamonds we offer are checked by the IJGC to determine if they are natural or synthetic, and all the diamonds in this jewel are guaranteed 100% natural.

Birthstones
Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for the month of April.
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Characteristics
No marks.
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Dimensions
upper band width of the ring 1.98 cm (0.78 inch)
see the image with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
4.20 grams (2.70 dwt)

Continental EU ring size: 52 and 16½, USA size: 6, UK size: L

Resizing
Free resizing (only for extreme resizing do we need to charge).
more information about ring sizes

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