The Edwardian period saw
engagement rings turn into a widely accepted custom in the society. The industrial revolution brought more prosperity and saw the emergence of a burgeoning middle class in America and much of Europe, so people could afford fine
jewelry more than ever before. The
engagement rings of that period often featured
diamonds in ornate and lacy
platinum band designs.
On the other hand, the
rings of the 1920’s and 1930’s were more geometric in terms of
patterns. Unlike Edwardian
rings, they reflected the Art Deco decorative
designs or architectural elements of the period. The Art Deco
engagement rings often feature
diamonds set in
white gold or
platinum bands and colorful accent
stones like rubies and
sapphires.
The
engagement rings of the 1940’s period usually featured feminine motifs like flowers, ribbons, and bows and curving
designs.
Platinum bands were scarcely used in them since the
white metal was used for wartime effort, thus
gold was the
metal band of choice. The 1940s
diamond engagement rings were big and bold, despite the hardships of the Second World War. Even though
diamonds remained the coveted
gems for
rings of the period, budget conscious people often turned to synthetic
stones like
sapphires and rubies.