Popular 1950s engagement ring syles

By the 1950s, the world had started to move beyond the trauma imposed on many different markets from World War II, including the jewelry trade. Metals like platinum which had been scarce during the war were once again available, and white metals including platinum and white gold became the popular choice for 1950s engagement ring styles. This is still a popular choice for engagement rings today because diamonds reflect better in white metals than yellow making a lower grade diamond have the preferred appearance of a lower color. This along with a greater access to diamonds influenced engagement ring styles in the 50s.

 

 

 

Popular 1950s stylistic elements

Stylistic elements found in engagement rings from the 1950s include engravings or braid details in the setting. They also featured progressively larger stones. One of the most popular styles representative of the 50s were engagement rings featuring a large center diamond nestled among symmetrical smaller diamonds or baguettes, on either side of it. Popular cuts included round cuts, Asscher cuts, emerald Cuts and marquise Cuts. The diamond’s cut is what gives it the ability to reflect light.

 

 

Engagement rings of 1950s Hollywood stars

The 50s enjoyed the excitement of being a decade with its own royal wedding when Hollywood star Grace Kelly, whose dress inspired Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, married Prince Rainer of Monaco. She wore a 10.15 karat Cartier emerald cut solitaire engagement ring. 

Princess Grace wore 10.15 karat Cartier emerald cut ring.

If you think that’s big, Elizabeth Taylor was given a 29.4 karat emerald cut Cartier engagement ring by Mike Todd. But while these rings where topics of conversation, one of the biggest engagement/wedding band trends of the ‘50s still going on today was started by Hollywood’s Audrey Hepburn − stackable rings. Her fiancé Mel Ferrer presented her with three rings, a baguette cut white gold eternity band along with two wedding bands, one yellow gold and the other rose gold. He figured she could mix and match them to suit her mood and outfit. 

 

 Audrey Hepburn − stackable rings

 

The fun thing about engagement rings of the 1950s is that many of the ring trends popular then are still popular today. So if you’d like to wear a vintage ring that looks current or rather buy a vintage-inspired ring, the 50s offer a nice selection with options you’re sure to love. 

Photo credits: wikimedia.org, glamor magazine, British Pathe, grandrapidsbride

History of halo engagement rings

Today, the halo style engagement ring is the second most popular engagement ring style (solitare is first). One reason for this popularity is that for couples on a budget, the halo setting enhances the look of the center diamond making it look bigger with a halo of smaller diamonds circling it. This popularity isn’t something new, though. In fact, the history of halo engagement rings can be traced back to the Georgian era in Europe (1714-1837). At that time, halo rings were designed with smaller round diamonds or pearls circling the center stone. During the Victorian era (1837-1901) halo rings took on a new look that imitated flowers using colored gemstones as the center stone which made them a popular choice for an engagement ring. This popularity carried over into the 1920s when what we look at as the “classic” diamond halo setting of a larger round diamond surrounded by smaller round diamonds originated during the Art Deco movement.

Rose Gold Halo Engagement Ring

Popular halo engagement ring shapes

Today’s Halo diamond engagement rings are available with a variety of stylish options paired with it classic vintage panache. They can be purchased in a variety of precious metals including halo engagement rings crafted from rose gold and a variety of shapes including the trendy heart-shaped diamond. Other popular shapes include:

Cushion Cut Round Brilliant Cut Diamond

• Vintage round halo ring: The timelessness of vintage round diamond halo rings is still the most popular choice.
• Halo engagement rings princess cut: The second most popular shape is the Princess cut. The face-up shape of the princess cut is square or rectangular. From the side it is comparable to an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. These rings mingle classic luster and contemporary angles and is a shape found in many vintage halos.
• Cushion cut halo ring: The cushion cut diamond unites a square cut with rounded corners. It gets the name “cushion” because it looks a lot like a pillow and makes a good choice for people who prefer a vintage look to their jewelry.
• Emerald cut halo ring: The emerald cut shape brings emphasis to the clarity of the diamond. It’s has a large table and distinctive step-cut pavilion. The length of this cut compliments the finger.
• Oval diamond halo ring: Oval shaped rings offer sparkle comparable to the round diamond but with a less common profile that brings a certain vintage charm with it and something a little different for brides who want to be unique.

Halo diamond engagement rings have made a beautiful, bold choice throughout history and still are a stylistic choice that makes any carat diamond appear bigger than it really is.

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How is a promise ring different than an engagement ring?

As promise rings gain in popularity, they raise some questions regarding what they mean. Many of these questions can be answered by looking at how the promise ring differs from an engagement ring. Both rings represent a promise, but while the engagement ring represents a promise to marry, what the promise ring symbolizes is highly individual between couples. Most of the time it represents a token of love and commitment within the confines of a romantic relationship without being tied to a timetable. It can be compared to couples exchanging class rings and going steady in the past. It might mean a promise to become engaged someday like following graduation, or when the couple is more financially stable, or it might simply reflect devotion to one another.

History of promise rings

Promise rings of sorts date back to ancient times when a ring was used to seal a promise. By the 16th and 17th centuries, precursors to today’s promise rings were exchanged as tokens of love or friendship. Poesy rings were gold finger rings with a short sentiment or promise inscribed and given to a friend or lover. Another popular style, known as a scribbling ring was exchanged by lovers in the 16^th century. It was set with uncut diamond chips, which lovers used to etch romantic messages into glass windowpanes.

 

 

Promise ring finger

The promise ring is available in a variety of styles including things like infinity symbols, entwined hearts, or Claddagh rings, but in general, they are smaller and subtler than an engagement ring, and can be worn on the traditional ring finger on the left hand or not. However, if a couple wants to avoid confusion as to whether or not the ring is an engagement ring, it can be worn on another finger. If an engagement ring is given, then the promise ring is worn on the right hand.

Promise ring for couples

How to give a promise ring

If you’re thinking of giving a promise ring to your someone special, you can relax because there’s no right or wrong way to give a promise ring. You don’t have to get down on the traditional bended-knee of engagement ring tradition or anything like that. Instead, promise rings are more often presented at a romantic dinner for two or as a gift for a birthday, Christmas, or Valentine’s Day.
 

One huge difference between an engagement ring and a promise ring is that a promise ring can be shared between friends promising to always be friends, or even given to a child by a parent with a promise to love them forever. But there’s some confusion between the meaning of promise rings and purity rings too. The “promise” attached to a purity ring is often a religious vow to practice abstinence until marriage. With a promise ring, often only the person wearing the promise ring and the one who gives it know what the promise really is and it may or may not contain a promise to remain celibate.

Whatever the reason you want to give or get a promise ring, the promise ring for couples is a tangible symbol and reminder of the love and commitment it represents.

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