Victorian Period Engagement Rings

Victorian engagement rings come from the period of time when Queen Victoria of England reigned.

Recently there have been a number of celebrities spotted wearing Victorian engagement rings. One of the most popular types of engagement rings of this period is the ‘You And Me’ ring, which was a French-styled ring of great popularity in the 1800s. These rings have a pair of oppositely-set stones, with each one symbolizing one person of the couple. The twin stones may also be surrounded by other stones, and the pair may match or can be different. Often, one or both of the stones are diamonds.

One other ring that was highly popular in Victorian days was the ‘regards’ ring. The stones ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby, diamond and sapphire were used in these rings. Taking the first letter from the names of each of the stones gave the word REGARDS. Stones were sometimes used to make the initials or name of the person who gave the ring.

Other rings would spell out the word LOVE using lapis lazuli, opal, vermarine and an emerald.

The ‘dearest’ ring was another type of popular ring. Diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, emerald, sapphire and topaz were all combined in a ring to make up the word DEAREST.

Snake or serpent rings were widely given in the Victorian era. They consisted of 2 entwined snakes that symbolized the bride and groom. Following her engagement to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria herself was known to wear this type of ring.

The 3-stone Victorian engagement ring was quite widely-chosen by couples of that era. This design would often be made in the form of two entwined hearts and would be set with diamonds and pearls.

The engagement rings of Victorian times usually were made from yellow gold or rose gold, with occasional use of silver or platinum.

Most of the traditions surrounding Victorian engagements have ceased to exist. One of these Victorian traditions was that the prospective groom would have to request permission from the woman’s father to marry.

In the Victorian era, gold was in short supply, as were diamonds. This meant that ring makers had to design rings which made the best use of the limited materials available. Thin sheets or plates of gold, and filigree or pierced designs all helped to make the materials go further without the rings appearance being sacrificed. These methods made the rings appear quite substantial.

Sarah Carter has written extensively on antique engagement rings and Victorian engagement rings. Visit her site now to see more.