Vintage Emerald Engagement Rings

Emeralds have long been a classic and luxurious choice for engagement rings. An emerald engagement ring is synonymous with vintage glamour, adorning icons from Elizabeth Taylor to Grace Kelly. Explore our immediately available collection online or view the entire collection of vintage-inspired emerald rings in Hatton Garden, London, UK.

History

Emerald engagement rings have a long and fascinating history. Perhaps the most enchanting vintage emerald ring story is that of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert gifted his bride with a snake ring - a symbol of eternal love - set with an emerald. Theirs was a deep and lasting love, and the popularity of emerald stone rings was just as enduring. In the 1920s, emeralds added a vibrant flash of colour to Art Deco rings, often paired with baguette-cut diamonds.

Most recently, Megan Fox showcased a stunning toi-et-moi emerald and diamond engagement ring, reminiscent of Jackie Kennedy’s chosen style some decades previously. Adorning royalty and celebrity from the Duchess of Windsor to Halle Berry, emerald engagement rings have illustrious appeal. Today, emeralds are a beautiful choice for those seeking timeless colour in their engagement ring, or to celebrate 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

Colour

Emeralds are part of the beryl family, their unique green hue formed by traces of the element chromium and sometimes vanadium.

For lovers of colour, a green gemstone engagement ring is an irresistible choice. An emerald is always green, ranging from yellow-green to blue-green. The most prized emeralds are a distinct pure green to slightly blue-green, with consistent colour. Choose an emerald gold ring to complement the green stone with warm yellow gold. Alternatively, pick a bi-colour, white gold, or platinum ring to highlight the emerald in sleek style.

Clarity and Cut

Emeralds have a lower refractive index than a stone such as a diamond, so they emit beautiful green ‘flashes’ of light rather than brilliant sparkle.

Emeralds are classically found in an emerald cut, so synonymous with the stone that it named the cut. As a result, emerald cut engagement rings lend themselves beautifully to various styles, from a solitaire engagement ring to a vintage cluster. An emerald cut emerald is the classic choice, but we adore these gemstones in all shapes, including round, heart and cushion cuts. Emeralds are known for being a naturally included gemstone, and clarity is not prized or judged in quite the same way as some other stones.

Indeed, gemstone aficionados consider inclusions one of the stone’s most compelling characteristics. Emerald inclusions are often called ‘jardin’ - meaning ‘garden’ - because they resemble plant fronds or moss. In addition, the inclusions can give some indication of the source of a stone.

Size

Thanks to their intense green shade, emerald rings are striking in all sizes. Embrace vintage glamour with a large centre stone. For a more subtle look, turn to delicate emerald antique rings for inspiration. Smaller stones are brought to life with millegrain (milgrain) edging or diamond detailing.

Emeralds have a lower density than diamonds, so a stone of the same carat weight could be larger, offering more ‘show’ for weight.

Origin

The mines in upper Egypt were the sole source of emeralds in the ancient world. These were the most reliable source of emeralds until Colombian emeralds were introduced to the international market in the 15th and 16th centuries, gaining a reputation for stunning colour and quality. While Columbia still mines emeralds, the market now includes stones from various sources, including Brazil and Zambia. Our gemstones are selected for quality and colour, with many coming from Columbia or Zambia.

Quality

There is no formal grading system for coloured gemstones, with value and quality determined by a combination of characteristics; colour, size, shape, and clarity.

Since antiquity, the standard practice has been for emeralds to be treated with colourless oil to reduce the appearance of small inclusions. Therefore, we do not sell emeralds given treatments such as coloured oil. We choose the stones for our natural emerald engagement rings on quality and beauty. From solitaire to trilogy rings, our hand-selected stones look lovely in any setting.

We can set any ring in our collection with an emerald, or we can help to create a custom piece. To commission a bespoke emerald ring or make an appointment to view the rings in the collection, pleasecontact us.