Art Deco Old Cut Diamond Solitaire
Classic diamond solitaire engagement ring dating from the Art Deco period, circa 1920. The stone is a gorgeous, chunky half-carat old mine cut set in a simple eight prong mount (known as the Tiffany setting). The ring is crafted in rich 18 carat yellow gold and the setting is platinum to accentuate the icy white colour of the diamond, and set up a warm/cool tone contrast with the band.
At the time this ring was made the popularity of the diamond solitaire engagement ring was on the wane, particularly amongst younger couples. The discovery of diamond deposits in South Africa in 1866 made diamonds accessible, for the first time, to those of lesser means (than the aristocracy and nobility), but by the end of WW1 they began to fall out of fashion, then even more so during the Great Depression. By the end of the 1930s it's estimated that only 10% of American engagement rings contained a diamond. So what happened? How was the style, near ubiquitous throughout the latter half of the 20th century, ultimately revived? One word: DeBeers. They launched a marketing campaign in 1939 - possibly one of the most successful in advertising history - based around educating the public on the 4 Cs, and later incorporating the phrase "a diamond is forever". It was a tricky balancing act... on the one hand they had to convince the public that every married woman should have a diamond on her finger, while on the other they had to maintain that diamonds were exceptionally rare and covetable. The sales of diamonds in the United States rose from $23 million to $2.1 billion between 1939 and 1979.
Era: Art Deco, circa 1920
Ring size: Q 1/2 or 8.25 US. Resizeable for £55
Head size: 5.9mm by 6.7mm
Stone: 0.56ct Old Mine Cut Diamond - approx. F/G colour, I1 clarity
Marks: Stamped 18CT and PLAT, H & T Maker's Mark
Condition: Great antique condition
Full appraisal document provided with each item
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable)
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain)
Shipping
Express shipping is free of charge and carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
UPS Express (International)
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
Buying a Gift?
Leave a note at checkout and we'll include a handwritten note to the recipient. Just tell us what you'd like to say
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
A 25% deposit will be taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved, often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
More Questions?
Get in touch... There's a live chat at the bottom right of each page.
alex@lostowl.jewelry
An inscription can be added inside the band, where space allows. Add 2-3 weeks to shipping times
Add a note in the cart* with your desired size and/or inscription
*shopping cart, not the checkout