VINTAGE & ANTIQUE RINGS

Rings for all occasions

Mid century 9k Gold Carved Jadeite Flower Head Ring Circa 1960
Out of stock
Contemporary 18ct White Gold Baguette Cut Diamond and Sapphire Ring
Price£595.00
Early 20th Century 18ct Gold European Cut Diamond Band Ring Circa 1910
Out of stock
Victorian 15ct Gold Emerald and Garnet Floral Cluster Ring Circa 1867
Out of stock
Mid Century 14ct Gold Synthetic Colour Change Sapphire Ring Circa 1960
Out of stock
Edwardian 18ct Gold and Platinum 0.50ct Brilliant Diamond Ring Circa 1915
Out of stock
Victorian 15ct Yellow Gold Ruby And Pearl Band Ring Circa 1878
Price£525.00
Victorian 18ct Gold Opal and Old Cut Diamond Navette Ring, Circa 1900
Price£595.00
Georg Jensen 18ct Gold Diamond Magic Band Ring size 52 Circa 2010
Price£1,995.00
Contemporary 18ct White Gold Baguette Cut Diamond Engagement Ring H Colour
Price£1,485.00
Victorian 18ct Gold Sapphire and Old Cut Diamond Ring Circa 1890
Out of stock
Edwardian Lapis Lazuli, Rose Cut Diamond and Green Enamel Dome Ring, Circa 1910
Price£1,185.00
Early Victorian 18ct Gold Peridot and Rose Cut Diamond Cluster Ring, Circa 1850
Out of stock
Edwardian 18ct Gold Sapphire and Old Cut Diamond Ring, Circa 1910
Price£845.00
Art Deco 18ct Gold French Ruby and Diamond Tank Ring, Circa 1940
Price£2,150.00
Victorian Gents 9ct Gold Blue Synthetic Star Sapphire Signet Ring, Circa 1900
Out of stock
Georg Jensen 18ct White Gold Magic Diamond Band Ring, Size 52, Circa 2010
Price£1,345.00
Georg Jensen 18ct Yellow Gold Magic Band Ring, Size 52, Circa 2010
Price£995.00
Art Deco 18ct Gold and Platinum Pear Cut Ruby & Old Cut Diamond Ring, Circa 1920
Out of stock
Victorian 18ct Gold Rose Cut Diamond Forget Me Not Mourning Ring, Circa 1869
Price£895.00
Mid Century Danish 14ct Gold Synthetic Sapphire Mens Signet Ring, Circa 1960
Out of stock
Vintage 18ct White and Yellow Gold Yellow Sapphire Ring, Circa 1989
Price£895.00
18ct White Gold 1.25ct Princess and Brilliant Cut Half Eternity Band Ring
Price£1,795.00
Mid Century 18ct Gold 2.7ct Emerald and 3.2ct Old Cut Diamond Cluster Ring
Out of stock
Edwardian 18ct Gold Sapphire and Diamond Gypsy Ring Circa 1907
Out of stock
Victorian 18ct Gold Ruby and Old Mine Cut Diamond Gypsy Ring, Circa 1896
Price£985.00
Mid Century 18ct Gold Square Sapphire & Diamond Cluster Ring, Circa 1950
Out of stock
Edwardian 18ct Gold 3.3ct Blue Water Opal Single Stone Ring, Circa 1905
Out of stock
Art Deco 18ct White Gold Three Stone Early Brilliant Cut Diamond Ring Circa 1920
Out of stock
Edwardian 18ct Gold Old Cut Diamond Two Stone and Sapphire Ring
Out of stock
Rainbow Multi-Gem 18ct Gold Ring set with Peridot, Diamond, Topaz and more
Price£995.00
Edwardian 18ct Gold 1ct Sapphire and 1ct Diamond Cluster Ring, Circa 1910
Price£2,750.00
Vintage 9ct Gold 0.25ct Brilliant Cut Diamond Ring, Circa 1990
Out of stock
Edwardian 18ct Gold Old Cut Diamond Horseshoe Ring, Circa 1910
Out of stock
Art Deco 2.35ct Old European and Baguette Cut Diamond Engagement Ring Circa 1946
Price£17,750.00
Vintage Ruby and Old Cut Diamond Double Head Snake Ring
Price£675.00
Vintage 18ct Gold Boodles Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond Plaque Ring Circa 1977
Out of stock
Early Victorian Opal and Turquoise Plaque Ring, Circa 1840
Out of stock
Vintage 22ct Gold Engraved Wedding Band, Circa 1968
Out of stock
Mid Century 22ct Gold Engraved Wedding Band, Circa 1959
Out of stock

Antique and Vintage Rings

Vintage and antique rings of all shapes and sizes have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewellery lovers.

No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. Dating as far back as the 3rd millennium BC examples of what we would recognise as finger adornments have been found in places such as the Indus Valley Civilisation and a number of examples have been found across Egypt as early as 4500 BCE.

They have always carried deep meaning with pieces from the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolised strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.

Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewellery. Jewellery devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.

The most collectible engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with coloured gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewellery. The late-1700s paste jewellery was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewellery.

Art Deco jewellery, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewellery.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favoured over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.

Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, pre-loved and vintage rings at Howell 1870.