“With this ring I thee wed, and all my goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, ‘til death do us part”. This is a very traditional wedding vow used to exchange wedding bands and is the most significant outward appearance of the wedding pledge.
As early as the Egyptian time, wedding bands were a symbol of eternity with the rings having no beginning and no end. The space for the finger in the center of the ring is thought of as the portal to events either known or unknown. It is no wonder that wedding bands were considered a present of significant importance.
In the Roman times, the wedding band, worn on the third finger of the left hand was referred to as the “vena amoris”, Latin for the vein of love. It was believed that there was a direct connection between the wedding ring finger and the heart.
The first ancient wedding bands were made of grass or hemp and later leather, bone or ivory. As time passed, a single gold band with colored gemstones was used but was more a show of wealth. Later still, although rust was a problem, iron was used for wedding bands symbolizing the strength of the bond between a husband and a wife. At one point, the giving and receiving of wedding rings put a claim on a woman as a piece of property. In renaissance Italy, silver was used for wedding bands and they were inlaid with enamel and had clasping hands on the front. Posey rings, meaning love poem, were made of silver for the engagement ring and later replaced with a single gold wedding band.
It is amazing to think that bands of these types led to the diamond antique engagement ring of today.
Source: https://gesner.com/blog/a-historical-perspective-on-the-wedding-bands/
Gesner Estate Jewelry: https://gesner.com/
Antique Engagement Rings: https://gesner.com/antique-vintage-jewelry/engagement-rings
Antique Wedding Rings: https://gesner.com/antique-vintage-jewelry/wedding-bands
Gesner Estate Jewelry - Florida and Tampa Bay's Largest collection of Antique/Vintage and Estate Platinum Engagement Rings, specializing in Late Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco engagement rings and Retro time periods.
We Offer:
One of the worlds largest inventory of vintage and antique jewelry
Appraisal services
Jewelry & Gemstone consultations
World-Wide shipping
Extensive knowledge & expertise
If you are looking for the best online jewelry store, Gesner Estate Jewelry is the most trustworthy name you can find. Buying expensive jewelry online can be a little scary so if you are asking yourself why you should choose Gesner, there is only one answer – you will not get better customer service elsewhere! Gesner’s staff provides unparalleled service, from answering all your questions and sending pictures for inspection to shipping your items to your doorstep in a flash. Furthermore, every item is accompanied by a complete Gem Analysis and Appraisal prepared by a G.I.A. Graduate Gemologist.
Gesner is the name standing for TRUST and COMMITMENT. While the business has a beautiful brick-and-mortar store in Tampa, FL the entire inventory is made available on the official website of www.gesner.com which enables you to make an informed choice and acquire the best and most beautiful Engagement Ring for your special day!
Estate jewelry is defined in this way: jewelry which has been previously owned. It could refer to a true antique (over 50 years old) or to a recently purchased item.
Why do people want Estate Jewelry?
Nostalgia - Sentiment plays a large part in jewelry selection. People are searching more and more for reminders of past, more stable times. Just as the whole mood of nostalgia continues strong, older jewelry reminds them of those times.
Design - Individual craftsmen left their tell-tale mark of quality with an outstanding sense of shape and form. There were no machines stamping out pieces by the thousands, only individual artisans practicing their chosen profession of fabricating beautiful jewelry one piece at a time.
Mid and late Victorian Period: 1850 – 1890
With the reign of Queen Victoria, Great Britain and France became a major jewelry center. The Industrial Revolution was creating a growing middle class that used jewelry to flaunt its new- found wealth. And with mechanization came the ability to mine precious metals and gemstones as well as to mass produce jewelry.
The romantic image of the young queen and her beloved consort, Prince Albert, influenced styles of her early and mid-reign. Seed pearls, shell cameos, strands of pearls and small colored stones such as garnets, amethysts and topaz were fashionable. With Albert’s death in 1861, jewelry changed drastically as Victoria adopted heavy and somber jewelry to express her grief. Typical materials were jet, black onyx, tortoise shell and hair (usually horse hair), often set into heavy gold work.
Edwardian Period: 1901-1914
Victoria was succeeded by her son Edward VII whose reign celebrated a joyous return to elegance. Jewelry complimented the laces, silks and feathers worn by Edwardian ladies. Diamonds were in profusion, either alone or with colored stones. Pearls were also very popular.
Gesner Estate Jewelry - Florida and Tampa Bay's Largest collection of Antique/Vintage and Estate Platinum Engagement Rings, specializing in Late Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco engagement rings and Retro time periods.
Gesner Estate Jewelry provides the finest jewelry at the lowest price possible. We specialize in antique & vintage engagement rings jewelry from the turn of the 20th century to the late 1930's; however, our inventory of newer pieces in gold and platinum are also unsurpassed. We maintain an inventory of several thousand unique items. Every piece is in wonderful condition and uncommon in design. We do not sell reproduction jewelry or lab-created gems unless it has been very clearly stated in the item's description.
We are a family owned firm that has been in business since 1972. We are among the leaders in antique and estate jewelry. We welcome the opportunity to speak with you personally about ourselves and what we do. Please feel free to call us anytime at (727) 586-6000 or email us at gesner@gesner.com
Why Choose Gesner Estate Jewelry?
If you are looking for the best online jewelry store, Gesner Estate Jewelry is the most trustworthy name you can find. Buying expensive jewelry online can be a little scary so if you are asking yourself why you should choose Gesner, there is only one answer – you will not get better customer service elsewhere! Gesner’s staff provides unparalleled service, from answering all your questions and sending pictures for inspection to shipping your items to your doorstep in a flash. Furthermore, every item is accompanied by a complete Gem Analysis and Appraisal prepared by a G.I.A. Graduate Gemologist.
Gesner is the name standing for TRUST and COMMITMENT. While the business has a beautiful brick-and-mortar store in Tampa, FL the entire inventory is made available on the official website of www.gesner.com which enables you to make an informed choice and acquire the best and most beautiful Engagement Ring for your special day!
You have found your soul mate and it is time to pop the big question. So the next big question is, “Where do I begin?”
There are many things to consider, from style to budget, and your own personal taste. The perfect engagement ring is the one that best suits your personality which is what makes antique and vintage rings a great option.
Each ring has an unrepeatable design and comes with a story of love. People feel drawn to heirloom jewelry for its characteristic craftsmanship that machine-produced jewelry can never achieve. Additionally, vintage and antique engagement rings are typically a more affordable option.
Why Are Antique or Vintage Engagement Rings Special?
It Has a Story to Tell: Purchasing antique or vintage jewelry is like owning a piece of someone’s past. Perhaps the piece is passed down from generation to generation carrying stories of each of its owners. Antiques are pieces of history that survived the test of time and maintained integrity while the world around them changed. The nostalgia evoked by possessing an antique piece of jewelry is an incomparable sentiment for many.
Great Quality, Design & Nostalgia: Wearing a ring hand-made by skilled artisans using traditional techniques rarely seen in modern jewelry is meaningful and special. Each antique piece reflects the attention to detail and subtle sparkle achieved only by artisans passionate about their chosen profession of creating distinct jewelry one piece at a time. Who wouldn’t like to adorn the special day with an engagement ring that is authentic and the only one of its kind.
You ask, “Why Buy Antique Jewelry?” Uniqueness is the simple answer. When purchasing antique jewelry which is 50 years old or older, you are acquiring something from another time; something that may be rare and something that is definitely different from what you see in most jewelry stores. Consider perusing an Estate & Antique Jewelry Store, like ours. Estate simply means previously owned. You will often come across that special Antique Jewelry find and maybe something from another time period that has specific unique characteristics.
When buying estate and vintage jewelry, you are cutting out the middlemen by not buying from manufacturers where gold and platinum is at a premium. When you find a trusted jeweler that specializes in this kind of jewelry, you have found a treasure. Value comes in many ways. Your jeweler buys from attorneys that handle estates, from auctions, from contacts close and far and from individuals that come to the store to sell what they don’t need or want anymore.
Art Deco Engagement Rings-
Art Deco Engagement Rings cover the time period between the 1920’s and 1930’s. Emeralds, Sapphires and Rubies became very popular and were often used with diamonds to create the “look” of the Art Deco era. The Art Deco “look” often combines influences of cubism, geometric and angular design. They are equally popular with the Edwardian look and certain to be cherished for years to come. These rings are very hard to find and are still very much in high demand.
New ways of cutting stones and the use of platinum in the making of diamond jewelry and especially diamond engagement rings was the fashion.
In 1901 Queen Victoria died and Edward VII became king of England. His wife, Princess of Wales, Alexandria became the Queen and she had already demonstrated her fashion style and trend in jewelry. Grace and sophistication prevailed and the style of fashion was lace, silk and feathers for women.
Antique engagement rings and jewelry of this period were created with designs of bows, honeycomb pattern, flower garland and scalloped edges that looked like lace were mostly in platinum. The use of milligrain, tiny lines of beads on platinum engagement rings and other jewelry with invisible settings was heavily used.
Although diamond engagement rings and jewelry was the most popular, jewelry with colored stones such as sapphire of any color, emeralds and rubies were often used to accentuate the jewelry. Hat pins and watch fobs were often used and were made of precious metal and gemstones, as well as faux gemstones and gold or silver plating. Just as women enjoy long strands of pearls today, long pearl strands with tassels known as the negligee style were often sought-after. Circles, stars and crescent brooches made with pearls, diamonds and platinum were always a part of a woman’s jewelry wardrobe. Snake rings and multiple bracelets were also well liked.
Tiaras made of pearls, diamond and platinum along with long dangle earrings was favored. Feathers as an accent used with platinum scrollwork were also the fad. The colored stones of purple amethyst, green peridot and white pearls together represented the suffragette movement.
As you can see, The Edwardian Period was a time of high style and elegance and the jewelry of this time period is still highly recognized today.
more...
The Edwardian Period (1901 – 1914)soundcloud.com
New ways of cutting stones and the use of platinum in the making of diamond jewelry and especially diamond engagement rings was the fashion.In 1901 Queen Victor...
Gesner Estate Jewelry provides the finest jewelry at the lowest price possible. We specialize in antique & vintage engagement rings jewelry from the turn of the 20th century to the late 1930's; however, our inventory of newer pieces in gold and platinum are also unsurpassed. We maintain an inventory of several thousand unique items. Every piece is in wonderful condition and uncommon in design. We do not sell reproduction jewelry or lab-created gems unless it has been very clearly stated in the item's description.
Jewelry trends are ever-changing! What is popular today probably had been in fashion years and years ago. Vintage and antique jewelry pieces are such collections that have been gaining prominence over the past few years. They are more valuable and considered more than a piece or brand.
There’s always been a craze for vintage and antique jewelry collections. They are rare, one-of-a-kind enchanting jewelry pieces that hold rich histories and stories. The vintage or antique jewelry pieces also express the personal style of wearers. For example, the intricatelyDesign vintage Art Deco engagement rings and other eras will melt the heart of a person who has an affinity towards the past.
While antique jewelry pieces are found to be more than 100 years old, vintage jewelry can be from any specific period made between 40 and 100 years old.
While the desirable Retro and Mid-century jewelry pieces fall under the vintage collections, the popular Art Deco, Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Edwardian jewelry are all antique.
When selecting the vintage engagement ring and wedding bands for yourself and your fiancée, it is important to know a little something about jewelry terminology.
Jewelry Definitionssoundcloud.com
When selecting the vintage engagement ring and wedding bands for yourself and your fiancée, it is important to know a little something about jewelry terminolog...
Estate jewelry is defined in this way: jewelry which has been previously owned. It could refer to a true antique (over 50 years old) or to a recently purchased item.
Why do people want Estate Jewelry?
Nostalgia. Sentiment plays a large part in jewelry selection. People are searching more and more for reminders of past, more stable times. Just as the whole mood of nostalgia continues strong, older jewelry reminds them of those times.
Design. Individual craftsmen left their tell-tale mark of quality with an outstanding sense of shape and form. There were no machines stamping out pieces by the thousands, only individual artisans practicing their chosen profession of fabricating beautiful jewelry one piece at a time.
Antique Engagement Rings:
There are various styles of Antique Engagement Rings that people can choose from. Making the proper selection will depend on the particular look that one is attracted to and, of course, establishing budget parameters. Here are some examples of great styles of engagements rings that Gesner Estate Jewelry can offer.
Art Deco Engagement Rings-
Art Deco Engagement Rings cover the time period between the 1920’s and 1930’s. Emeralds, Sapphires and Rubies became very popular and were often used with diamonds to create the “look” of the Art Deco era. The Art Deco “look” often combines influences of cubism, geometric and angular design. They are equally popular with the Edwardian look and certain to be cherished for years to come. These rings are very hard to find and are still very much in high demand.
Gesner Estate Jewelry: https://gesner.com/
Art Deco Engagement Rings: https://gesner.com/antique-vintage-jewelry/engagement-rings
