Art Deco Diamond Ring

Always a bold statement, an art deco diamond ring will have the telltale characteristics popularized by the art deco movement in 1920s and 1930s. The movement did not limit itself to jewelry, but also influenced architecture, cars, and clothing.

However, the jewelry of the era is perhaps the most beautiful manifestations of the movement and many authentic pieces have survived, allowing individuals to own a piece of a significant artistic era.

Although many people are familiar with the term art deco, most do not realize that the movement gets its name from the 1925 World’s Fair in Paris, which was also referred to as the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts.

It is unsurprising that the same event that gave us the Eiffel Tower some 36 years prior also birthed the Art Deco movement.

Art deco jewelry is readily identifiable most often because of its use of geometric shapes. However, it ranges from sophisticated and elegant gemstones to costume jewelry bearing the likenesses of animals.

An art deco necklace, for example, may be strictly geometric in design, or it may be as fanciful as a pendant depicting an airplane or panther

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As antique engagement rings have seen a recent rise in popularity, an art deco engagement ring is a unique and stylish way to mark an engagement. Even if one finds it difficult to obtain an authentic piece from the era, there are many modern diamond rings inspired by and modeled after those from the ‘20s and ‘30s.

Customers will find that most major diamond companies offer art deco diamond rings. It is also possible to wear an antique ring in a way that appeals to sensibilities that are more modern.

An art deco diamond ring need not be limited in use to that of an engagement ring, however. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, combining diamonds with other gemstones. They are even available as men’s rings in some places. They also range in price from quite affordable to quite expensive.

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However, it is probably the history behind the art deco movement that is most interesting, rendering the jewelry inspired by it that much more significant. The rise of art deco as a style followed World War I, and it is believed that its geometric simplicity is a reaction to what some perceived as a misguided decadence that was present in the years leading up to the war.

The movement was also affected by the fact that many artists, for the first time, could travel around the world with ease. Thus, the style is also influenced by the heightened interest in Greek, Egyptian, and Mexican architecture and artifacts.

The art deco movement is considered a significant part of modernist art history, and included such famed artists as Paul Bellot, Raoul Lachenal, Hector Guimard, and structures such as the Hoover Dam and the Chrysler Building of New York.

Because of the themes common throughout the art deco movement, it is easy to identify similarities between the jewelry and the architecture. In this way, owning an art deco diamond ring is also like owning a piece of world history.