WHAT VINTAGE JEWELS TO GIFT FOR VALENTINE’S DAY?

Offering jewelry to celebrate your love is nothing new. On the other hand, offering a vintage jewel is a little more so.  Yet, wether for an engagement, a wedding anniversary or Valentine’s Day, offering an antique jewel sends a strong message. As witnesses to the past, antique jewelry embodies eternity in a way that brand new jewelry simply cannot replicate. Moreover, their history, specific to their time and their creation, adds a strong symbolism to your personal message. Beyond their  directly recognizable iconic designs, let’s discover the story behind 5 antique jewelry pieces, perfect for Valentine’s Day.

THE “YOU & ME” RING

The “You and Me” ring is a ring formed of two precious stones, facing each other or nestled against each other.  It represents the connection and unity between the two people in a couple. Originally, the two gemstones were different in color but the same cut and size. Today, the definition of this design has expanded and can combine stones of completely different sizes and dimensions. The symbolism of two souls uniting in perfect harmony remained.

This romantic ring style that has been popular for centuries takes its roots in French royalty. It dates back to the 19th century and the most famous in history was the one offered by Napoleon I for his engagement to Joséphine de Beauharnais. The ring was adorned with a pear-cut blue diamond and sapphire on a rose gold ring. The two precious stones symbolized eternity (diamond) and loyalty (sapphire) as well as the duality of the couple.

As popular as solitaire and honoring both members of the couple, the  “You and Me” ring is very popular in engagement. More broadly, it is ideal for celebrating an important milestone in a relationship such as a wedding anniversary or Valentine’s Day.

THE CLADDAGH RING

This traditional Irish ring symbolizes love, loyalty and friendship. It originates in the small fishing village of Claddagh  located near the city of Galway in Ireland. The design of the ring features two hands holding a heart, with a crown on top of the heart. The hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty.

According to legend, in the seventeenth century, a young man from the village of Claddagh was captured as a slave by pirates. In captivity, he was forced to work as a goldsmith and learned the art of making jewelry. He then used  his newfound talents as a goldsmith to create  the Claddagh ring, for his beloved back in the village. After many years, he was able to return and offer the jewel to the one who had been waiting for him all this time. The drawing spread among the villagers  and quickly became a symbol of love and commitment.

In the pop culture of the 1990s, the  ring experienced a resurgence with the series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. The main protagonist was given a Claddagh ring by her Irish vampire lover.

Today, the Claddagh ring is a ring worn around the world as a symbol of love, loyalty and friendship.

THE HEART LOCKET

These heart-shaped jewels have been a timeless and romantic piece of jewelry that has been popular for centuries. A heart medal is a pendant that opens to reveal a small compartment. Inside, you can keep a picture, a lock of hair or a special message from a loved one closer to your heart. These medallions are often made of  precious metals and decorated with intricate patterns, engravings and precious stones.

Heart medals have a long history and are often passed down from generation to generation.  They draw their history from 16th century Europe. The wearing of these jewels as a symbol of love and affection was particularly popular in England, France and Italy among the upper classes of these countries.  They were also part of the trend of sentimental jewelry popularized by Queen Victoria during the era to which she gave her name, following the death of Prince Albert.

Since then, heart medals have remained popular as a romantic gift.  They lend themselves particularly to special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, and birthdays.

THE MARQUISE RING

This type of oblong-shaped ring  is of French creation. It is characterized by a central gemstone haloed with smaller stones, most often diamonds.

This unique and sophisticated ring was inspired by the Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV of France. According to legend, the king had a ring created inspired by Madame de Pompadour’s smile. The latter was a powerful figure at the court of Louis XV. His influence thus extended to many areas of society, including fashion and jewelry. This is how the marquise ring became a popular engagement ring at court but also among the French nobility.

The royal lineage of the Marquise ring continued in contemporary English history. Kate Middleton, now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was offered a Marchioness ring by Prince William in 2010. This ring was none other than Princess Diana’s one given to by Prince Charles for their engagement in 1981. The ring has an oval-cut sapphire estimated at 12 cts, crowned with 14 brilliant diamonds set on 18cts white gold. The ring has thus become an iconic jewel closely associated with the royal family. This specific design  of Marquise in white gold with a blue sapphire and a halo of diamonds has since become extremely popular in jewelry in general and engagement ring in particular.

Although Marquise rings are a popular choice for engagement rings, they have become a classic that will complete any jewelry collection.

THE AUGIS LOVE MEDAL

Easily recognizable by their engraving saying “More than yesterday, Less than tomorrow”, AUGIS medals are a must in vintage jewelry.  AUGIS, a company specializing in medals, and created in 1830 by Eugène Coquais in the city of Lyon, designed this medal in 1907.

Although the design of the love medal is a creation of AUGIS, the phrase itself finds its source elsewhere. Indeed, it is a quote from the poem “The eternal song” by Rosemonde Gérard. The poet and actress of the early twentieth century was also the wife of Edmond de Rostand, author of “Cyrano de Bergerac”. The now famous quote reminds us that true love only grows with time, each day a little stronger than the day before.

Over time, what has also increased is the popularity of these medals around the world. They now exist in a wide variety of models. From copper to 18-carat gold, set with baguette rubies (synthetic), or other precious stones, round or heart-shaped…  The options are not endless but numerous. They even exist as rings with a signet ring style, to wear as a seal of love.