Vintage inspired rings are primarily influenced by the 19th century and early 20th centuries and offer something a little different to the white gold diamond solitaire. By having an heirloom-like quality to them, vintage rings not only lasting in style but are also made to last a lifetime. We can promise that our moissanite engagement rings as well as our lab diamond and Chatham coloured gemstones are all of the highest quality, all coming with limited lifetime warranties.  

White gemstones have never gone out of style, still as incredibly popular now as they have been over the last century. One of the major differences however, is that currently there are alternatives to the traditional mined diamond.

Our collections of moissanite engagement rings and of lab grown diamond engagement rings are of equally high quality and stunning appearance, and are not only priced competitively, but also come at a much better cost for the planet. Moissanite has a higher refractive index than diamond and can provide you with a highly durable ring that has its own unique radiance. Read our guide to learn more about the difference between moissanite and diamond.

Have you recently gotten engaged? If you've begun planning the wedding, and have been looking for someone who produces beautiful photos and has a relaxed approach, make sure to check out Fiona Kelly Photography for gorgeous natural wedding photography.  

Photo Reference: Hope 1.0ct Brilliant Round Cut Moissanite White Gold Ring

The Hope ring is one of our moissanite vintage-inspired engagement rings which features a brilliant round cut centre stone. This ring has an alternating round and marquise pattern that is embellished with gorgeous milgrain detailing, and inspired by the Art Deco Style.

Photo Reference: Honor 1.0ct Brilliant Round Cut Moissanite Ring

Our Honor ring is another of our moissanite engagement rings, that is similar to the Hope but exclusively has a marquise style setting along its shank that is also adorned with a milgrain detailing and inspired by the Art Deco Period. Set with a brilliant round cut moissanite from the Charles & Colvard Forever One range or with our own branded Lily Arkwright moissanite, this ring is sure to impress. Check out the Telegraphs article on the best places to buy an engagement ring online for more information regarding our collections!

In conjunction with the rising popularity of moissanite and lab grown diamond, one of the biggest trends is coloured gemstones. Particularly popular throughout the Victorian and Edwardian eras, emeralds, rubies and sapphires are becoming a go to for couples who want a less traditional option that is still agelessly stylish.  

Our coloured gemstones are all grown by Chatham which is a company that specialises in lab grown gemstones, and their methods mean a more sustainable and ethical choice is possible. Founded over 80 years ago, Chatham Labs are world renowned for their high quality and amazing cuts. Two of the major benefits of a lab grown gemstone is that they allow for sizes and shapes that are incredibly rare in the mined variety, and deliver a gorgeous stone for a fraction of the price compared to its mined counterpart.  

Chatham grows emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, doing so by recreating the conditions that would be present in the earth for crystals to naturally form. First started by Carroll Chatham in 1938, the company has spent years perfecting their processes and only sells the very best gemstones. They are so strict in fact, that ordinarily around 80% of the rough crystal is discarded, and only one in every 200 gemstones made meet their stringent standards for clarity and colour.

Lily Arkwright are also the only UK stockists of Chatham, supplying their exceptional quality gemstones in stunning designs that are the mark of British craftsmanship. You can check out the Chatham store locator here.

Photo Reference: Florence 1.40ct Chatham Lab Grown Emerald Ring

Our Florence ring is a beautiful option that features an emerald cut emerald which is perhaps the pinnacle of vintage style. With its stepped facets and cool lines this gorgeous ring is an elegant and refined choice. We have a hassle-free 30 day returns policy on all of our rings*, in addition to a complimentary 30 day free resizing scheme so we can make sure your moissanite engagement ring is the perfect fit!

Popular throughout the Victorian and Art Deco periods, a halo ring design sees a central gemstone surrounded by a circle of smaller diamonds. Seeing a resurgence in recent years, the gorgeous halo is not only a stunning addition to any engagement ring, but also serves to make the centre stone look larger and to protect it from general wear and tear. We have a number of these rings in our collection, all of which look amazing with either a centre moissanite stone, a lab grown diamond or any of our coloured gemstones collection.  

Photo Reference: Esme 3.0ct Chatham Blue Sapphire Platinum Ring

The Esme blue sapphire ring has one of these luxurious halos of diamonds surrounding the centre emerald cut stone. The Esme also has a detailed gallery, with yet another row of diamonds running down its shank. With its lab grown sapphire (which is one of the most difficult gemstones to produce in the lab) this ring is reminiscent of an Edwardian style, and is the definition of perfection and grace. This Esme is similar to the Duchess of Cambridge’s engagement ring, but our specially designed Diana engagement ring is the spitting image!

Another of our Halo designs is the Violette, which has a centre cushion cut gemstone. The cushion cut is actually one of the oldest shapes, dating back hundreds of years. The Violette has a four prong mount and a pavé of diamonds enclosing the moissanite gemstone that also continues down the band. This ring is ultra petite, with a band that measures only 1.60mm across, making for a dainty but impressive piece of jewellery. The moissanite we offer at Lily Arkwright comes in either premium Forever One by Charles & Colvard or our own branded Lily Arkwright Moissanite, which is in no way inferior but comes at a smaller price point as we are able to source it ourselves.

Photo Reference: Orabella Moissanite Platinum Ring and Violette 18k Yellow Gold Moissanite Ring

And finally our spectacular Orabella ring is the epitome of class, with a round cut moissanite centre with a halo cluster, all sat on top of a plain band. The focus is entirely on the central halo, for a slightly more understated look than our other halo designs mentioned above. All the rings in our collections are examples of excellent British Craftsmanship and all our jewellery comes with a 12 month warranty as well as having free and insured global shipping.  

One of Elizabeth Taylor’s many engagement rings and perhaps her most famous is a giant asscher cut diamond that she fondly named her ‘ice skating rink’. The asscher cut is a gorgeous shape which became incredibly popular in the Art Deco period because of its large and open elegance and cool geometric lines. Have a look at our Lulu asscher cut ring, which stars one of these chic shapes with a four prong mount and a plain micro petite band that places all the emphasis on the centre stone. Given to her by film producer Mike Todd, the Lulu ring can feature a moissanite centre that can go all the way up to 3.14ct! Even larger sizes are available on request, which you can do via our website, email hello@lilyarkwright.com or by calling us on 0161 537 6773.

Photo Reference: @elizabethtaylor on Instagram

Another vintage inspired halo ring, Eva Longoria’s features a gorgeous deep red coloured ruby wrapped with smaller diamonds, and set in 18 carat White Gold. Have a look at her dazzling jewellery here in an instagram post from her proposal in 2015. Our most similar ring would be the Orabella set with a Chatham deep coloured ruby.  

Photo Reference: @evalongoria on Instagram

Grace Kelly’s engagement ring features a remarkable emerald cut diamond trilogy ring weighing over 10 carats, which has tapered baguettes along its shank. This breathtaking ring was given to her by Prince Rainier III of Monaco and she can be seen wearing it in her last film before her retirement. The most similar ring we offer at Lily Arkwright is the moissanite Lovetta trilogy ring which has a round cut centre moissanite stone and two tapered baguette moissanite side stones.

Photo Reference: @gracekelly_daily on Instagram

If you’d like something even more alike to Kelly’s ring, why not check out our bespoke ring design service? Our process involves discussing a number of concepts whilst looking through sketches and images to gain an understanding of some of the core elements desired. A model mock-up is then produced to give an in depth outline of what the ring would look like, before being finally sent off to our master goldsmiths here in the UK to be made.

The vast majority of our rings come in a range of classic metal choices. We offer three types of 18k or 9k gold in white, yellow and rose, as well as platinum.

Yellow gold works wonderfully for a vintage inspired look, whereas rose gold is perfect for those wanting something a little different. White gold and platinum look wonderful with any ring as classic options. All of our precious metals are UK hallmarked and Assay Assured, meaning that all our jewellery is inspected by a third party. Hallmarking has been a practice in the UK for hundreds of years and assures our customers of our outstanding British Craftsmanship.

Make sure to come into our UK showroom to see any of our beautiful rings in person, or book an virtual WhatsApp appointment with one of our JET trained jewellery experts who can take you through our ranges and advise on what the perfect piece might be. With our 5* rating on TrustPilot, you can be sure of our excellent customer service and professional experience.

Even though we have a variety of stunning vintage-inspired engagement rings, we have left traditional mining in the past. Our lab grown moissanite, diamonds, and coloured gemstones are sourced sustainably, without harming local communities and the environment. With no need for mining, we can cut out any such harmful practices. Have a look at Boho Weddings article on what we do as a company to make sure that our collections are all ethical and sustainable.

We hope you have found our article on vintage-inspired engagement rings helpful, and that it has given you some much needed insight and clarity on what it is you’re looking for! Leave a comment below if you have any queries about our moissanite engagement rings, lab diamond engagement rings or our coloured gemstone collection.  

We pride ourselves on our ability to produce stunning ethical and sustainable fine jewellery at an amazing price point, supported by unrivalled customer service. We offer the highest quality moissanite engagement rings, lab grown diamond engagement rings and coloured gemstones. Make sure to also check out our collections of moissanite earrings and pendants as well, for a gorgeous bridal set.

Lily Arkwright are proud Assay Assured jewellery retailers and committed members of the National Association of Jewellers based on honesty, integrity and professionalism. All precious metal jewellery offered by Assay Assured jewellery retailers carries the legally-required independent hallmark verifying the precious metal content, a protection over and above legal requirements. Read our glowing customer reviews on Trust Pilot.

If you are interested in booking a consultation or simply would like to find out more information about ourselves or our collections, please call us on 0161 537 6773, alternatively you can email our jewellery consultancy team at hello@lilyarkwright.com.

*On standard collections that are not designated 'made to order'.

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Wishing you all the best, The Lily Arkwright Team x