We were packing up for our weekend show last night and couldn’t bring you the history of engagement rings from the 1920’s. But don’t worry – we weren’t going to make you wait too long for the era that has a firm grasp on our heart.
The 20’s ushered in the beginning of the Art Deco period (it spanned a few decades) and with the era came rings in mostly white gold and platinum, constructed of bold geometric shapes and lines with accent stones like sapphires and onyx for contrast.
Some women were true lucky ducks, like one of Hollywood’s first movie starlets, Norma Shearer. She married MGM exec Irving Thalberg in 1927.
It’s rumored that in true movie exec style, he called his starlet into his office and presented her with a tray full of diamond rings and let her pick the one she liked best. She chose well, picking a hunk of a marquis – geometry at its finest.
Others to wed, and we assume to have Art Deco inspired engagement rings, included Joan Crawford marrying Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Oscar Hammerstein who married actress turned interior designer Dorothy Blanchard.
Do you have an Art Deco ring? Tell us all about it in the comments. We can’t wait to hear about all of your gorgeous rings!
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6 Responses
Great old story! Thank you for sharing this story with us!
Thank YOU for reading! ~WendyKate
Do you know if women wore wedding rings and engagement rings in the 1920s? Or just engagement rings? Or just wedding bands? Or neither really?
Hi, Ellie. Thanks for your message. The answer all depends on how wealthy you were at the time. In the 1920’s, engagement rings were generally for the well-to-do. The American, British and French elite would have worn them but the rest of the folks were happy (?) with just a plain band for a wedding ring. Things changed after WWII when there was more distributed wealth.
Very useful information!! Keep sharing information like this.
Thanks. Looks like we’re both in the “happy marriage” business. 🙂