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Top 15 1940s Engagement Rings
The 1940s Retro era produced some of the most distinct rings in jewelry history. Coming off the Art Deco era, it also tells the story of those historical times. They influenced the bold accent stones, geometric designs, and sculptural stylings added to its look. Many of these designs are popular and sought after even today.
Enjoy browsing our top 15 1940s engagement rings below. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’ve found the ring you want.
Explore more Retro, Art Deco, and mid-century designs in our broader collection of vintage engagement rings.
1. The Debonair Ring
Price: $47,000. Learn more about the Debonair Ring.
Our first ring is a solid example of the circa 1940s Retro era: the French Debonair Ring, a 3-stone stunner handcrafted in platinum. It features a 3.65-carat old European-cut center diamond with a J color and VS1 clarity. Each shoulder features a vertical baguette-cut diamond to accent the center stone. It retains a clean, sleek look all-over.
2. The Berge Ring
Price: $4,000. Learn more about the Berge Ring.
The classic Retro-era staples, such as geometric-on-geometric designs with sleek, clean looks, are on this 1940-circa Berge Ring. The center diamond is a 0.60-carat old European cut diamond with a K color and SI2 clarity set inside a box prong setting. On each shoulder are two horizontal stacked rows of rose-cut diamonds on a half-circle bridge, leading to its shanks. All diamonds are inside fine milgrain borders.
3. The Metz Ring
Price: $14,000. Learn more about the Metz Ring
The circa 1940 Retro era Metz Ring features a combination of geometric metal with inset round stones and symmetrical 1940s styles. It features a rare center 1.42-carat old European cut diamond with an E color and SI1 clarity, prong-set in 18k white gold. The large raised prongs connect to all points of its square base undergallery, which has pave rows of smaller old European cut diamonds. Each shoulder has additional inset diamonds. These stones are all in fine milgrain borders.
4. The Gatineau Ring
Price: $65,000. Learn more about the Gatineau Ring.
The Retro-era Gatineau Ring from circa 1945 is a beautiful, timeless, and elegant piece that keeps it simple. It features a GIA-certified 3.42-carat old European cut center diamond with an I color and SI1 clarity, prong-set in 18k white gold. Each shoulder features 2 more smaller inset old European cut diamonds totaling approximately 0.24 carats within fine milgrain borders.
5. The Midvale Ring
Price: $5,000. Learn more about the Midvale Ring.
The Retro-era’s combination of shapes included newer designs that were non-geometric but remained symmetrical. It also paired other stones with diamonds. The Midvale Ring is a 3-stone circa 1940 ring handcrafted in 18k white gold circa 1940, with a 1.28-carat oval-cut sapphire and a couple of 0.33-carat old mine cut diamonds flanking each side. Framing this row of stones is a spiral spring coil on top and bottom. They join the thick split shanks, with an elongated triangle shoulder in the middle.
6. The Liberty Ring
Price: $18,500. Learn more about the Liberty Ring.
This circa 1945, Retro-era Liberty Ring combines its geometric designs with Art Deco milgrain-bordered inset diamonds. It features a 1.90-carat old European-cut center diamond with J color and VS2 clarity. Each shoulder is a reverse-tapered raised section with pavé-set diamonds and fine milgrain detailing. It joins each geometrically-shaped split shank, with a clean, sleek undergallery and band, all set in platinum.
7. The Alton Ring
Price: $3,500. Learn more about the Alton Ring.
The Alton Ring is a 3-stone circa 1940 offering that reflects the more minimalist Retro-era designs. It features a 0.65-carat old mine cut diamond with an L color and VS2 clarity, flanked by round-cut sapphire stones on each side, all prong-set in 18k white gold with engraved lines on its undergallery. The cool white and blue color palette is more dazzling and makes it easier on the eyes.
8. The Mauboussin Ring
Price: $45,000. Learn more about the Mauboussin Ring.
The Retro era obsession with chunky geometric designs and compositions produced some of the most luxurious masterpieces. This circa 1945 Mauboussin Ring features a center GIA-certified 3.05-carat, antique cushion-cut diamond with a J color and SI2 clarity prong-set in platinum. It sits on a valley-shaped base, with 2 vertical rows of 5 inset round brilliant-cut diamonds on its sides. Next to each side are two more diamonds in a raised vertical section of the shanks, leading to a thick, wide band. The ring is signed by Mauboussin and displays a “T&HM” inscription on the inner portion of the shank.
9. The Taconic Ring
Price: $11,000. Learn more about the Taconic Ring.
This circa 1950 late Retro-era Taconic Ring is the monochromatic all-diamond version of the 3-stone Midvale Ring. It has the same features and construction as that model, including the top and bottom spiral frames, and uses 18k white gold. In the center is an approximately 1.23-carat old European cut diamond, with an H color and SI1 clarity. On each side is a smaller old European cut diamond, and all are prong-set. They total approximately 0.50 carats and are overall IVS2 color and SI1 clarity.
10. The Tiber Ring
Price: $4,100. Learn more about the Tiber Ring.
This elegant and geometric-on-geometric-designed Retro-era Tiber Ring combines different shapes and motifs unique to the 1940s. At its center is a 1.76-carat round aquamarine in a prong setting. On each shoulder is a row of baguette-cut diamonds, with one big horizontal piece flanked by 2 smaller pieces on each side. Single-cut diamonds surround them inside a paisley-shaped enclosure that closes each shank of the platinum ring. More single-cut diamonds line the undergallery rails. All these stones have fine milgrain bordering.
11. The Preston Ring
Price: $19,500. Learn more about the Preston Ring.
This late-Retro era, circa 1950, Preston Ring carries the period’s fascination with combining different geometric shapes, cuts, and curved designs in a beautiful luxury platinum ring. It is a large and thick piece and features a GIA-certified 1.37-carat transitional cut diamond with an I-J color and VS2-SI1 clarity. Each shoulder features two stacked rows of vertical baguette-cut diamonds and round brilliant diamonds. Bordering the whole ring are top and bottom rows of single and carré-cut diamonds. These diamond rows all descend and taper down to each shank.
12. The Gould Ring
Price: $11,000. Learn more about the Gould Ring.
The Retro-era circa 1940 Gould Ring features the period’s love of large colored gemstones and geometric shapes incorporated into the design. The beautiful light blue center stone is a massive 19.00-carat emerald-cut aquamarine stone, set in prongs. Each shoulder features a curved row of 3 baguette-cut diamonds, with a row of round-cut diamonds on the top and bottom each, all set in platinum. Each shoulder and shank joint features a curved half circle in an 18k yellow gold band.
13. The Winfield Ring
Price: $4,500. Learn more about the Winfield Ring.
The Retro-era also used curved designs with small geometric motifs, like this exquisite swirled Winfield Ring, circa 1940. The centerpiece is a 0.95-carat old European cut diamond with an O-P color range and VS1 clarity, prong-set in 14k white gold. An S-shaped swirl design surrounds the center stone with pavé-set single-cut diamonds. They extend all the way to each shank. The ring’s undergallery is simple, featuring elongated rectangular openwork.
14. The Alba Ring
Price: $2,800. Learn more about the Alba Ring.
The bold colored gemstone and special design treatment of gold are also features of the Retro era. This circa 1940 Alba Ring features an 8.47-carat cushion-cut amethyst center stone secured in prongs in 18k rose gold. Each shoulder features a gold petal cluster of alternating sizes, framing and accenting the large center gem. Segmented curves appear as design accents on its undergallery and shanks and complete its composition. The predominantly rose gold and violet with purple undertones create a regal ring.
15. The Emerson Ring
Price: $56,000. Learn more about the Emerson Ring.
Our last offering is one of our most high-priced selections, with the fine trademark designs of the Retro-era. This lovely 1945 French Emerson Ring has bold old-school designs and a thick, chunky composition. The centerpiece is a 3.15-carat old European-cut center stone, in K color and VS1 clarity. Each shoulder has a row of channel-set vertical baguette-cut diamonds leading to a thick triple wire shank crafted in platinum.
Popular Ring Styles From the 1940s
In the world of jewelry, the year 1940 represents the end of the Art Deco era and the beginning of the Retro era. While Art Deco pieces are famous for unique and often unusual designs, rings from the 1940s tend to be a tad simpler. Continue reading below as we expand on some popular styles that characterize the Retro era.
Geometric shapes
Art Deco still had lingering influences during this decade. Many of the earlier-era Retro rings in the 1940s featured geometric mountings and intricate under-galleries during the period.
Colored stones
Diamonds weren’t always the number one choice for engagement rings. Although they became more popular during the Retro era, there are still plenty of rings with colored gems like aquamarine and emerald.
Combined metals
Many 1940s engagement rings feature two-toned designs with different types of gold along with silver and platinum. Platinum use was very limited during the war, so jewelers used other alternatives.
Are Rings From the 1940s Considered Vintage and Antique?
A piece of jewelry is antique or vintage depending entirely on its age.
By definition, vintage jewelry needs to be older than 20 years but not yet over 100. Engagement rings from the 1940s are around 80 years old today, which qualifies them as vintage. Vintage rings are also generally considered estate jewelry since they were previously owned.
Antique jewelry is over 100 years old. Retro rings aren’t antique yet. In a few decades, your vintage ring will step into this category.
Talk to a Jewelry Expert
When shopping for a vintage engagement ring, finding the right era makes all the difference. If the 1940s era has caught your eye, then you thankfully have many choices in our list. Whether you prefer diamond rings or something more extraordinary like colored gemstone rings, we can help you make the right choice. Feel free to contact us using the form below for any of your general questions or to learn more about any of the rings we offer.
