1940s Engagement Rings

Precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum were still used by jewellery designers, though the Second World War effort meant that these metals were often scarce. If precious metals were not available, jewellery makers would instead use alternative materials such as palladium or lower carat gold. .

The round brilliant cut was invented in the latter half of the decade, but old mine cuts (developed in the Victorian age) and old European cuts (developed in the early 1900s) were still regularly used. One also finds transitional cuts - a sort of half-way between old European and round brilliant - during this period, although they are scarce. But one would most expect to find an old European cut in a 1940s engagement ring.

Some 1940s rings featured sapphires, rubies or  emeralds. However, the majority of engagement rings of this era were a little more simple diamond rings.

A 1940s engagement ring generally featured a simple design with a natural motif, such as flowers or leaves. Animal motifs also returned during this era, as well as religious imagery such as angels.