Double the Glamour: Red Carpet Engagement Rings of the Week

The beginning of March means that it’s Oscar time – the perfect event to inspire our two Engagement Rings of the Week. A beautiful piece of jewelry, like a couture gown, is a work of art that transcends its time period. In this spirit of timeless beauty, we paired our rings with two vintage gowns that were recently worn on the Oscar red carpet. It doesn’t hurt that they’re both ivory and could make killer wedding gowns! 

Dramatic 1950s silhouettes are the go-to look for stars who love to wear vintage. For the 2009 Oscars, Penelope Cruz selected an exquisite 1950s Balmain gown with stylized floral detailing and draped tulle. We thought that the silvery white on white embroidery and curving shapes evoked marquise diamonds, specifically our 1950s three marquise diamond ring.

The marquise may be one of the most romantic shapes for a diamond, and according to legend, it’s named after the Marquise de Pompadour, King Louis XV’s paramour. In the 1740s, the King commissioned his royal jeweler to cut a diamond that resembled the shape of his lover’s smile. To play off this history, we’ve selected modern and vintage diamond wedding bands that highlight the romantic marquise shape.

Our second three stone engagement ring dates to the turn-of-the-century and features beautifully chunky Old European cut diamonds. Reese Witherspoon’s 1950s Dior gown, which she discovered in a Parisian vintage store and wore in 2006, has glittering details and a luminous cream color that plays off the diamonds’ warm golden highlights.

Like Reese’s lovely gown, this ring has a unique history. Made by the jewelry firm T.B. Starr at the turn of the century, it carries their hallmark on the inside of the band. Theodore B. Starr founded his company in 1864 in New York, selling jewelry, silver, clocks, and other fine goods. In December of 1890, the New York Times wrote of Starr’s establishment at 1126 Broadway, “The appointments are in keeping with the character of the goods, for which this store is well known, and the articles are shown in a way that makes it a real pleasure to examine them.” We’ve paired this classic ring with buttery antique gold bands, one of which is dated with an inscription from 1904. As a nod to Starr’s birth in 1837, the same year as Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne, we also added in a vintage snake ring for color and texture.

Just as Reese and Penelope modernized the look of their beautiful vintage gowns, vintage jewelry looks fresh and unexpected when paired with your unique style. What’s your favorite way to wear your vintage and antique pieces?