Our Vintage & Antique Jewelry Blog

We see a lot of fancy colored diamonds in celebrity engagement rings, but did you know that yellow diamonds have been popular for over a hundred years? Vintage fancy yellow diamonds, cut as cushions, Old Mine cuts, or Old European cuts, have a dramatic golden sparkle that elevates the most simple of settings to something really special. We were so inspired that we chose two Engagement Rings of the Week, one warmer hue set in gold from the 1940s and one cooler tone set in platinum from the 1960s.

The centerpiece of our curated collection inspired by Charles James is this fabulous vintage engagement ring which mixes architectural structure with a flowing sense of movement. Crafted in platinum, the engagement ring features a 0.93ct round brilliant cut diamond, flanked by trios of baguettes and round single cut diamonds. The light plays differently over the facets of each stone and shape, giving the ring a beautiful shimmer. I especially love the metal detail that weaves around the bezels of the round accents, it reminds me of the draping details in a Charles James gown.

The newest Engagement Ring of the Week is inspired by the fantastic exhibition, Elegance in an Age of Crisis: Fashions of the 1930s, currently on view at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s museum. The exhibition provides an overview of both women’s and men’s fashions of the 1930s, a pivotal decade that introduced the first truly modern clothing and accessories. Our 1930s Art Deco star sapphire and diamond ring, with its dramatic proportions and streamlined details, is a perfect compliment to the beautiful clothing on display.

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! 

Why not ring in the new year with a bang? For the first featured engagement ring of 2014, we selected a striking Georgian style diamond cluster ring, showcasing a 1.56ct antique light yellow Old Mine cut diamond. With its frame of chunky Old European cut diamonds set in silver and a detailed rose gold band, this ring beautifully captures the dramatic elegance of the early 1800s.

For our holiday Engagement Ring of the Week, we couldn’t resist this brand new arrival. It’s a French Belle Epoque dinner ring dating to 1900, centering a glittering old Mine cushion cut diamond and fashioned in platinum-topped gold. Asymmetrical curls of rose cut stones create a swirling sense of movement and its long shape beautifully flatters the hand. This beauty is so new to our collection that I literally snatched it from the new inventory tray. It’s item # 101547R and you can see it sparkling in our West 13th Street store, but it’s not yet on the website. Call (212) 677-9991 or email info@doyledoyle.com for more information.

One more week to our November 15th Grand Opening at 412 West 13th Street! Inspired by the spirit of our new neighborhood, we’re showcasing a 1940s Engagement Ring of the Week that fits perfectly into the industrial, cobblestoned streets of New York’s Meatpacking District. The chunky Old Mine cut diamond is a striking contrast to the streamlined, architectural mounting, fashioned in palladium. 

What could be more appropriate for our Halloween Engagement Ring of the Week than a blood red vintage ruby solitaire? Decadent and regal, there’s nothing better than a ruby to make a glamorous statement, and this one fairly glows. 

We love it, our couples love it, Stone Fox Bride loves it… we think it’s high time we feature our Heirloom cushion cut gemstone ring as the Engagement Ring of the Week. A Doyle & Doyle original, this cushion cut ring is a fusion of antique and modern, evoking inspiration from ancient Egypt, India, and Renaissance Italy.

Choose between lapis lazuli, turquoise, or hematite, which can be set in 18k yellow, rose, or white gold. A trio of diamonds adorns the shank on either side for sparkle. Try pairing it with a vintage gold wedding band highlighted by black enamel, or a vintage diamond band. 

We love growing our family of jewelry lovers and seeing photos of their Doyle & Doyle jewelry in action! Check out our Instagram feed to see photos sent in by our customers or taken in the store. Be it an engagement, wedding, birthday, anniversary, or a random Tuesday – we want to see you rocking your Doyle & Doyle jewels! Share your photos with me at juliet@doyledoyle.com, I can’t wait to hear from you!

Today we’re sharing the late summer wedding of Michael Dahan and Kristin Burns, who surprised their family and friends with an intimate sunset celebration in the Hamptons. Michael and Kristin are both professional photographers, and along with their guests, captured these beautiful images. 

This week is our celebration of October’s birthstones, opal and tourmaline, and you may be wondering why we’re featuring a diamond engagement ring. We always love a colored stone engagement ring, and both opal and tourmaline are some of the most colorful out there! However, both are soft stones, especially opals, and we don’t recommend them for hard, everyday wear.