While the majority of engagements happen in the month of December, over a quarter of engagements (37%) happen between November and February. For couples contemplating a Valentine’s Day proposal, the Original Miami Beach Antique Show (OMBAS) provides a unique opportunity to source that perfect, one-of-a-kind ring to seal the deal. From cushion cuts to Old European cuts, vintage and estate or contemporary rings featuring antique diamonds, OMBAS dealers have procured the finest engagement rings from across the globe.
Image courtesy of De Young Collection
In her soon-to-be-released book, The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance, author, historian and founder of The Adventurine, Marion Fasel, explores how diamond engagement rings have become one of the, if not the, most enduring traditions in jewelry. This first-of-its-kind book traces the evolution of engagement rings from the 15th century, when women and some men first began wearing them, through the 1890’s, when Tiffany & Co. ushered engagement rings into the modern era, to the dawn of Hollywood’s silver screen era of the 1920’s to famous engagement rings of today’s most iconic stars.
Image courtesy of The Adventurine
In the book, Marion posits that while the general progression has been a forward march towards the greater scintillation resulting from more advanced diamond cutting technology, there has also been a resurgence recently in antique-style engagement rings. From portrait-cut diamonds to Old European cuts, when it comes to diamond engagement rings, what’s old is definitely new again. And thought all couples are unique in their own ways, the one thing most women are aligned on is wanting their primary piece of jewelry, the one they’ll wear for the rest of their lives, their engagement ring, to be unlike anyone else has.
Image courtesy of Platt Boutique
Whether wanting to WOW with a 10 carat emerald cut solitaire like the one we spotted at Radiant Times or seeking to spark conversations with a Victorian Revival ring featuring an Old Mine Cut diamond and exquisite blue enamel from Jack Weir & Sons, OMBAS is a go-to destination for pieces spouses-to-be cannot find anywhere else. Excalibur has some of the broadest range of merchandise on the OMBAS show floor, and their crush on cushion cuts is evident on their Instagram, where they recently featured a stack of cushion cuts to make any bride blush, while over at Platt Boutique, the husband/wife duo behind Platt and its “sister” store, The Kit Vintage, has merchandize to outfit the affianced from head to left-hand-ring-finger.
Jack Weir and Sons Victorian Revival Ring
The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance is coming out in early December, and Marion will be on site at OMBAS for a Quick Q&A and book signing on Saturday, January 11. Replete with style guides and more than 165 images, the book can offer couples inspiration for their dream purchase, while also giving our trusted dealers the opportunity to provide historical context to some of the pieces in their cases. Stay tuned for further details on all of our pop up education sessions, and be sure to mark your calendar to shop OMBAS 2025, taking place January 9-13 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Image courtesy of Excalibur
