Art Deco Rings

I've been perusing Albuquerque's antique stores lately and I LOVE that they are full of items from the 1920s and '30s! There's something about that Art Deco style that really catches my eye. I think what I like best is that it is representative of a transitional historical period. Prior to WWI, the Victorians and Edwardians still valued ornate beauty. Flowery poetry, lace, and daydreaming were all the rage. And then the war shattered that idealism and realism started to become in vogue. So Art Deco pieces, especially jewelry, are indicative of that with both filigree and geometry. I love the rectangular gems juxtaposed with old world cuts, the elongated rings that are reminiscent of the sky scrapers from the building boom of the late '30s, and the emphasis on silver instead of the more romantic gold. And for some reason I've found there often seems to be a three motif (three parts to the ring). I haven't figured out what that means yet...

I often pride myself (erroneously) on being anti-diamonds, but I do become a total girl around antique Art Deco diamond rings. I get completely lost in the history of them. How many women have worn them? How many stories are connected to one particular piece? I inherited my great-grandmother's engagement ring from the '20s. It's delicate and discreet (but I wish it was a little more blatantly Art Deco), and I love that I know its story. But part of me prefers the mystery and I'd almost rather that ring were used by a descendant who hadn't known her...