The tinkle of glasses, the pop of a cork, the sparkle of Champagne and the gleam of a gemstone ring glittering on an elegant hand... If you wear vintage jewellery, you too can channel this glamorous vibe - reminiscent of the decadent parties described in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby, set in the Jazz Age when cocktail rings first emerged.
A cocktail-or 'dress' - ring is generally understood to be an exuberantly large, ostentatious ring, often set with a colourful precious stone in a complex design or surrounded by diamonds, but defining a 'cocktail' ring exactly can be a bit tricky. 'It's a prominent feature ring, not for everyday wear, but for a glamorous evening out,' says Burlington Arcade antique jewellery dealer Susannah Lovis. 'It's a fabulous statement piece of jewellery, almost a conversation piece. And while it doesn't necessarily need to be expensive, it always has to have that 'wow' factor,' she adds.
To me, a cocktail ring is a ring that you would wear out to enjoy yourself - a showstopper piece,' agrees dealer Jessica Buckle, of Buckle Bow Pearl, who first had her interest piqued by an antique high-set cameo ring her grandmother gave her, which she now wears every day. 'Antique cocktail rings are simply the best - some of them are unbelievably beautiful and they really do make you gasp,' she enthuses.
'Cocktail rings first appeared in America in the 1920s during Prohibition, when cocktails disguised alcohol and made low-quality bootlegged concoctions drinkable, explains Matt Reeves of Gatsby Jewellery. 'Anti-Prohibition parties were magnets for the upper-class. They were associated with socialising and illicit drinking.'
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Denne historien er fra January 2023-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Collecting Dioramas MINIATURE WORLDS
From elaborate taxidermy museum displays to humble folk art creations, a diorama can transport us to another time and place
Pride of place LEEDS CREAMWARE
In its heyday the pre-eminent rival to Wedgwood's Queens ware, Leeds creamware is still much revered by collectors for its understated elegance
Bohemian Rhapsody
An exuberant approach to decor, with rooms enveloped in colour and pattern, has brought this historic home merrily into the 21st century...
THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME Rory Hutton
The accessories designer on his love of silver spoons and Sévres porcelain
European HERITAGE B&Bs
Is there anything more inspiring than staying somewhere that's both beautifully stylish and imbued with history? Rhiannon Batten explores five gems across Europe, from Sweden to Spain...
STAR SALES
A Hitchens painting, a museum-quality teapot and a Parisian chocolate box are all top of the lots
Textile designs by artists
Influential 20th-century fine artists and sculptors, from Picasso to Barbara Hepworth, gained additional status as textile designers until decline set in during the 1970s
Period DRAMA
A painstaking renovation has brought this 1725 former Huguenot silk weaver's house in London's Spitalfields back to life
An artist's RESIDENCE
Rustic details and a restrained palette lend a sense of simplicity to this lovingly restored Friesian bakery
Carefully Curated LIVING
This lovingly restored Gustavian manor has become both home and showroom for its owners, Maria & Jan Åke, who deal in European antiques