WHAT IS FILIGREE?

Antique filigree wedding rings from the early 1900s have become very popular in recent years.

The term filigree is derived from Italian word filigrana, which is originally from the Latin word filum, meaning a thread of wire and granum meaning a grain or bead. Early practices of wirework jewerly and decorative items were created using small pieces of metal or granules for design.

Filigree is the ancient form of decoration on metalware created by shaping fine wire into delicate or intricate designs. These designs may be either openwork or backed work. The wire may be plain, twisted, untwisted or plaited. The metals used are generally gold, silver, platinum or bronze. Filigree usage may be tracked back to metal work from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Etruria, Greece and Byzantium. Antique jewelry pieces have been found embellished with enamel in ancient Greece, Hungary and Russia.

There are four basic structural ways to create filigree. The first type is openwork, where the design does not have a backing and is generally constructed with a heavier wire. Wires are soldered together at points to hold the design together. The second type is ground-supported, where a supporting surface is used and all wire points are soldered to a surface which is most frequently sheet metal. The third type combines openwork and ground-supported types, so that the completed types of openwork wires are attached to sheet metal. Attachment types could be non-soldering methods, such as split rivets, rivets, bezels, or claws. The fourth type is when a material is added to fill between the wires, such as enamel.

Most design styles are linear because wire is the main material. Small wires are often patterned into areas built within the borders of larger areas. The larger areas will give the jewelry piece structure and strength, while the smaller areas will be used for a more decorative purpose. In traditional methods the wires will never overlap, however, the wires may come close to or next to other wires. Structural frames are always used in openwork styles, whereas, in ground supported design function is visual and not functional. The wire strand may be used to frame the section or the wire may be used to give a pattern or area filler.

The shaping of the wire is a simple process and does not require complex utensils. Tweezers, pliers and hands are used to shape wires. Cold chisels or wire cutters are used for cutting.

Finger rings from the early 1900s are created with openwork designs. These rings may use either bezel set or prong set gemstones for embellishment. During the Art Deco Jewelry Period of the 1920s and 1930s openwork filigree wedding and engagement rings would have diamonds or sapphires mounted with an open backing. Wedding rings would focus on usage of geometric and abstract designs and patterns. In rings from the early 1900s, wire would also be shaped to form hearts, flowers, blossoms or even stars. Rings would also be embellished with engraved or stamped designs.

Filigree jewelry continues to be produced in traditional methods and designs in many countries around the world.

View Ten Two Three's Antique and Estate Diamond Filigree Engagement Wedding Rings

1930s Diamond Ring
Antique Diamond Platinum Wedding Ring
Antique Marquise Floral Filigree Ring
Antique Sapphire Platinum Ring
Art Deco Diamond Dinner Ring
Art Deco Sapphire Wedding Ring
Bird Filigree Gold Ring
Black Onyx Diamond Filigree Ring
Dainty Amethyst Filigree Ring
Deco Diamond Filigree Dinner Ring
Deco Diamond Wedding Set
Deco Flower Bouquet Engagement Ring
Deco Old European Illusion Wedding Ring
Diamond Onyx Filigree Ring
Early 1900s Filigree Wedding Ring
Edwardian Old European Wedding Ring
Elegant Round Diamond Ring
Estate Diamond Wedding Ring Guard
Estate Half Carat Engagement Ring
Estate Platinum Diamond Bridal Set
Estate Platinum Matching Wedding Set
Estate Solitaire Engagement Ring
Estate White Gold Wedding Set
European Cut Diamond Wedding Ring
European Diamond Engagement Ring
Ladies Diamond Gold Filigree Wedding Ring
Ladies Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring
Ladies Estate Platinum Wedding Ring
Ladies Old European Wedding Ring
Matched Perfection Wedding Set
Old Diamond Filigree Wedding Ring
Old European Cut Diamond Ring
Old Mine Filigree Wedding Ring
Platinum European Cut Wedding Ring
Platinum Old European Wedding Ring
Platinum Wedding Band Ring
Three Diamond 1930s Ring
Twin Diamond Filigree Wedding Ring
Unusual Antique Wedding Ring
Vintage Dainty Diamond Ring
Vintage Mens Sapphire Ring
Vintage Traditional Wedding Ring
1930s Sapphire Wedding Ring
Antique European Diamond Wedding Ring
Antique Platinum Diamond Dinner Ring
Antique Diamond Engagement Ring
Antique Diamond Platinum Ring
Antique Sapphire Platinum Ring
Art Deco Sapphire Diamond Ring
Black Onyx Filigree Ring
Deco Sapphire Diamond Ring
Diamond Filigree Wedding Ring
Diamond Sapphire Filigree Ring
Rectangular Diamond Filigree Ring
Star Diamond Platinum Ring
Vintage Diamond Sapphire Wedding Band
Vintage Platinum Engagement

FEATURES OF EDWARDIAN WEDDING RINGS
CHARACTERISTICS OF ART DECO WEDDING RINGS