Vintage Tulip Engagement Rings: Milgrain, Engraving, Old Cuts
By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio · Updated October 22, 2026
Short answer: A vintage tulip pairs the petal basket with details from older rings: milgrain, hand engraved scrolls or flowers, a bezel, or an old style cut like an Ashoka. 39 of the 411 tulips in our design file are tagged vintage and 119 carry hand engraving. Our tulip settings start at $2,199 CAD in 14K gold.
We have built over 1,000 tulip baskets. The ones that read as vintage get there through the details around the petals, not the petals themselves.
What makes a tulip look vintage?
- Milgrain. A row of tiny beads along an edge, often the top of the band.
- Hand engraving. Scrolls, flowers or a scene cut by hand into the band, bridge or rail.
- Chunkier petals. Slightly heavier petal prongs read older than fine wire.
- A bezel. A rim of metal around the stone, petals below.
- An old style cut. Antique style cuts like the Ashoka, or an old mine cushion.
Xavier's ring: a 2.06 carat emerald cut with slightly chunkier petal prongs, four main tulips and four half tulips, three sided engraving that carries onto the bridge, milgrain along the top and a euroshank.
What do real vintage tulips look like?
Left, Sonam's 2.5 carat Ashoka cut in a six petal tulip, the band hand engraved with stars. Right, Alex's 2.01 carat oval with mountains engraved on the bridge.
Paulina and Calder's 4.03 carat radiant adds floral engraving with a milgrain border on a flat band, over petals set with diamonds.
Can a tulip take an old style cut?
Yes. Sonam's Ashoka is an antique style cut, and old mine cushions sit well in four petals. What an old mine cushion is, and how we set them, is in old mine cushion diamonds.
Can a tulip sit under a bezel?
Yes. The bezel wraps the stone, the petals sit below it, so you get an old style rim from the top and a flower from the side. 21 of our tulips are built this way, like Steven's 2.53 carat round in 14K yellow gold. More in full bezel over a tulip basket.
How much does a vintage tulip cost?
The setting starts where any tulip does, $2,199 CAD in 14K gold before the diamond, and hand engraving is quoted with your design because every pattern takes different bench time. Half our Canadian ring orders were quoted between $5,100 and $7,000 CAD, centre stone included. Patterns to choose from are on hand engraving.
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Book a free callGet a free estimateQuestions we get about this
What is a vintage tulip setting?
A tulip basket with details from older rings: milgrain, hand engraving, a bezel, heavier petals or an old style cut.
Is the tulip setting vintage?
The petal basket reads classic from the top. The vintage feel comes from the details you add around it.
Can I add milgrain to a tulip ring?
Yes, usually along the top edge of the band, like on Xavier's emerald cut.
Does hand engraving cost extra?
Yes. It is quoted with your design, because each pattern takes different bench time.
Can an old mine or Ashoka cut go in a tulip?
Yes. Sonam's 2.5 carat Ashoka sits in a six petal tulip, and old mine cushions sit well in four petals.
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