Name: The Ultimate Guide to Buying Vintage Engagement Rings - How to Buy Vintage Jewelry
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The Ultimate Guide to Buying Vintage Engagement Rings - How to Buy Vintage Jewelry

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Skip to contentThinking about a vintage engagement ring for your love? Learn everything you need to know on buying a vintage engagement ring in this ultimate guide.&nbsp;You may not be aware, but buying a vintage engagement ring is an eco-friendly choice. This is because wearing an old ring replaces the need to make new rings. You are reducing and reusing at the same time! Nothing says, "I love you" like a beautiful ring.This term gets thrown around a lot, with no precise definition. Most people in the jewelry world would agree that . Rings over 100 years old are considered antique.Vintage rings are those that were made between 1920 and 1980.There are a few reasons vintage rings are becoming more popular. Vintage rings have an inherent uniqueness and charm, with a level of craftsmanship that is expensive to replicate today.Vintage engagement rings are one of a kind. No one else will have your ring. They symbolize timelessness and quality. They have a story to tell, the year they were made, the stones that they feature, all add to the history of the ring. A vintage ring is so much better than a mass produced engagement ring that will look the same as everyone else's, with no story behind it.There are a few terms that you will come across as you are searching for a vintage engagement ring. It is good to be familiar with these terms before you start shopping.In modern times, diamonds are the most popular gem for engagement rings, but this has not always been the case. A vintage ring may have a different gemstone in its center.When considering what ring to buy, consider the durability of the gemstone. Stones such as pearl, opal, emerald, turquoise, amber, coral, and onyx are soft and porous. They scratch and get damaged easily. A vintage ring made of these stones may have internal cracks or be easily damaged.Harder and longer lasting gemstones include diamond, sapphire, ruby, topaz, garnet, cubic zirconia, and aquamarine.If you really want a ring with one of the softer gemstones, avoid an exposed setting (such as prong or "Tiffany" setting). Instead, opt for a protective setting that surrounds the gem with a lot of metal.The size of the stone is not hugely important. The most important thing to consider in your hunt for an engagement ring is finding something to symbolize your love.If you are on a budget, but still want a large stone, look for a ring from the 1930's or 40's. The diamonds used in these rings were made to appear larger by placing them in an elaborately carved setting.Nowadays, colorless white diamonds are the most prized. In older rings, you are likely to find diamonds with a yellow, green, or rose tint, as these were fashionable at the time.Engagement rings are seldom taken off, this means that a vintage engagement ring has seen a lot of wear and tear. Check the edges of a ring to see that they have not been worn down. Check the claws holding the stone, to make sure they are still intact.A reputable jeweler will be willing to talk with you about the quality of the diamond you are buying. Diamonds are graded based on the 4 C's - Carat, Clarity, Cut, and Color. These factors significantly alter the value of a diamond. Here is a basic rundown of the 4 C's.Note that diamonds made before 1931 will not have grading.A carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams equals 1 carat. The more carats a diamond is, the more expensive it is.Diamond prices rise dramatically at 1 carat. Buying a diamond that is 0.9 c will save you a considerable amount of money.Clarity is a sliding scale that measures a diamond's inner and outer flaws. Fewer flaws give a diamond more value. The clarity of a diamond ranges from F (no inclusions), IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, and I3 (included).Be aware that up to a certain point, flaws are not visible to the human eye. There is not much point spending a fortune on a diamond whose flaws can only be seen under a microscope. Eye clean diamonds are within the SI1 and SI2 clarity range.Miners and jewelers in the past had very high standards about inclusions, and this benefits you today because you can buy pieces with high-quality diamonds at a fraction of the price.Contrary to what you may think, the cut does not refer to the shape a diamond has been cut into, but rather, refers to the quality of depth and dimensions of the cut which impact the diamond's luster and sparkle. The better the cut, the more sparkle a diamond has, and the more expensive it is. Some examples of cuts you will find in vintage rings are Old European or Old Miners. [Learn more about diamond cuts]Color is a sliding scale that refers to the presence of yellow color in white diamonds. The color grading does not refer to the exact color of the diamond (pink and other colored diamonds are known as fancy colored). The more white a diamond is, the greater its value. The whitest diamonds are ranked as a D. The diamonds get more yellow as the letters move closer to Z.Searching for a "cert diamond" will give you results of diamonds that come with certification to prove their authenticity. The most well-known certificate comes from the Gemological Institute of America.Make her heart sing with a vintage engagement ring.Before you even start to look for a ring, have an idea of how much you want to spend and how much you can spend. Write down your budget, and stick to it. With diligence, you will find a beautiful ring in your price range.You want to find a ring your partner will love to wear. To get an idea of what your partner likes, look at the jewelry she already wears and try to match that style. Forget about buying the most expensive ring, forget about getting the biggest diamond. Buy something that looks beautiful and suits your partner's taste. Ask her friends to help you in your search.Get an idea of styles of rings you find pleasing. Bookmark ones you like, so you can go back to them. Browse eBay for vintage engagement rings to get an idea of price.We automatically think of a diamond when we think of engagement rings, but the sole use of diamonds in engagement rings only came into fashion during the 1930's. Before that, various other precious stones were used, including sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. This variety gives vintage engagement rings their uniqueness and charm.Learn about the ring you are thinking of buying. What stones does it have? What is the quality of the diamond? Is it technically vintage?Searching for vintage rings can bring up results of rings that are new, but are made in a vintage style. If you want an authentic vintage ring, you must be diligent in reading the description. If the ring is new, it is not vintage.Gold and silver are typical metals used to make engagement rings. However, platinum works especially well with diamonds. Platinum is a bit more prone to scratching than gold, but it is less prone to bending and holds its shape better with age. Platinum produces a patina over time that is highly desirable.Be wary of white gold bands, as white gold from the past is made of an alloy of gold, silver, and nickel. Nickel can cause skin irritation in some people, so if the engagement is going to be a surprise, stick to a platinum band.If you want a gold band, look for 18 karat gold. It will stand up to everyday wear better than the lower karats.Some questions to ask about a ring you are considering buying:You may need to get a ring resized. Ask your jeweler if they do resizing and if there is a fee. If the jeweler recommends not resizing a ring, take their advice, some rings will loose their structural integrity if resized. [Learn more about ring resizing]Don't rush your purchase. Take a day or two to browse and find rings you like, bookmark the ones that interest you, and ask the dealer any questions you may have.Surprise her with a timeless vintage ring.Vintage rings can be found through private sellers, thrift or pawn shops, estate sales, specialized antique retailers, and some brick and mortar jewelry stores.The selection is huge, and you can shop from the comfort of your own home. Many online vintage jewelry sellers offer free resizing and money-back guarantees.I use eBay or Etsy to find great deals on vintage and antique items. Below I will go over how to get the best shopping experience from these online marketplaces.Here is a list of some eBay shops that have tons of positive feedback and have been selling vintage rings for years:The tips for buying on Etsy are very similar to the ones for buying on eBay, with some differences.Here is a list of some Etsy shops that have tons of positive feedback and have been selling vintage rings for years:I hope that this buying guide helps you in your search for a ring that you can cherish for years to come. When you are armed with the right knowledge, buying a vintage engagement ring can be a pleasurable experience. Now go buy her the ring she deserves!Please let me know in the comments below if you need any help or have any questions, I always answer.Unique Rose Gold Engagement Rings on Etsy10 Best Sapphire Engagement Ring Shops on Etsy11 Unique Oval Diamond Engagement Rings on EtsyThe Best Engagement Ring Shops on Etsy 20239 Best Black Diamond Engagement Ring Shops on EtsyBest Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings on EtsyHow to Buy Lab Created Diamond Engagement RingsBest Place to Buy Moissanite Engagement Rings OnlineSpinel Engagement Rings – How to Buy GuideAlexandrite Engagement Rings – How to Buy GuideMorganite Engagement Rings – A Buying GuideSalt and Pepper Diamond Engagement Rings Buying GuideBest Etsy Shops for Vintage Engagement RingsBest Etsy Engagement Ring Shops in CanadaA Simple Guide to Edwardian Engagement RingsHow to Buy an Engagement Ring on EtsyThe History of Engagement RingsHow to Find an Affordable Vintage Engagement RingHappy Shopping!AndreaShare the KnowledgeHey there! My mom’s 50th birthday is coming soon and she likes vintage rings. I read your article and it talks about buying vintage “engagement” rings. Do you think that this guide will apply to buying just a vintage ring for my mom? By the way, I like your guide it’s very informative and helpful. Thank you for sharing this and I really appreciate your response.Hi! Andrea,I enjoyed reading your articles. There’s a lot of information and facts that I had learned about Vintage Jewelry. Thanks for the researches and efforts you’ve made that benefits your readers. Seriously, I think its time for me to dig the treasure box of my Mom and see if I can find surprises like vintage jewelry…I have to say this is the best guide I have read to date, on line, about buying vintage rings.I have read a lot about this favorite topic of mine!All your sections explaining the terms used to describe rings, the age labeling, and things to look out for are very informative.It is important that you included the ‘how-to-buy-it’ on Ebay and Etsy too. For new buyers on line, saving them the aggravation of filtering out deceptive pr poor products is very helpful.Wow… there are some seriously GORGEOUS vintage engagement rings on those Google pics! So fun even just looking at them! My favorites are the modern ones – and I think adding some sapphires somehow!As I was reading your guide, I was wondering if perhaps it’d be wise for the guy to ask the girl if she would be ok with a vintage ring for her engagement ring… not all girls would, actually! Some girls aren’t interested in sharing their ring with anyone else’s story – they want the only story that goes with that ring to be THIER OWN story.That being said, there’s something seriously romantic about a generational engagement ring that all girls would love – one worn by one’s grandmother now worn by you, or something like that. Sweet!Thanks for the informative read!I am actually helping my dad to search for a ring as a gift for my parent’s anniversary. Since the are both born in the 1940’s, vintage seems like a good fit.Etsy sounds like a good platform to start with and I’ve seen many crafty sellers there. One question – what the price range should I be looking at for vintage collection so I know that I am not being duped for an overpriced item?Thanks!Hi AndreaI did not know about a ring like this,so thank you very much for this info,I have always been into antic, and I would probably buy one ring for my wife, do you know if it is a cheap ring like this for sale? 🙂best regardsSalomon A.I just love the size of your photos, they look great. What a clean and professional looking website, the white background is very bright. Your video on Boersheims is great, the one on 1975 Sarah Coventry Jewelry had no sound. Diamond Cutting Techniques – A History video was great. I don’t see anything to ameliorate. Congratulations and keep up what you’ve been doing, you deserve to be successful.Oh god, what a wonderful post!I am getting engaged recently and this post just come in time! I am going to show my fiancee this! I love the idea of wearing a story on your finger, not to mention they are more affordable and eco-friendly!Thanks for your info! Looking forward to your upcoming post!getting engage and later married is the most important moment for all ladies, and also for men too 🙂Choosing the ring is the must, there are so many choices when buying a ring. The ring has the eternal meaning to ladies and the vintage engagement rings I think meets the need for ladies.Thank you so much to share with me about 4 C of the center stone. I have the idea of center stone for a while, but I’m still not looking for more detail since right now no lady willing to wear the ring yet…Therefore I have a question about the center stone. Which is the quality of the center stone 4 C that I need if I would like to have the effect like this? When I use a small light pointing to the center stone within a dark room, how it can make the center stone providing all light colors?Awesome! Happy to reach this site. Due to many personal reasons, I and my better half are separated.I am doing my business now. After I reached a huge success within a few months, I will go back to her. I will make the get-together meet a surprising one and an unforgettable moment. I love these rings. And really this article helps me. Please, I am expecting a precious chains review like this. I would like to present a precious chain and ring to my partner.Hi Andrea, &nbsp;I never had an engagement ring, and I didn’t know untilNow that you can buy vintage engagement rings online. Im not sure if I can do that because i love to fit everything that Im buying from shoes to clothes. &nbsp; &nbsp;I can refer your website to&nbsp;My friends who are planning to buy theirEngagement ring. YouHave tons of valuable information here. Thanks aLot! &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; MaritaThanks Andrea,Your website is a feast for the eyes to anyone who loves jewellery and the information, superb,for the fella looking to buy &nbsp;the ring for the love of his life.I hesitate to buy on line &nbsp;something as special as a ring, for me no need for an &nbsp;engagement ring, &nbsp;but a lovely dress ring.&nbsp;I am always looking and I especially love vintage.Thankyou for all the information and I shall bookmark your post as a reference of what to look for and where to buy and to buy with confidence, &nbsp;from &nbsp;your listed websitesMicheleI absolutely love this insightful article because it is full of great information. This is fascinating and intriguing to meYou did an excellent job of providing education and resources; The article was well written and easy to understand. There is no doubt vintage engagement rings are now popular, Thanks for expantiating much more on its quality and grades. This is an eye opener for me and I so much appreciate this lovely postI love this post!I would’ve never thought that they are typically cheaper compared to new rings. I would think that their history and quality would put a higher price tag on them. Hmm, very interesting.&nbsp;I really love that you mentioned that they are eco friendly. Many people don’t realize that it really is. And clearly you’ve made it a better buy stating they’re cheaper.Great post altogether. But this really stood out for me.I might consider getting a vintage ring for my brother’s girlfriend because they are about 20 years old and she likes old stuff. Since they typically cost less than a new ring, I might be able to find a good one online as well. Because she like rings that are one of a kind, it might be a good idea to buy one for her.

Skip to contentThinking about a vintage engagement ring for your love? Learn everything you need to know on buying a vintage engagement ring in this ultimate guide.&nbsp;You may not be aware, but buying a vintage engagement ring is an eco-friendly choice. This is because wearing an old ring replaces the need to make new rings. You are reducing and reusing at the same time! Nothing says, "I love you" like a beautiful ring.This term gets thrown around a lot, with no precise definition. Most people in the jewelry world would agree that . Rings over 100 years old are considered antique.Vintage...

The Ultimate Guide to Buying Vintage Engagement Rings - How to Buy Vintage Jewelry

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