The Charm of Antique Vintage Engagement Rings: A Buyer’s Guide

Engagement Rings of Antique Vintage style are trending in the UK, gaining popularity as a result of their timeless elegance and level of craftsmanship that is rare today. Of course, vintage rings are the ultimate romantic symbol to start off your engagement. However, you cannot just buy antique jewellery from the street jewellers. For buyers interested in antique vintage jewellery, here’s a short guide explaining how to identify the right ones, why they are popular and where exactly you can find them. If you're planning a proposal, then a vintage ring will be the perfect accessory to venerate your commitments to your partner!
Antique Vintage Engagement Rings
Engagement Rings are Antique or Vintage if they are between twenty to hundred years old or more. The higher the timeframe, the more it is considered antique. Let’s take the example of the Art Deco style. Art Deco rings can be considered vintage, but to be considered as antique, they must be at least 100 years old. Although, there's a significant time difference between the terms ‘antique’ and ‘vintage’, it's not uncommon for customers to use the two terms simultaneously when referring to old and classic jewellery.
Antique and vintage jewellery are highly demanded because they are often considered as a unique piece of our history, a snapshot of the cultures and artistry of a time that has passed. Made by master goldsmiths by hand, they enjoy a certain level of rarity and exclusiveness when compared to modern jewellery. There's no chance that you'll find two antique or vintage rings that are similar to each other.
The style of antique and vintage rings are another matter entirely, because there's no standards in design that separate them from the current ones. However, you can identify them thanks to their bold details, intricate engravings and dazzling colours that just pop! To put it bluntly, you'll know whether a ring is antique or vintage when you see it.
Iconic Eras And The Styles That They Inspired
There could be hundreds of Engagement Rings in Antique Vintage styles that cannot be classified into certain groups. However, expert jewellers agree that most vintage rings can be differentiated based on the era that inspired them:
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Victorian: Lavish and sybaritic, the jewellery in Victorian era between 1835 and 1900 largely drew their inspiration from Queen Victoria’s style choices. Intricate details like the filigree and nature-inspired designs like the floral patterns reigned supreme with yellow gold being the metal of choice. Cushion cuts, rose cuts and halo settings were the most popular during this period.
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Edwardian: Next, we have the Edwardian Era between 1900s and 1920s, where crafting and jewellery-making were pushed to new heights thanks to better tools and technology. Most of the vintage rings draw inspiration from this era, with exceptional craftsmanship and lace-like designs leading this style. Platinum and coloured gemstones were the most common materials used during this period.
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Art Deco: The Art Deco era between 1920s and the 1940s produced some of the most exquisite pieces, largely inspired by the technology and the architecture of the time. The designs were a stark contrast to the Edwardian style, and diamond or baguette cuts and bold geometric lines were prominent for Art Deco jewellery.
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Mid-century: By the 1940s, a new style called Retro Vintage swept through the UK jewellery markets. Precious metals and stones were scarce due to wars and economic struggles, and craftsmen had to make do with simple styles with a central setting. However, the styles became more opulent as the years progressed towards the 1960s.
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Late Century: Chunky and bold yellow gold rings mark the shift from simplicity to flamboyant for jewellery accessories in the 1970s and 1980s. Economies were progressing and more people were able to afford larger stones and refined settings for their rings, with the marquise cut being the prime example.
Factors To Consider Before Buying Antique Vintage Rings
If you're in the market for Engagement Rings in Antique Vintage styles, then you need to consider the following before you buy one:
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The first factor is obviously the price. Now, you can rest assured that where will be all kinds of vintage and antique rings available in all price ranges. What you do need to keep in mind is that most vintage rings will require additional costs to resize it, repair any minor damage or add in a more secure setting.
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Ensure that the seller who owns the vintage ring has the proper documents or identification to prove its authenticity. Pay attention to the material and make sure that the quality will still hold for a considerable time after you buy it. However, you do need to be cautious about fake rings and scams.
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You'll probably spend a lot of time thinking about what style you want to try on. That's okay. What you need to do is fixate on a specific style or era that you want to explore and then work your way up. That's the best way to determine what you like best, and it'll save you a lot of time too.
Where To Buy?
So, now that you have an idea about Engagement Rings in Antique Vintage settings, you need to find a place that sells them. In the UK, you'll find lots of stores that deal in antique jewellery so that's a good place to start. These shops often have the documents or certifications too but they'll be a bit on the higher end when it comes to price. If you're on a strict budget, there are many second-hand stores with a myriad of collections that you can peruse but you need to keep an eye out for the real deal as they don't have documents or any other verifications to back up the authenticity of the vintage ring.
Don't fall for online deals and tactics and always be cautious when purchasing antique rings through a website. You cannot examine a ring properly if you're purchasing it online so be extremely careful. If price is not an issue for you, you can try exploring the various estate sales and auction sellers around the UK and many antique jewellery boutiques also have their own collection of vintage sets that you can buy. Be sure to verify their credibility before you visit them.
Conclusion
Engagement Rings in Antique Vintage styles have their own charm and elegance that you just can't get in modern jewellery. But you do have to make a few more financial investments to bring the antique ring back in pristine conditions or reshape it into a size that fits you. However, if you're a lover of history and culture, then an antique or vintage ring is worth the effort and is a perfect adornment that you can buy as a cherished engagement ring for your loved one.
At Eternity Jewels, you can explore our collection of antique rings and vintage sets of the various eras that defined the UK’s culture and history. Head on over to our website to see what we to offer!