Vintage Engagement rings symbolize the bond that the soon-to-be-married couple share with one another. They should have their own characteristics and personalities. This is why we would say that antique engagement rings are the best for this. They have a story behind them that a newly made ring has not yet written.
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What are vintage engagement rings?
To be considered an antique/vintage ring, an engagement ring should be more than 50 years old, while an estate engagement ring is newer than that. Antique rings are unique, and considering that they were made so long ago, they showed the love and cared the artisan had for their craft. A ring needs to be crafted with intricate techniques to be able to endure all that time and still be in a condition to become someone’s engagement ring.
An “antique ring” is an umbrella term that is being used to define any old ring, but there is actually a little bit more to it than that.
Antique Engagement Ring Styles
Victorian Antique Engagement Rings (1835-1900)
During the Victorian era, composite gold’s were a very common material for an engagement ring. Most of the rings from this time were made of yellow or rose gold with very simplistic and minimal designs. These rings are usually decorated with rows of diamonds and pearls on the outside, and they usually have a facet at the bottom of the ring.
Edwardian Engagement Rings (1900-1920)
Due to the invention of the oxyacetylene torch, metals with a higher boiling point, like the platinum, suddenly became much more popular. Additionally, these torches also helped jewelers to include decorating techniques that were too complicated to do in the past. Rings of this era were usually decorated with sapphires and diamonds.
Art Deco Engagement Rings (1920-1930)
These types of the ring were the physical manifestation of the 1920s vibrant, culture, extravagant and buoyant. The Art Deco rings usually include gemstones with contrasting colors, and the bands are typically made of platinum. The designs are quite subtle, yet elegant with shiny, glittering decorations and streamlined looks.
Things to Know About Antique Engagement Rings
Damage
Diamonds have always been the most common gem for engagement rings because they are durable, and they always whine no matter the condition. Other softer stones like the emerald and pearl opal are prone to cracking, so you need to make sure that you check for those.
Craftsmanship
As mentioned, antique rings were crafted with different techniques and care from today’s jeweler.
They had more time to focus on their crafts, which means that the best artisans of yesteryears were true masters at their crafts. If you were to hire a jeweler nowadays to make an extra replica of an antique ring, they would charge you a ridiculous rate, and the quality might not be as good as the authentic ones.
Settings
Ring crafters from different eras utilized different techniques to make rings that fit with the trend at the time. For example, diamond engagement rings during the 30s and 40s will use emboldening techniques that make the diamonds on the ring looks larger than they actually are. Look for the aesthetics that you like and go for the rings according to those time frames.
Diamond Quality
Nowadays, we have the technologies to assess diamond quality in a much more detailed manner. This means that diamond rings you find today will have diamonds of similar color and quality, as those are now the industry standards. Moreover, people back in the days did not have a way to cut a diamond or inspect its internal flaws as clearly as we do today.
FAQs
Are vintage engagement rings popular?
Vintage engagement ring styles are extremely popular among modern brides, from colored stones like sapphires, emeralds, and rubies to rustic, raw, and rough-cut diamond rings.
Are vintage rings more expensive?
Vintage diamond rings cost around 1/3rd less than the new rings. There was a difference in the diamonds – not in their quality, but in their cut. Round solitaires are faceted with a series of cut into the back of the stone.
Is $5000 good for an engagement ring?
Rule of thumb: Spend two months of your income on an engagement ring. Moreover, if you are making $1000 per month, then spend $2000 on an engagement ring. If you are making $2500 per month, spend $5000.
