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Antique engagement ring
by Kristin McDonald |
Antique engagement ring: Find the One
that Says “I Love You”
“Wow, what a gorgeous ring, where did you get it?” “That’s
an amazing setting…is that new?”
These are just some of the things I hear when I wear my antique
engagement ring. Well, it’s not actually my engagement
ring, but it is an heirloom antique, and it was an engagement
ring.
The ring belonged to my mother, who was presented with this
ultimate antique engagement ring when my father gave it to her
some years ago. Originally, it belonged to my great-grandmother. I
guess my dad was taken by the heirloom quality and the flashy
glitz of the 1.5 total carats of the ring; my mom, in turn, was
smitten by it, and wore the ring for years until she decided to
pass it on to me as a gift.
An Antique Engagement Ring Can be a Bargain!
There are many reasons for choosing an antique engagement ring.
One of the first is economy. One person’s “second-hand” is a
“precious antique” to the wise. There is no question that a
fabulous diamond ring, from a fine jeweler, depreciates in street
value the minute it leaves the showroom floor. So, it’s generally
not a wise investment.
An antique engagement ring, however, is usually cheaper than its
carat per carat contemporary counterpart. On top of that, the
craftsmanship is frequently superior to what you see in newer
pieces. And you pay for what you get…not for overhead, but simply
for a gorgeous antique ring.
An Antique Engagement Ring Has Unique Style
Another reason to consider an antique engagement ring is the look,
feel and materials involved. There are many rings for the romantic
at heart available from the 1920’s, which reflect the “Art Deco”
styling from that time period. These rings have a sleek look with
geometric ornamentation, lots of accent stones, and impressive
filigree work that continues to be popular to this day. Another
great antique style is the Tiffany eternity setting, which
features the total simplicity of diamonds going all the way around
the band, usually with a white gold or platinum setting.
You can find “real” antique rings from the Victorian era (1837 -
1901), and even from the older Georgian era (1800- 1837). But the
styles of this period make them more appropriate for special
occasion wear rather than making them the perfect antique
engagement ring. The stones actually have a more rough-hewn,
primitive look to them, because stone faceting technology was not
perfected at that time.
If you see a ring you like with the look and feel of an antique
engagement ring, it was probably made between the years
1900–1940. My diamond ring from this period is set in a platinum
band. Platinum (twice as expensive as gold) is quite popular today
and many antique bands are made of this metal or white gold, and
are marked as such.
How to Buy the Perfect Antique Engagement Ring
Which brings me to an important topic: How to shop for quality in
your antique engagement ring. No one wants to present their
beloved with a second-rate ring during that magic moment when they
ask, “Will you marry me?” So, it pays to exercise caution.
If you buy from an antique dealer with an established reputation,
you are probably not taking much of a risk. But on Ebay or other
online sources, you need to know the facts. Luckily, Ebay now has
many dealers who have had their jewels verified by outside
agencies, and online vendors often have certificates of
authenticity to accompany the antique engagement rings. Look for a
seller with over 200 positive feedbacks. If you get a certificate
and a money back guarantee, you should not have any problems.
Follow these tips to make online buying of your antique engagement
ring fun and safe. You may end up with an incredible deal, because
buyers are often reluctant to bid on fine jewelry “sight –
unseen”…so there are still bargains to be found out there for
luscious ruby rings, enchanting emeralds, and diamonds that are
forever! With enough tenacity, you will find the perfect treasure
and make the love of your life wildly happy, and wild about you!
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