Things You Need To Understand About Vintage Engagement Rings

By Larry Underwood


Picking your wedding rings is a decision that is meant to last a lifetime. If you wish to get a ring that has timeless style and will last a lifetime, just as your love, you will need to pick cautiously. Begin with a good idea of what you desire in a vintage engagement rings, including the era you desire to see represented in it. Would you prefer something Art Deco in style? Or, perhaps you envision something more Edwardian to symbolize your own commitment. What you pick will determine the price range and where you are likely to find your perfect ring. Also, you should consider whether you prefer a replica of a particular era's jewelry or if you are searching for a genuine antique. Something to remember is the distinction between "antique" and "estate" rings. Antique rings are those which are older than fifty years of age. An estate ring, however, is less than fifty years of age. You will also encounter vintage rings that may not be actual antiques but that reproduce the designs of an antique era.

Now, let's examine the most famous antique styles on the market today. You can find, with careful research and shopping, an antique wedding ring that goes back to the 19th century. A Georgian ring (from the early 1800's) will be crafted of yellow gold, usually 18 karat, and based on surviving rings, most likely have seed pearls or another softer stone as a centerpiece. If a diamond is a must-have, you can find a rose-cut or mine-cut diamond in certain Georgian rings. However, the focal point of the rings of this era was the engraving and also ornamentation of the band itself. Jewelry design of the time was characterized by a confined vintage engagement ring settings. Bear in mind, if you are considering a Georgian wedding ring, the softer stone that was prominent at the time are more likely to have sustained cracks. Have the ring cautiously appraised by a legitimate jeweler before you make your final choice.

The Victorian era, close on the heels of the Georgian period, favored rings with highly sentimental design. Flowers, birds, and also hearts were typical motifs. This is also the time period that began featuring diamonds almost solely as the center stone. The classic Tiffany design first showed in this design era. The body of Victorian wedding rings was very popularly cast in yellow or rose gold.

Victorian designs are quite popular with numerous engaged couples today and, with their relatively modern gemstones and also designs, it's easy to see why. As with all antique rings, you should have the stone cautiously examined by a jeweler. Jewelers in the 19th century didn't have the instruments available to them that modern jewelers do. Hence, it was difficult for them to identify occlusions or flaws that are conveniently detected by today's jewelers. Be sure that you know what you're purchasing and what condition it's in.

Edwardian jewelry is another popular design for antique wedding rings. The Edwardian era spans from approximately 1901-1919. Rings from this period of time are growing hard to find but, they are out there. And, imitations are also extremely popular, reproducing the filigree details and featuring the stars and also crescents which were trademarks of the Edwardian wedding rings. It was through this period that rings began to be made from platinum and/or white gold. This allowed for lighter rings, more discreet settings and also more attention to the gemstones these tiffany engagement rings featured. Renowned gemstones for Edwardian wedding rings include mine-cut diamonds as well as amethysts and peridots.




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