What are vintage engagement rings?
If you are not familiar with the term, short definition is that the ring is considered to be Vintage when it is at least 50 years old. Most commonly known styles include Edwardian vintage, Victorian vintage, Art Deco, Georgian and Art Nouveau. The usual characteristics of these treasures are fancy metal work and design, which make them look truly royal. Great choice when you really want to stand out from the crowd!
How are they different from modern engagement rings?
Over 50 years ago quality standards were different when it comes to analyzing diamonds. Flaw finding techniques and cutting mechanisms were also less sophisticated than today, so technically speaking the quality of vintage diamonds, is not as high as modern diamonds, but this is relative. The fact is that these "flaws" are actually a big part of making the ring vintage, because back then people preferred diamonds with little bit color in them, like green, pink or yellow. That is the way to be unique; everyone has colorless "white" diamond rings these days.
Setting the budget
Be assured that with vintage engagement rings you will make your loved one happiest woman in the world. These types of special rings are not the cheapest ones, so it's a good idea to set a budget first. Just some price range, so it's easier and faster to find what you are looking for. Expensive or not, this is an investment that passes through generations in your family, so buying an heirloom like this is also always a beginning of tradition.
Two things to know first:
What is wished for?You may know your special lady very well, but maybe you are unsure about her taste when it comes to jewelry. If you have enough information to buy, that's great! If not, don't panic. Just ask around her friends and family, they point you to the right direction for sure.
Size of the ring
The other thing to be aware of is her ring size. You don't want to ask her, if the proposal is going to be surprise, so just check out one of her other rings to determine the right size.
If for some reason you have to make an educated guess, then it's always better to make that guess little bigger than smaller, because the made ring is easier to downsize if the size need to changed.
What kind of gemstone should I choose?
This is closely related to that what you already know about her likes and dislikes. With vintage rings you have numerous options; diamonds, colored diamonds, emerald, ruby, sapphire or even a pearl. When making your decision, keep in mind that some of these rings are not suitable for everyday use, so check this first before buying if it's important to you.
Shape of a stone is also a factor you must decide. Common shapes are listed below:
- Round
- Emerald
- Oval
- Pear
- Marquise
- Radiant
- Heart
- Princess
- Asscher
- Cushion
How do I know that it's good quality?
The four Cs will help you in your decision. These are clarity, carat, cut and color.
Color
It is believed that the less color the diamond has, more valuable it is. This is only a part of the truth especially with vintage engagement rings. Matter of the fact is that the most sought after and expensive diamonds are colored, like in pink or blue for example. These stones are called "fancy color" diamonds and are often found in vintage engagement rings.
Clarity
Clarity determines how flawless, in other words perfect, the diamond is. How does its inclusion appear to be and does the surface of the stone have any defects? There may be particles of some foreign material "trapped" inside the diamond. If there are only minor inclusions or defects, it's a good thing! Why? Because these can be used as a proof that the diamond is natural Mother Earth produced stone, and not a synthetic man-made stones.
Carat
Carat means diamond weight. One carat is divided to 100 points. For example 75 point stone is 0.75- or 3/4 carat diamond. Rule of thumb is that the bigger the diamond's, more expensive they are. But that is not always the case as we saw above. Smaller colored stone can be more valuable that bibber clear diamond.
Cut
It's commonly believed that the cut refers to the shape of a diamond, but it doesn't. Instead it is a work phase performed before the polishing. The way that diamond is cut determines the sparkle. Whether the diamond is a shining star or lifeless piece of rock greatly depends if its cut like it should be.
What about the ring?
Vintage ring settings are often very glamorous. There is so much to choose from that everyone can find exactly what they are looking for. Just make sure that ring is made preferably of 18K gold or platinum. (link)
Where should I get it?
The best way to make sure that you get what you are paying for is to buy the ring from reputable store like Amazon. It is the best way when you want the best quality for best price. When you buy from
Is it safe to buy online?
Amazon is the online store that has my full trust for following reasons:
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Over the phone help if you need it
- The ring will be shipped to you with diamond grading certificate
- Price is lower than brick and mortar jeweler stores
