Vintage engagement rings have an instantly recognizable character that modern rings lack. Today, many young couples continue to lean toward ...
Vintage engagement rings have an instantly recognizable character that modern rings lack. Today, many young couples continue to lean toward something unique and timeless with some rich history opt for vintage engagement rings. Compared to a modern piece, making a proposal using this vintage ring always add extra sentimental value. For this reason, more and more jewelers store vintage jewelry full of unique selections from various eras.
Most retailers with this one-of-a-kind best-selling engagement rings have options such as Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco, among others. Selling unique and beautifully detailed pieces can be difficult because not all people understand vintage rings. But don't commit to selling vintage jewelry before learning a few things about them. And to get to the bottom of it, we've put together this guide on how vintage engagement rings sell.
Tips for Selling the Best Vintage Engagement Rings
What Qualifies as a Vintage Ring?
A vintage ring refers to anything that's twenty-years-old, and antique rings should be at least a hundred years old. On the other hand, a vintage engagement ring indicates the style as opposed to age. So, if you're selling vintage and engagement rings, most likely, it means vintage style. Age dictates vintage engagement rings, and we'll discuss the four eras emulated by the vintage style.
Victorian Era Engagement Rings (1835 – 1900)
In this era, best-selling engagement rings were set in yellow or rose gold and included clusters and diamonds' halos. Queen Victoria's excellent taste in jewelry influenced this style, with elaborate filigree details finishing. In comparison, turquoise and blue enamel happen to be the most popular colors during this era. The standard diamond cuts included; rose-cut, old European cuts, and step-cuts.
Edwardian Era Engagement Ring (1901 – 1920)
If the vintage engagement rings' shopper loves intricate and lacy designs, the Edwardian era's engagement rings will do. The popular designs included white on white for a chic, upper-class look. The jewelry featured elaborate filigree and had ribbons, scrolling, and vines designs. Platinum became the most popular precious metal in this era, which allowed filigree work.
Art Deco Engagement Rings
The lacy and flowers from the Edwardian style were gone with that era. Fun, playful and bold were in with the Art Deco engagement rings. During this era, new alloys appeared uncovered, and besides platinum, they utilized the less expensive white gold. The jewelry metalwork had repeated, sharp angles, tiny beads known as milgrain took center stage. And this style continues to take the jewelry world by storm.
Retro Era Engagement Rings (1940 – 1960)
The center diamond featured in this era and the selling engagement rings had diamonds on them. Baguette and solitaire rings became popular with a larger center stone. After World War II, yellow and rose gold became the most sought engagement ring precious metal after the platinum ban. White and yellow gold also grew in popularity during this era.
Recent Decades Engagement Rings
The colored gemstones and the two-stone diamond came back into fashion in the sixties. Also, Art Deco and disco styles became large and bold in the seventies and featured geometric designs. In the eighties, Princess Diana's famous halo sapphire engagement ring inspired a lot of people. And in the nineties, marquise-cut diamonds became popular selling engagement rings.
Designs for Vintage Engagement Ring
A vintage engagement ring can combine Edwardian, Victorian, and Art Deco styles into something wholly different and new. Their non-traditional design, classic look, and elaborate character make them the best-selling engagement rings. They stand out because of their fancy milgrain designs, intricate filigree, and stunning floral starburst.
Understanding Vintage Engagement Rings
The shopper should realize their lifestyle, how regularly they'll want to wear their selling engagement rings. For instance, Victorian rings have tiny diamonds that are easy to lose. Edwardian rings include a delicate filigree, and Georgian rings have no opening behind the diamond but a foil that can get damaged by water darkening the stone. Other considerations to note included;
Craftsmanship: The best vintage engagement rings craftsmanship should stand out. Stay away from poor imitation rings that ape the style but can't match a vintage ring's character and quality.
Diamond Quality: Diamond cuts were cut differently in earlier decades, not like today's high-quality standard. The Cuts were less glitzy because they were hand-cut using few but popular methods. Not to mention that the technological ability to look for internal flaws was not as innovative as today.
Metal: Consider the metal for the vintage engagement ring. Today, the most sought-after metal has to be platinum because of its durability, but gold, the precious metal, has an enormous return.
Settings: Vintage selling engagement rings settings come ornately carved, making the diamond seem more prominent.
Center Stones: Watch out for the unusual center stones such as opal, pearl, and emerald. They're not recommended as engagement stones because they may have internal cracks and can get damaged. However, if well taken care of and not worn every day, they can make a good option.
Paper Work: Certification should always accompany the vintage engagement ring. Sell an engagement ring that has certification from an independent lab. Get an appraisal and ensure that it matches the report.
In Conclusion: When selling the best selling engagement rings, remember vintage pieces evoke sentimental value than any other engagement ring. More engaged couples are getting drawn to the one-of-a-kind jewelry because of their timeless beauty and rich history. Vintage engagement rings embody the couple's love history, creating their heirloom.
