Antique Engagement Rings

Choosing an engagement ring is not something that is done easily as there are so many options available, one of which is to purchase an antique engagement ring. There are several reasons why buying antique rings for engagement has risen in popularity in recent years, many men want a completely unique ring to give to their loved one and an antique ring is extra special. Another option that many people are choosing is to buy a custom made replica of an antique ring, there are many jewelers now offering this service.

An engagement ring is considered to be antique if it is over fifty years old, anything less than fifty years is considered to be an estate ring.  If you are considering buying an old engagement ring there are a few things that you need to consider first to make sure that you are getting the perfect ring.

When it comes to choosing any engagement ring, finding the right one is essential and if you are looking for a particular style of ring then an antique ring may be just right for you.  Whether you are choosing an antique engagement ring for your partner or you are choosing the ring together there are a few things that you should know before you make your purchase.  

Obviously you must take your budget into account, but do not be put off by the term antique, antique and vintage engagement rings are not necessarily any more expensive than a new ring.  Once you know how much you are willing to spend on your antique ring then you need to decide on the style of ring you want, depending on how old the ring is the styles can vary greatly.  Generally there are a few styles that are always very popular with couples today, styles such as Victorian rings and Art Deco engagement rings are much sought after. Below we will look at the different styles of rings there are to choose from.

Different jewelers may use other terms to describe the types of rings that are available, an antique ring is usually any ring that was made earlier than the 1950's, an estate ring is any ring made after the 1950's and a vintage ring is best described as an old ring because vintage can mean several different things for example an estate ring that was produced in 1979 but made in the Edwardian style could be mistaken for a ring that was made during the Edwardian period which is typically the early 1900's to 1920's.  

The Victorian styling of engagement rings is quite different to the styles that we see today, while we are used to seeing diamonds in engagement rings, in Victorian times many rings were made with pearls and were commonly set in rose gold or yellow gold.  While diamonds were beginning to rise in popularity during this time they were not as commonly found in their early rings.  

During the Victorian era (early 1980's to 1900)  rings varied from very simple in nature to very intricate with the more design depicting the status of the wearer.  The style however the design was always elegant and antique Victorian engagement rings are often in demand.

During the Edwardian era the style was very much delicate, intricate and lace like.  The fine craftmanship of this era was evident in the rings produced during this time. (1900 - 1920) 

Fond of Lavishness in ring design, the Edwardians often opted for delicately detailed rings that were produced to show the social status of the wearer, much as in victorian times.  However unlike the Victorian styling of rings which was often influenced by egyptian artwork the Edwardian styling was much more focused on romantic symbols such as flowers, hearts and birds.  Edwardian engagement rings were often set with a central stone surrounded by smaller stones and these were most often set in platinum or white gold.

In the Art Deco time period 1920's to 1930's much of the jewelry design was made to reflect the latest fashion of the time.  This period was an exciting time for fashion and the use of bright colors and flamboyance can be seen in the ring design, often using colorful gemstones and platinum diamond designs.  Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphire were also popular during this time and this type of antique engagement ring can be hard to find and are often in demand with young couples.