Before you begin shopping for your sweetheart’s special engagement ring, you should know that buying a vintage ring is a completely different experience from just going to a national chain jeweler. As mentioned earlier, many vintage and antique pieces truly are unique, one-of-a-kind items, so you want to be sure the antique store or jeweler you go to really knows their stuff when it comes to vintage jewelry. Sal at Judy’s Antique & Estate Jewelry is very knowledgeable about jewelry, and what’s more, whenever he buys antique jewelry, he calls in a professional appraiser to look at it and tell him all about the piece. Here are some tips for shopping for your vintage engagement ring:
Shop around – There are endless options in the realm of older jewelry pieces. You owe it to yourself to look different places, whether in person or online, and determine the type of look you want. Are you seeking a specific style? Something from a particular era? What type of ring is going to be the most flattering on your finger? These all are questions you can and should answer during the browsing process.
Do some research – Do you love one particular period of history? That’s great, but when considering a ring, you need to weigh a variety of factors: your future wife’s lifestyle, the frequency that she’ll be wearing the ring, and how much care the ring will require. Remember that, generally speaking, the older a ring is, the harder it’s going to be to find. You also might want to do research into diamonds (know the 4 C’s: carat weight, cut, color, and clarity.
Know your stones – Not all stones are intended for engagement settings. For example, opals and pearls are softer and more prone to damage or even breaking.
Fit is important – A reputable jeweler should be able to resize most vintage rings, if needed. Keep in mind, the key word there is most. Rings with an eternity band or enamelwork can be more difficult to resize without potentially damaging the setting or enamel.
Certification? – It’s recommended to obtain an independent diamond certification when buying any vintage ring, if the main diamond is more than a half-carat in size. This certification will give you all the specific, relevant information about the diamond you are buying. It also will help if anything happens to the ring and you need to file an insurance claim.
If you are in the market for a unique and beautiful engagement ring come see us at Judy’s Antique & Estate Jewelry. We have the largest selection of vintage jewelry in SWFL.
