Are you planning to get engaged? You can think about buying antique engagement rings for the occasion. Apart from bringing in an intrinsic charm and uniqueness, antique diamond engagement rings come at a much lesser price and they usually arrive with superior craftsmanship.

How is Estate Engagement Rings different from Antique Engagement Rings

Antique Setting engagement rings are the ones that are more than fifty years old. On the other hand estate rings can be less than fifty years old. So even a ring you bought last year can be an estate ring. To buy the most exclusive and delightful rings, try to get rings that were made prior to 1950. There is also another type known as vintage style engagement ring - this can mean different kinds of rings for different jewelers. However it is usually the term used to denote an ancient ring. Some people may use the term to denote a ring which came from another era.

Some important facts on Antique Engagement Rings

Have a close look at the craftsmanship of the antique ring. This is the most central thing when you are trying to purchase an antique engagement ring. There are quite a lot of rings for your choice like antique blossom diamond engagement rings, antique asscher engagement rings etc. If you attempt to get the services of a modern jeweler to match the job on an Edwardian ring, you may most probably finish up shelling out too much money. Instead you can go for an authentic ring of that era. Never go for cheap replica rings that ape the style; because, there is nothing that can compare to the character and quality of a genuine antique ring.

While diamonds are at present the most well-liked stone for engagements, this wasn't factual all the time. You should be watchful to avoid softer stones like opal, pearl, and emerald, which may have interior cracks or may be damaged easily.

Keep in mind that quality standards of these days are not automatically applicable to ancient diamonds. Although bright white diamonds are considered the best today, people once upon a time preferred somewhat yellow, green or rose diamonds. Also the methods used for cutting the diamonds were different in those days. There were no hi-fi scientific methods those days to find out inner flaws in the diamonds. Whatsoever the case, the most significant thing is that you should like the antique engagement ring and your fiancé should love it too.

If your budget is tight, but you want the piece to have the appearance of a bigger diamond, you can try going for engagement rings between 1930s and 40s. The diamonds used in these periods were usually set in an ornately carved setting which helped the diamond to look bigger.

Best places to purchase antique style Engagement Ring

When you are buying antique jewelry, go through the descriptions given for each diamond piece. See that they give you, a full description, in writing, about the piece with cut, clarity, color, condition, carat, size, and age. If at all possible, they will allocate qualified gemologists for you. If you are buying a sizeable number, you'll have to clear all your doubts about the diamond before you make the payment. Moreover, you should ensure that you are aware of return policies, just in case you find any flaws in the piece later.

The Different periods of Antique Style Engagement Rings

Victorian Engagement Ring (from 1835 to 1900) - Usually made in rose gold or yellow, these rings have both easy stylish designs to incredibly elaborate ones. With the new unearthing of diamond excavations in South Africa and the newborn assets of the Industrial Revolution, a lot of Victorian settings offer strips of diamonds, engraved with an additional surface on the base. This is usually called the mine cut. Most Victorian rings incorporate pearls as well, even though it is not advisable to wear these every day.

Edwardian antique Engagement Ring (from 1900 to 1920) - Platinum went on to be the fashionable material for antique style engagement rings when the oxyacetylene torch was invented. Jewelers started making pierced and lacy shapes, filigree, scrollwork, and milgraining detail on mountings. Apart from the rose cut variety, sparkling sapphires were also very popular in this period.

Art Deco Antique Engagement Rings (from 1920 to 1930) - This was an era of machines, excitement and discovery. Art Deco antique style engagement rings mirror the age with a sleek geometric appearance. Also, they habitually imitate fashion movements of the period, with hints to Native American, Asian, and Egyptian. The earlier Art Deco rings deviated from insipid Edwardian styles with vivid, complementary gemstones, even though it soon took on a diamond packed, platinum appearance for a glitzy sleek look. In fact, Art Deco rings are one of the most preferred antique style engagement rings these days.

You can find Antique diamond Engagement Rings at an array of places these days. This includes online, pawn shops, estate sales, jewelers and antique stores. If you are a novice purchaser, it is recommended that you use the services of antique jewelry experts and jewelers, who will be better equipped to help you in making the right purchase. And make sure that you buy from a trustworthy seller.