Antique Jewelry
If you are fond of vintage items, you dont have to depend entirely on your ancestors to acquire a few of these heirlooms. Heirloom-quality jewelry from the Victorian, Edwardian, art deco and other periods is now readily available. When you wish to gift a rare piece of jewelry to your beloved, choose a unique vintage item that she will preserve for the rest of her life. Antique jewelry, a term applied to jewelry over a hundred years old, is now a favorite with the prospective brides, too. With everything that is old now coming back into fashion, most brides walking down the aisle are adorning vintage jewelry with pride.
Among the jewelry pieces that you can pick up are antique engagement rings, studded necklaces, bracelets, brooches, crosses, pendants, lockets and other extraordinary pieces of timeless art and beauty.
These antique jewelry pieces come to you through antique jewelry auctions, fairs and sales that are frequented by the jewelers to bring you pieces of extraordinary charm and elegance. Some of the jewelers also specify the age of the antique jewelry on display. For instance, some may claim to keep pieces from 1900 to 1950 (Edwardian, art deco and retro jewelry), and some may have heirloom pieces that are at least two centuries old (late Georgian or Victorian jewelry)!
Shopping for antique jewelry has an added advantage. It acquaints you to the history and culture of the era to which it belongs. You would be interested to know how the fashion of wearing delicate dresses in the Georgian era favored the use of small, light jewelry. Pendants with miniature paintings of loved ones were also prevalent in the late-Georgian era. In a similar way, jewelry belonging to each era is a reflection of the changing fashions. So, with every piece of antique jewelry, you also buy memories of a long lost era.
Collecting Vintage Jewelry
If you want to buy or collect vintage costume jewelry, learn what to look for and where to look. There is something for everyone who is interested in collecting vintage jewelry. Great places to find vintage costume jewelry locally are estate sales, auctions and flea markets. Vintage costume jewelry reflects the trends of the old days, and the designs are more influenced by the type of clothing worn and the material used at the time.
Behind every piece of vintage jewelry, there is a story. While antique costume jewelry dates as far back as the Victorian era (1832-1901), the literature claims that antique vintage costume jewelry can be considered any costume jewelry that was made around 1910. Most literature we read tells us costume jewelry made around 1910 and the 1960s is now considered vintage. Each piece of vintage costume jewelry is an investment in its own right.
Costume jewelry collecting is a hobby. Some women like to wear it and/or display it. I’m fascinated with the beauty, quality and inexpensiveness vintage costume jewelry can offer. As my own collecting tastes continue to change, my knowledge of the history of vintage costume jewelry continues to increase. I hope to add many new pieces to my own collection. We buy vintage costume jewelry for the same reasons now as when it was first made, its inexpensive and gorgeous. Many collectors today consider their vintage and antique costume jewelry an investment, and statistics show that it is.
If you have a collection of vintage costume jewelry, know where your interest lies. You may only want to put it on display or your pleasure is to wear the piece, the choice is yours. However, if you are only interested in collecting vintage costume jewelry for re-sale or as an investment, youll want to dig much deeper and do your homework before you start buying. Whether you want to wear it, collect it, display it, re-sell it, an enormous vintage costume jewelrysmorgasbord awaits you.
How To Buy Antique Engagement Rings
There are as many good reasons to consider purchasing an antique engagement ring as there are reasons for deciding when to pop the question. While modern day jewelers struggle to offer customers something unique and contemporary, the bride-to-be may be more inclined to appreciate the style and inherent charm of an antique. Another perfectly acceptable reason for purchasing antique engagement rings is they often offer buyers a better quality diamond at a lower price than purchasing a new ring.
Before beginning your search for the perfect wedding ring, it is best to ask yourself a few questions.
Do you know about the four C’s?
The four C’s are the criteria professionals use to determine the value of a diamond.
“Clarity takes into account the number, character, and visibility of flaws within the stone. These are often referred to as inclusions. The fewer inclusions, the better the quality of the stone.”
Carat is the size or weight of the diamond. The larger the stone, the higher the cost. An advantage to buying antique engagement rings is that in the 1930s and 1940s jewelers often compensated for a smaller sized diamond by setting it in an intricately designed white gold, square-shaped box. These made the stone appear larger.
“Color is a matter of taste. Modern-day standards put a higher value on a clear diamonds, as a rule. In the past, buyers wanted their diamonds to reflect a rainbow of colors, soft pinks, yellow, or green tints. While colored diamonds are still available today, they were considered more valuable in the past. It is also important to note that many of the modern colored diamonds are artificially altered to enhance the color.”
Cut is also a matter of taste and another reason antique engagement rings may be the best answer. Over the years, the preference of cut has changed. Additionally, a laser now cuts most diamonds; whereas older stones were normally cut by hand, giving them a more customized, romantic look.
What is the difference between an antique ring and an estate ring?
Antique rings normally refer to rings that are over 50 years old. Rings less than 50 years old and purchased used are considered as estate rings.
What are the styles of different eras? 
Victorian Era (1835-1900) – Victorian era antique engagement rings featured diamonds or pearls set in yellow or rose gold. The ring styles varied from simple elegance to intricate detail. Many settings featured rows of diamonds that were cut with an extra facet in the bottom of the stone. This was known as a mine cut.
Edwardian Era (1900-1920) – With the invention of the oxyacetylene torch, platinum became the preferred metal for the period. The wedding bands were often crafted with lacy and pierced shapes, milgraining, filigree detail, and scrollwork. Rose-cut diamonds and sapphires were the preferred stones.
Art Deco Era (1920-1930) – Art Deco antique engagement rings feature a streamlined geometric look. They also reflect Egyptian, Asian, and Native American cultures. These rings were often made of platinum featured colorful, contrasting gemstones as well as diamonds.
Where can antique engagement rings be purchased?
Antique engagement rings can be purchased in a number of places: antique stores, estate sales, pawn shops, auctions, and there select vendors online and larger cities who specialize in the purchase and resale of antique jewelry. No matter where you purchase your engagement rings, remember to get a full description of your purchase in writing and look to vendors who offer a written returns policy. You may also ask if the jewelry comes with a certified gemologists report, which provides optimal proof that the jewelry is as described.
Conclusion
When purchasing an engagement ring, it is important to consider all your options, including antique engagement rings.