Antique & Vintage Engagement Rings: What You Need to Know
Posted on February 17, 2021 at 3:41 pmby Hitesh Patel/ 0
Engagement rings have always been considered as one of the most important article of jewellery in one’s collection of gems. Throughout the various civilizations, the trends surrounding engagement rings have been changing and evolving with every era being famous for one or few designs and settings.
About Vintage Engagement Rings
While contemporary designs in engagement rings enjoy their own class of fame amongst couples around the world, engagement rings with older designs are coming back in style as antique engagement rings. Resembling the styles of a different era, generally a past one like the Victorian or Art Deco periods, the antique engagement rings are a whole other category of rings which has quite a wide variety to choose from, some examples being the antique rose gold diamond ring and Victorian vintage engagement ring.
The reason behind the regained popularity of antique engagement ring is the intricately beautiful detailing they feature, which tends to attract the youth of today who are always in search of something unique yet gorgeous that can set them apart from the remaining people who choose to settle with something generic.
About Antique Engagement Ring Setting
As beautiful as the gemstone itself, even the ring setting of the antique periods have had some quickly growing popularity. While the antique engagement rings are made in a vintage style for which inspiration is drawn from the Victorian, Edwardian, or Art Deco time periods, even the settings included in these rings are a derivative of the well-known designs in jewelry of the olden times.
With a wide variety of existing in the arena of antique engagement ring settings, customers also have plenty of options to choose from depending on which suits their personal preference and sense of style the best.
Some of the most popular antique engagement ring settings are mentioned below that customers can easily skim through and most likely find a ring that best fits the wearer’s unique style.
Halo vintage engagement rings
The halo vintage engagement ring is one such setting wherein a halo of stunning diamonds surrounds a central gemstone with everything being arranged in an intricately antique style. Ranging from hang-engraved milgrain rings to navette halo rings, customers who want to accentuate their central gemstone but are in love with the antique styles must always consider these halo rings in a vintage design since they are perfect for both preferences.
As the name suggests, the floral vintage engagement rings are made up of a floral element wherein the gemstones in the ring are arranged in a manner wherein they resemble a floral design. Set in an antique setting, the floral vintage engagement rings are the best option for someone who appreciates the simplicity and humility expressed by nature and wishes to see a replicated version of it in their jewellery. Floral designs could include gems arranged in a flower-shaped halo or milgrain detailing which appears similar to petals.
Cathedral vintage engagement rings
In the cathedral vintage engagement rings, the appearance of a cathedral is mimicked in the piece of jewellery wherein two arches of precious metals support one central gemstone in a vintage setting. Some examples like a simple cathedral ring would provide its wearer with a classic and simple look while intricate cathedral rings that feature filigree detailing awards its wearers with a more royal and fancy appearance.
Art Deco vintage engagement rings
Famous during the 1920s and 30s, the art deco vintage engagement rings are a unique option in engagement rings that are loved and wanted by many. Its unique features involve the ring’s symmetrical and geometric designs, abstract patterns, and beautifully contrasting shades of colours.
The two examples in this style include an art deco inspired ring which is made with two prongs and a sophisticated detailing whereas a more tapered design includes a six-prong ring with a yellow gold geometric design.
Milgrain vintage engagement rings
Milgrain vintage engagement rings are basically a type of ring wherein it is engraved with a form of embellishment that is known as milgrain engraving. These engravings give the ring an antique appearance and basically consists of small metal balls which decorate the sides of the ring’s band and crown.
A great example that features this design in the infinity halo ring which has the milgrain engravings at the edges of the halo of diamonds. Many engagement rings feature the milgrain design on the front parts of the bands.
Filigree vintage engagement rings
Another variety of design for antique rings includes the Filigree vintage engagement rings while consists of intricate metalwork featuring metal beads or twisted metal threads embedded throughout the setting. These rings are one of the most royal options for those customers who wish to take full advantage of the concept of vintage rings and propose to their loved ones a beautiful and delicate masterpiece. Examples in this design include a yellow gold filigree engagement ring with features embellishments on the shank of the ring and around its bezel set diamond, a white gold engagement ring and cathedral rings.
Price of Vintage Engagement Rings
The range of price for which vintage engagement rings are accessible to customers falls between $900 to $20,000. Factors affecting the prices of vintage rings are similar to those that affect other engagement rings, which includes the setting, diamond and its 4Cs, trend of the setting, etc.
Vintage rings, however, could cost more since they are home to much more intricate and delicate work. Since antique engagement rings are not a cheaper option, couples must only spend their hard-earned money on them if they are sure of their budget limitations and have a real love for the design.
Pros and Cons of Vintage Settings
Just like every other ring setting, the antique settings have their own set of pros and cons that customers must be aware of to realize whether this variety is what they are really looking for. Once customers are aware of the advantages and disadvantages offered by this setting, they can decide whether the pros are big enough and the cons are insignificant enough to be able to feel like spending their finances on this option would be worthwhile.
Pros
Every antique engagement ring offers exceptional beauty and identity to its wearers.
Once a well-designed antique ring is selected, it will do an excellent job at highlighting the presence of the central stone.
It is the best option for those whose personal style and preferences match that offered by antique rings.
Every piece in this category is unique and built with intricate and delicate investment.
Cons
These rings could be much harder to maintain since the designs the rings include are complicated and sophisticated and would require more cleaning and maintenance.
If the ring is not well-designed then the beauty and sparkle of the stone could be overshadowed by the setting.
A legitimate vintage ring requires additional time and expertise to ensure that the ring’s beauty and charm is retained for as long as possible.
The universal method used for defining a diamond’s quality lies within the GIA 4Cs – colour, clarity, cut, and carat weight. The most important C concerning diamond studs is ‘cut’ as this aspect has the most visible impact on the appearance and brilliance of the jewellery.
Carat
Described simply as the weight of the diamond, it is an aspect related to the size and physical appearance of a precious stone. A carat that best fits the frame of the customer’s face and also falls within the budget must be kept in mind while making the purchase. Although a bigger size is sometimes preferred, people should consider the diamond’s cut above the carat weight as most times larger diamonds lack the lustre and sparkle because it has been poorly cut. 0.50-carat stones are a preference for many.
Cut
A diamond’s cut is the description of how it has been shaped. This is the most critical aspect for diamond studs as the sparkle and brilliance of the stud mostly depend on how well and in what shape it has been cut. With different styles like round brilliant and princess cuts, the basic difference between them is how light is reflected.
The GIA grades for diamonds’ cuts are Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. When choosing diamond studs, customers must choose one with a rating that falls between Very Good and Excellent as these labels ensure that the purchase made is of the best cut quality that will result in a radiant and sparkling item of jewellery.
Clarity
This is an important feature to consider when purchasing clarity of a diamond explains the number of imperfections present inside and outside the diamond, which can be defined as inclusions and blemishes respectively.
These imperfections give a cloudy and dull appearance to the diamond, leading to the jewellery looking less beautiful.
Grades that are used to define the clarity of diamonds include the following: Flawless (FL), Internally Flawless (IF), Very, Very Slightly Included (VVs2), VS1 or VS2 (Very Slightly Included), SI1 or SI2 (Slightly Included), I1 or I2 or I3 (Included).
Higher grades denote that the stone in consideration has lesser inclusions and blemishes and the lower grades describe the opposite.
A grade of VS2-SI1 is generally awarded to eye-clean diamonds and can be purchased by the customers at reasonable prices as these diamonds will look clean and have an adequate amount of sparkle in the eyes of onlookers. This will also allow the client to invest their budget on the rest of the Cs. However, clients that depend on the technicality of the flawlessness of their diamonds can opt for higher graded ones which will invariably cost more.
Colour
The Colour of the diamond must not be confused with coloured diamonds as the difference between them is that coloured diamonds include an array of naturally occurring shades of diamonds such as blue, yellow, pink, etc. whereas the colour is a method to grade the whiteness of a white diamond. These grades fall between the range of D to Z with D indicating the most “colourless” white diamond and Z the label for the most “yellow” white diamond. This factor depends differently from person to person as some might prefer the yellowish tint while others are completely against it.
The different grades of colours are caused due to the reflection of every bit of light including the wearer’s skin tone and metal of the setting, that falls on the surfaces and angles of the diamond.
For a cost-effective purchase, customers must choose a diamond in the range of G-I as it will appear white and cost a lot less than the diamonds which are graded in the range of D-F.
If the evaluation of the diamond fitted in the antique engagement ring is done right, then this can be a stunning combination for couples who find beauty and charm in vintage designs. An as an engagement ring, the vintage rings can be the best choice to propose to one’s significant other if she has a preference and style that is aloof from the modern times and resides in the heart of the olden eras!
Antique & Vintage Engagement Rings: What You Need to Know
Engagement rings have always been considered as one of the most important article of jewellery in one’s collection of gems. Throughout the various civilizations, the trends surrounding engagement rings have been changing and evolving with every era being famous for one or few designs and settings.
About Vintage Engagement Rings
While contemporary designs in engagement rings enjoy their own class of fame amongst couples around the world, engagement rings with older designs are coming back in style as antique engagement rings. Resembling the styles of a different era, generally a past one like the Victorian or Art Deco periods, the antique engagement rings are a whole other category of rings which has quite a wide variety to choose from, some examples being the antique rose gold diamond ring and Victorian vintage engagement ring.
The reason behind the regained popularity of antique engagement ring is the intricately beautiful detailing they feature, which tends to attract the youth of today who are always in search of something unique yet gorgeous that can set them apart from the remaining people who choose to settle with something generic.
About Antique Engagement Ring Setting
As beautiful as the gemstone itself, even the ring setting of the antique periods have had some quickly growing popularity. While the antique engagement rings are made in a vintage style for which inspiration is drawn from the Victorian, Edwardian, or Art Deco time periods, even the settings included in these rings are a derivative of the well-known designs in jewelry of the olden times.
With a wide variety of existing in the arena of antique engagement ring settings, customers also have plenty of options to choose from depending on which suits their personal preference and sense of style the best.
Some of the most popular antique engagement ring settings are mentioned below that customers can easily skim through and most likely find a ring that best fits the wearer’s unique style.
Halo vintage engagement rings
The halo vintage engagement ring is one such setting wherein a halo of stunning diamonds surrounds a central gemstone with everything being arranged in an intricately antique style. Ranging from hang-engraved milgrain rings to navette halo rings, customers who want to accentuate their central gemstone but are in love with the antique styles must always consider these halo rings in a vintage design since they are perfect for both preferences.
Also Read: Cuban Bracelet: The Unisex statement of the bracelet
Floral vintage engagement rings
As the name suggests, the floral vintage engagement rings are made up of a floral element wherein the gemstones in the ring are arranged in a manner wherein they resemble a floral design. Set in an antique setting, the floral vintage engagement rings are the best option for someone who appreciates the simplicity and humility expressed by nature and wishes to see a replicated version of it in their jewellery. Floral designs could include gems arranged in a flower-shaped halo or milgrain detailing which appears similar to petals.
Cathedral vintage engagement rings
In the cathedral vintage engagement rings, the appearance of a cathedral is mimicked in the piece of jewellery wherein two arches of precious metals support one central gemstone in a vintage setting. Some examples like a simple cathedral ring would provide its wearer with a classic and simple look while intricate cathedral rings that feature filigree detailing awards its wearers with a more royal and fancy appearance.
Art Deco vintage engagement rings
Famous during the 1920s and 30s, the art deco vintage engagement rings are a unique option in engagement rings that are loved and wanted by many. Its unique features involve the ring’s symmetrical and geometric designs, abstract patterns, and beautifully contrasting shades of colours.
The two examples in this style include an art deco inspired ring which is made with two prongs and a sophisticated detailing whereas a more tapered design includes a six-prong ring with a yellow gold geometric design.
Milgrain vintage engagement rings
Milgrain vintage engagement rings are basically a type of ring wherein it is engraved with a form of embellishment that is known as milgrain engraving. These engravings give the ring an antique appearance and basically consists of small metal balls which decorate the sides of the ring’s band and crown.
A great example that features this design in the infinity halo ring which has the milgrain engravings at the edges of the halo of diamonds. Many engagement rings feature the milgrain design on the front parts of the bands.
Filigree vintage engagement rings
Another variety of design for antique rings includes the Filigree vintage engagement rings while consists of intricate metalwork featuring metal beads or twisted metal threads embedded throughout the setting. These rings are one of the most royal options for those customers who wish to take full advantage of the concept of vintage rings and propose to their loved ones a beautiful and delicate masterpiece. Examples in this design include a yellow gold filigree engagement ring with features embellishments on the shank of the ring and around its bezel set diamond, a white gold engagement ring and cathedral rings.
Price of Vintage Engagement Rings
The range of price for which vintage engagement rings are accessible to customers falls between $900 to $20,000. Factors affecting the prices of vintage rings are similar to those that affect other engagement rings, which includes the setting, diamond and its 4Cs, trend of the setting, etc.
Vintage rings, however, could cost more since they are home to much more intricate and delicate work. Since antique engagement rings are not a cheaper option, couples must only spend their hard-earned money on them if they are sure of their budget limitations and have a real love for the design.
Pros and Cons of Vintage Settings
Just like every other ring setting, the antique settings have their own set of pros and cons that customers must be aware of to realize whether this variety is what they are really looking for. Once customers are aware of the advantages and disadvantages offered by this setting, they can decide whether the pros are big enough and the cons are insignificant enough to be able to feel like spending their finances on this option would be worthwhile.
Pros
Cons
Also Read: Vintage Elegance: Emerald-Cut Diamond Engagement Rings
General Guide to Evaluate Diamonds
The universal method used for defining a diamond’s quality lies within the GIA 4Cs – colour, clarity, cut, and carat weight. The most important C concerning diamond studs is ‘cut’ as this aspect has the most visible impact on the appearance and brilliance of the jewellery.
Carat
Described simply as the weight of the diamond, it is an aspect related to the size and physical appearance of a precious stone. A carat that best fits the frame of the customer’s face and also falls within the budget must be kept in mind while making the purchase. Although a bigger size is sometimes preferred, people should consider the diamond’s cut above the carat weight as most times larger diamonds lack the lustre and sparkle because it has been poorly cut. 0.50-carat stones are a preference for many.
Cut
A diamond’s cut is the description of how it has been shaped. This is the most critical aspect for diamond studs as the sparkle and brilliance of the stud mostly depend on how well and in what shape it has been cut. With different styles like round brilliant and princess cuts, the basic difference between them is how light is reflected.
The GIA grades for diamonds’ cuts are Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. When choosing diamond studs, customers must choose one with a rating that falls between Very Good and Excellent as these labels ensure that the purchase made is of the best cut quality that will result in a radiant and sparkling item of jewellery.
Clarity
This is an important feature to consider when purchasing clarity of a diamond explains the number of imperfections present inside and outside the diamond, which can be defined as inclusions and blemishes respectively.
These imperfections give a cloudy and dull appearance to the diamond, leading to the jewellery looking less beautiful.
Grades that are used to define the clarity of diamonds include the following: Flawless (FL), Internally Flawless (IF), Very, Very Slightly Included (VVs2), VS1 or VS2 (Very Slightly Included), SI1 or SI2 (Slightly Included), I1 or I2 or I3 (Included).
Higher grades denote that the stone in consideration has lesser inclusions and blemishes and the lower grades describe the opposite.
A grade of VS2-SI1 is generally awarded to eye-clean diamonds and can be purchased by the customers at reasonable prices as these diamonds will look clean and have an adequate amount of sparkle in the eyes of onlookers. This will also allow the client to invest their budget on the rest of the Cs. However, clients that depend on the technicality of the flawlessness of their diamonds can opt for higher graded ones which will invariably cost more.
Colour
The Colour of the diamond must not be confused with coloured diamonds as the difference between them is that coloured diamonds include an array of naturally occurring shades of diamonds such as blue, yellow, pink, etc. whereas the colour is a method to grade the whiteness of a white diamond. These grades fall between the range of D to Z with D indicating the most “colourless” white diamond and Z the label for the most “yellow” white diamond. This factor depends differently from person to person as some might prefer the yellowish tint while others are completely against it.
The different grades of colours are caused due to the reflection of every bit of light including the wearer’s skin tone and metal of the setting, that falls on the surfaces and angles of the diamond.
For a cost-effective purchase, customers must choose a diamond in the range of G-I as it will appear white and cost a lot less than the diamonds which are graded in the range of D-F.
Also Read: Enfold The Beauty Of Rustic Diamond Jewelry
Conclusion Thoughts
If the evaluation of the diamond fitted in the antique engagement ring is done right, then this can be a stunning combination for couples who find beauty and charm in vintage designs. An as an engagement ring, the vintage rings can be the best choice to propose to one’s significant other if she has a preference and style that is aloof from the modern times and resides in the heart of the olden eras!
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