How to Buy an Antique Wedding Ring

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By JasneJ
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Victorian Gold Three Diamond Ring

As jewelers, people come to us asking questions about antique wedding rings. We'll discuss what to look for in the ring and the gemstones. Hopefully, you will feel confident making a decision to invest in an antique wedding ring.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Good eyesight
magnifying lens or loupe
Patience

Step 1

Another Fine Antique Ring is Melted Down for Scrap Gold

An antique ring is defined as a ring over 100 years old. How many are truly available to purchase? Certainly, there are fewer available today than a year ago. When the price of gold sky rocketed to $1000 per ounce, many people sold their family rings for the gold value. Gold scrap buyers and most jewelers resold the rings to be melted down.
Step 2

Antique Style White Gold Ring

When looking at antique wedding rings online, you often find sites selling antique style rings. This is a new ring manufactured to look antique. There are wholesale jewelry manufacturing companies selling the popular reproduction intricate white gold settings. They are purchased by jewelers who add modern diamonds or colored stones. Some are misrepresented as antique rings.
Step 3

Antique Yellow Gold Wedding Band - 22KT

Almost all white gold rings are rhodium plated yellow gold rings. The rhodium plating generally lasts about 5 years. After that time, the yellow gold shows beneath the coating. Your choices in an antique ring are either traditional yellow gold or platinum. Most Victorian rings are 12 KT or 14KT yellow gold or rose gold. Platinum wedding rings were first made in the early 1900's. Platinum is more than twice as durable as gold and much more expensive.
Step 4

Antique Mine Cut Diamond Ring

Antique diamonds and colored stones in antique wedding rings were cut differently than modern rings. A mine cut is one of the earliest cuts, from the 16th century. Use a loupe or magnifying lens to examine the diamond. The crown (the top) resembles a square shape. A rose cut gemstone is another old cut often seen in garnets as well as diamonds.Looking down on the top of the stone, the cut resembles a rose bud and is flat underneath. Rose cut diamonds must be closely examined in their settings to make sure they are secure.Two other types of antique cuts are old european and single cut diamonds.
Step 5

Small Ring Size Antique Amethyst Ring

In buying an antique wedding ring, condition is very important. The prongs holding the stones should all be in good condition, with no cracks in the metal. The shank of the ring should be firm enough to withstand wear and sizing if needed.Because women were much smaller 100 years ago,there are many very small size (4) or less antique gold rings. Unless you have very small fingers, small antique rings are near impossible to resize to a common ring size of 7 or greater.
Step 6

Victorian Gimmel Ring- two hands joined Together- Rare

The same important characteristics of the modern diamond ring ( color, cut and clarity) also apply to antique diamond rings.Other considerations important to an antique wedding ring are the maker of the ring (Tiffany, Chaumet, etc)and the style of the ring.The style of Victorian wedding rings took on many romantic forms from 1837 through 1901.
Step 7

Victorian Signet Bloodstone Ring -To My Loving Husband 1882

Purchasing an heirloom wedding ring takes research and thought. Choose something you will wear and enjoy.Consider the history of the ring as well as the memories you can create in passing down this ring to future generations.