Antique Engagement Rings

Antique Engagement Rings

There are so many options when choosing an engagement ring. And the task can be quite daunting. Diamond rings are perhaps the most popular engagement rings, as the diamond represents durability and everlastingness. But even after deciding that a diamond ring is one’s engagement ring of choice, there are so many other things to consider. These include the band, the setting, the number of rocks, their size, their configuration… The choices are just endless.

Although many people like to visit countless new jewelry boutiques in search of the perfect engagement ring, others prefer to go with antique rings. There are many reasons for favoring antique engagement rings, also referred to as Vintage or Estate rings.  First of all, they have a history. Many find it interesting to learn about an antique ring’s previous owners, and are enchanted by the very thought of the ring’s historical journey.

Antique rings are also an investment. If kept in mint condition, antique rings hold the potential of fetching a pretty sum, if ever sold in the future. And there are also environmental and social concerns, which drive more and more men and women to prefer antique rings as their choice of engagement rings. Mining precious metals and diamonds can cause damage to the environment, and ethical labor issues arise when diamonds are mined in conflict-zones. In order to avoid contributing to the blood-diamond industry, and harming the environment, many men and women prefer to purchase antique jewelry.

There are several categories of antique rings, all bearing their own unique characteristics, according to the precise period in which they were manufactured. These categories include Gregorian rings, Early Victorian or Romantic rings, Mid-Victorian or Grand-Jewelry rings, Late Victorian or Aesthetic rings, Arts and Crafts rings, Art Nouveau rings, Edwardian rings, Art Deco rings, and Retro rings.