Pros and Cons

Besides the unique nature of the vintage ruby engagement ring, another good feature of this type of ring is that the ruby does not have to be the deep red of the modern ruby set rings. The reason for this is that in antique engagement rings, the stone was chosen based on its beauty and uniqueness, which meant that rubies that were of a pink color were just as good as those that are a deep dark red color. What mattered to the jeweler and to the individual buying the ring is that it would be hard to match that particular ring because it had such a unique stone in it. This fits an engagement ring since it is a once in a lifetime purchase, and the buyer wants to make sure it is unique and will last a lifetime.

Another advantage to a vintage ruby engagement ring is that it can come in different forms, such as the solitaire and Art Deco. With the solitaire type of a ring, the ruby is the centerpiece, so that is what the individual’s eye is drawn to when viewing the ring. With Art Deco, the ruby may still be the centerpiece of the vintage ruby engagement ring, but there are other, smaller stones set around it so that they accent the ruby in the middle. This creates a variety of options in colors and patterns in vintage ruby engagement rings, especially for those who like a more artistic ring.

The downside to the vintage ruby engagement rings is that they are difficult to find on the market and usually have to be created custom. This often means that they end up being more expensive than other engagement rings, so the buyer must be aware of this consideration beforehand. It is difficult to find a vintage ruby engagement ring that is already created, and finding an antique one is also a rare find on the market, so the purchase of one is usually pricey whichever way the individual chooses to go.

Styles of Rings

In order to get just the right look, there are vintage engagement rings that mimic the different eras of antique rings. Since in some eras diamonds were not the only stone that was preferred, there are also vintage emerald engagement rings or vintage ruby engagement rings that can be found in the market today which are both beautiful and unique choices in engagement rings. Vintage emerald engagement rings offer choices in different eras of rings. In older time periods, diamonds were not always the gem of choice for engagement rings and emeralds, rubies, and even pearls were used as the stone in the ring. Often these vintage emerald engagement rings had very simple bands and settings so that the stone was truly the centerpiece of the ring. In addition, it was acceptable for these rings to have flaws in the stones since the jeweler would then cut the stone so that the flaw became a unique part of the jewelry, like a painting.

In later years, during the Art Deco era, vintage emerald engagement rings could be found with the emerald as the center stone in the ring, with other stones in a pattern around it, forming a design. In these rings also, the band could be part of the pattern, so that there was a center piece with the emerald on it surrounded by a small square set in diamonds, surrounded by a larger square that is set in small emeralds. These vintage emerald engagement rings are usually not for women who are more active in their lifestyles since they are usually larger rings with more edges to them which can get caught on material or other things, damaging the ring or the other material.

Choices

There are times that creating a vintage engagement ring design can be more expensive than purchasing an antique engagement ring. The reason for this is that the stones today are chosen for their clarity and quality rather than for their uniqueness as in the past. This makes modern rings that are patterned after vintage looks more expensive than their antique counterparts much of the time. There are also some antique reproductions that can be found for less expensive as well, but these do not give the individuals the luxury of choosing the perfect vintage engagement ring design that they have in their minds.

Vintage engagement ring design does not have to use diamonds in the rings. In fact, earlier eras chose different stones in their rings in many cases besides the diamonds. This gives individuals the option to create vintage emerald engagement rings or ruby or even pearl engagement rings, since rings of the past used all of these stones to make them special. In addition, vintage engagement ring design does not have to have the perfectly clear stone, for in the past, jewelers would often cut the stones around the flaw in it so that the flaw became part of the piece of art. The stones also were not necessarily clear either, with some diamonds having a yellow or pink color to them, or rubies not being perfectly red, but more of a pink color.

Vintage engagement ring design can also play with the style of bands that are used, not only with the types of metals, but also the shape of the band so that the top of it forms some sort of pattern. This is particularly common when creating an Art Deco design for a vintage engagement ring, since this period prided itself in rings that were pieces of art, with all sorts of patterns and stones used in the engagement rings.

Metals and Gems

Art Deco vintage engagement ring settings are probably the most complex of all the older styles of engagement rings due to the many stones and different metals that are typically used in designing these rings. Art Deco engagement rings are typically not for women who have very active lifestyles or who like to match their rings to every outfit that they put on since there are so many stones on the ring, as well as sharp edges that can get caught on things, as well as colors that may not match every outfit. However, Art Deco styles of vintage engagement ring settings are very artistic, so women who have a stylishly artistic flair to them will often love this style of engagement ring.

Some of these vintage engagement ring settings will have a larger center stone that is surrounded by smaller stones so that a design is formed in the ring, such as a flower or sun pattern. Other times there is not a center stone at all, but all stones of approximately the same size which are arranged in the band in a particular pattern, with the band often shaped and twisted to fit the pattern as well. Sometimes the colors of the stones are very subdued, such as using all diamonds in a symmetrically patterned band, so that the diamonds go almost completely around it. Other vintage engagement ring settings will use multicolored stones, so that there are diamonds, rubies, yellow diamonds, and emeralds all in the same engagement ring. There are some vintage engagement ring settings which are made so that they come in a set, so that the wedding band matches and fits into the pattern, often soldered together with the engagement ring after the wedding ceremony is over.

Choices

One choice in designing a vintage diamond engagement ring is whether the diamond will be chosen for its clarity and cut, like stones are typically chosen for today, or if the stone will be chosen for its unique color or small flaws in it, making it more unique and special. Older styles of engagement rings would typically use stones that had some sort of flaw or discoloration in it. Then the jeweler would work to cut the stone around the flaw so that it became a centerpiece encased in the rest of the stone. Sometimes the diamonds would be chosen for the yellow or rose color to it, which also made the stone unique so that no other bride would have quite the same ring. With an art deco style of vintage diamond engagement ring, the diamond will typically be the centerpiece of the ring with other colored stones set around it forming a pattern, such as a flower. Sometimes the other stones will also be diamonds, but in a yellow or pink color to accentuate the center stone.

In addition to the stones, the vintage diamond engagement rings can also be very simple in the band design or ornate. Many of the diamond solitaire engagement rings will only have a simple yellow or white gold band with the diamond set into it. Others will use platinum, which was a metal used in later eras as technology advanced, and will often have more of a scrollwork design in the band itself, helping to accent the diamond as the centerpiece. The harder metal such as platinum also gave jewelers the ability to make holes in the band so that the band can seem to twist together, such as three cords of the metal braiding together with the diamond or diamonds set into it. In addition, there are some vintage diamond engagement ring sets that are available that allow the engagement ring and wedding ring to be bought at the same time so that the entire set fits together like on piece of art once the couple is married.

Simple or Ornate

Some of the older styles of vintage style engagement rings are more simplistic since the technology of the time was not sophisticated enough to create some of the settings and variations that are available today. Some of the older styles used gold bands and sometimes a pink gold band for a variation in the ring. Often there was only a diamond solitaire set in the ring, but cut in a much more plain way than they are today. Often the diamonds were chosen for their flaws rather than their clarity and perfection which are valued today, since the flaws were what made the stone unique and it could be cut to accentuate the beauty of the flaw in the stone. In addition, other stones were used in some of the older rings such as rubies, emeralds and also pearls.

As technology advanced, so did the metals and settings that could be used in the engagement rings that vintage style engagement rings imitate. Instead of yellow or pink gold, white gold and platinum began to be used as the metals of choice. In addition, there was more scroll work and different settings that were in used as well as different cuts in the stones to give them the most sparkle in the setting. There also were other changes in design of the rings, such as the art deco movement in which multiple stones and designs were created, which can be used in vintage style engagement rings. For instance, there is often one main stone that is not always a diamond, which is surrounded by other colored stones to accentuate its beauty and often form a design such as a flower.

Differences

Vintage engagement rings tend to use different cuts of stones, especially in diamonds. In addition, taking after antique engagement rings, the uniqueness of the stone rather than the clarity of the stone might be valued more. In antique styles of engagement rings, there were often diamonds that had a unique flaw to them which was then accented by the cut of the diamond to make the flaw the centerpiece. In addition, diamonds with a color to them, such as a yellow or a rose color would be treasured also for its uniqueness. The cuts of the diamonds in vintage engagement rings will also often mimic the older styles, as these cuts will often not have as much ’sparkle’ as the typical cuts today, which costs less on the market.

Another difference in vintage engagement rings is that there are different types of stones that are used other than diamonds. During some eras, finding a unique pearl, ruby or sapphire was not unusual as the centerpiece stone of an antique engagement ring. Moving into the art deco era, the rings became even more artistic, often with a center stone which was accented by a variety of different colored stones around it. Some of the problems with choosing a vintage engagement ring that is of a different stone than a diamond is that they do not wear as well over time as a diamond does since the stones are of softer material and can get scratched or cracked with constant wear.

The vintage engagement ring bands also have more of a choice in metals than the traditional modern engagement rings today. Yellow gold was often a metal of choice in the past as well as a pink gold at times. Silver was often overlaid over the gold before platinum came on the scene with advanced technology. White gold was another option that was often chosen for its unique character, and was also used in conjunction with other types of metals for a more unique flair to the ring.

Jewelers

You should be able to find a jeweler who is able to create your perfect ring. You may have to go through several jewelers before you find one who is able to mold your ring into the antique engagement ring design you’re looking for. Jewelers usually work within networks so by going to one you should be able to follow a trail to the person you’re looking for. Be aware that when you have a ring specially designed, you are going to pay much more for it than if you were to buy a ring that you found in the display case. It’s worth it though when you finally get the antique engagement ring design you’re looking for because you know it will be one of a kind and that adds a great touch to your engagement and wedding.

The Design

Once you find your jeweler, you then have to decide which antique engagement ring design you want. One great idea is to base your antique engagement ring design off of your grandmother’s or great grandmother’s. Or, you could look through old photo albums or look up pictures on the internet of old wedding ring designs and kind of base your ring design off of those. If you want your ring to be unique, you can take several designs and incorporate them into one. Make sure, though, that if you have a jeweler specially make your ring and you find the antique engagement ring design you’re looking for, ask the jeweler to destroy the mold so that you’ll know your wife will be the only one carrying that ring on her finger.

Designs

The antique art deco engagement ring comes in various designs. You may not have a choice because the rings aren’t easy to find but if you get lucky, you may be able to find a few and can then choose the design you want. However, you will want to have the rings checked out by a professional antique dealer or jeweler to make sure the rings are in fact antique art deco engagement rings and not some knock offs. You don’t want the best days of your life tainted by a fraud after all.

The Search

First, you have to find the antique art deco engagement rings. You can search antique dealers, jewelers and you can even look at pawn shops as they all have the chance of carrying such a ring. You also may want to look online as many times you can find antique art deco engagement rings sold in another state or even in another country. Again, make sure you know what you’re looking for and what makes a ring an art deco ring so that you’ll know it when you see it.

When you do buy the ring, make sure you get it appraised and looked at by a professional so that you can make sure the diamond as well as the band are in good shape and that the ring is worth the money you paid for it. This should hopefully be done before you buy but you won’t always have that chance. When everything seems to be ok, you’ll be set for the big day when you’ll slip the ring on your love’s finger and you’ll pledge your undying love for her.

Antique Doesn’t Have To Mean Used

There are some who discard the idea of an antique engagement ring set outright because it brings thoughts that someone else wore it. It’s used and that’s no good for the most important day of one’s life. However, antique doesn’t have to mean used. Some antique engagement ring sets are recreations of times gone by. Take antique art deco engagement rings. These are artistic rings that have been recreated to look like actual rings used by people years and years ago. That’s definitely an idea you can use. But so what if the antique engagement ring sets were used? They were worn by people who loved each other very, very much and that should reinforce the idea of getting such rings because it symbolizes love to the ultimate degree.

Buying Ring Sets

To find antique engagement ring sets, you could try an antique dealer or you may have better luck online. Be wary of buying any type of jewelry online, however, because you cannot tell quality very well from a picture and a few words typed on the screen. It would be much better if you could actually see the ring sets in person so that you know what you’re paying for. An antique dealer would be a better idea. Or, if you’re going to have the antique rings recreated and made, a jeweler would also work.

Now all you have to do is prepare your proposal. Just don’t put the rings in anything edible as that never turns out well.