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As Mark Twain said “Let us not be too particular; it is better to have old secondhand diamonds than none at all.” And don’t we all agree?

Antique engagement rings have become all the rage in modern years, particularly with well-known brides like Madonna, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Camilla Parker-Bowles all wearing vintage-inspired engagement rings.

We have the Victorians to thank for bringing out the diamond engagement ring as THE ring to wear and many of those early styles are now being copied and updated for today’s modern fiancee. But before you dash out and purchase that to-die-for antique engagement ring, you will find a few things to keep in mind.

Tips when selecting an antique engagement ring

The settings used in the creation of modern engagement rings are really distinct from those used previous century. Antique settings often involved fine filigree work and delicate styles that weren’t meant for much wear-and-tear. These delicate settings will have become even more delicate as time passes and there’s many a story regarding the starry-eyed soon-to-be-bride who has been heartbroken when her precious antique engagement ring proved even more precious than she had thought.

If you want a genuine vintage engagement ring make sure you have it assessed by a certified jeweler so that any damage can be corrected and the settings strengthened. You might even need to have the stone or stones re-mounted.

Diamond cuts have also changed dramatically over the years. Contemporary diamond cutters use modern faceting techniques to show a diamond off at its brilliant best. Although a diamond will sparkle even when it has been poorly cut, don’t assume the same razzle-dazzle you see these days from the diamonds in antique engagement rings.

Also bear in mind that antique engagement rings were often created with stones that don’t stand the test of time. Turquoise is a gem to avoid simply because it has a nasty reputation for discoloration. As do pearls, which lose their sheen and opals, which will slowly wear away.

One more thing to be wary of is that lesser-quality garnets were often marketed as rubies in vintage engagement rings, so be sure to have your ring valued if you badly want a ruby-red engagement ring.

An antique engagement ring is not a ring you can wear every day in our rough-and-tumble world, but its preciousness makes it a treasure that, with the right care, will give you pleasure every day for a lifetime.

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