Many people use the word antique to refer to anyjewel that was made more than 100 years ago, but the answer is not as simple as that.
“What is an antique ring” should be an easy question to answer. The prevailing definition of antique – in relation to furniture or jewellery – is any creation that is a century old or more. Using this definition, all rings crafted before 1922 are considered antiques, while any ring made after that date falls into the vintage or modern category. But it is not that simple – for us at The Vintage Ring Company and for other stores and dealers who categorise their jewels as antiques.
Edie, an Edwardian engagement ring
The world of antiques is divided into eras – from the Elizabethan age (1558-1603) all the way through to the Edwardian period (1901-1910) in the UK; and from the Early American period (1640-1700) to the Art Nouveau era (1890-1910) in the US. After that, from the 1920s onwards, the years are usually referred to by decade, except for the 1910s – the decade that was dominated by World War I, which raged from 1914-1918.
Daisy, an Art Deco engagement ring
The years between World War I and the onset of World War II in 1939 spanned some two decades, and it was during this interwar period that the Art Deco movement swept through Europe and the United States. We categorise all rings designed and made during the Art Deco era, which are among the most-coveted antique rings on our website, as antiques, even though technically not all are – only those crafted in 1922 or earlier.
There are two reasons why we use the Art Deco period, rather than the specific year of 1922, as a guide to whether a ring is classified as an antique. Firstly, when we acquire our Art Deco rings, we often don’t know the exact year they were made, just that they were made during this period. Secondly, the Second World War brought about profound changes in the world, marking a very distinct cut-off point between the “old” and the “new”. The aesthetic of the mid-century designs that emerged from the ashes of the war were so radically different to anything that preceded them that it is seems natural to classify any ring from the Art Deco period and earlier as an antique.
Lucinda, a mid-20th century engagement ring
To browse our selection of antique engagement rings, click here.
FAQs
The prevailing definition of antique – in relation to furniture or jewellery – is any creation that is a century old or more. Using this definition, all rings crafted before 1922 are considered antiques, while any ring made after that date falls into the vintage or modern category.
How old is an antique ring? ›
In jewellery trade terms, 'antique' describes a piece that was made at least 100 years ago. That means that any jewellery made around 1920 or before is technically antique.
Are antique rings more valuable? ›
Value. Most of the time, buying vintage and antique engagement rings offer more value than buying a new ring.
How to tell if an antique ring is real? ›
Simple way by which you can identify antique jewelry is to first check for hallmarks. Hallmarks are a good way of identifying the age of the jewelry and also the purity of gold. Many of the hallmarks are organized by time period with some covering a particular jewelry era only.
How can I tell how old my ring is? ›
First, check for hallmarks and a maker's mark on the inside of your band. These markings may provide information about the jeweller who originally created the piece, its country of origin, and sometimes even the date of manufacture.
What is vintage vs antique rings? ›
I can sum that up quickly for you: An antique rug is typically 100 years old, semi-antique is 50-100 years old, and vintage is qualified as 20+ years old. That would put our find in the antique category, but I'll be using the term 'vintage' loosely throughout this post to signify any rug that's 20-years-old or older.
How do you value an antique ring? ›
How To Assess the Value of Antique Jewellery
- Do you trust your source? ...
- What does your instinct tell you? ...
- Is it in good condition? ...
- How high is the quality of the stones? ...
- Is the design attractive? ...
- What is its historical context? ...
- Are there any hallmarks? ...
- Which metal is it?
We recommend taking the piece to a jeweler to be tested. They will have professional tests that will determine whether your jewelry is real as well as the purity of the metal itself. A certified appraiser will be able to provide the value of the piece as well.
Is antique jewelry worth money? ›
When referring to jewelry, “vintage” means an item or piece that was made sometime in the last 50 to 100 years. “Antique,” on the other hand, means jewelry that was made 100 years ago at a minimum. Both vintage and antique jewelry can be valuable, but their age alone doesn't make them so.
Why are antique rings so cheap? ›
Vintage engagement rings may be several decades old, yet may not meet industry standards that typically define antique pieces as those at least 100 years old. Because vintage rings fall outside this age category, they may often be priced more affordably due to this distinction in their classification.
On a large percentage of antique jewelry, these hallmarks are, due to various reasons, absent and estimations on the origin can only be done through careful observation and, if present, the correct interpretation of accompanying documentation.
How can you tell antique jewelry? ›
Look for signs of wear… older pieces will often display these more evidently. Pay close attention to the band and prongs on rings, hook fittings on earrings, clasps on bracelets and necklaces. Clasps that close smoothly, lustre of pearls, scratches to gemstones, these are all clues to the age of a piece.
What makes a ring antique? ›
"Vintage" refers to anything at least 20 years old, while "antique" refers to anything at least 100 years old. When it comes to engagement rings, "vintage" usually signifies the ring's style rather than its age.
What is the difference between vintage and antique ring? ›
A piece of jewellery should be described as antique if it is over 100 years old. As jewellery passes over the 100-year age mark, it technically becomes classified as antique as opposed to vintage, but as we have learned already – it's common for the lines to be blurred, especially with unique engagement rings.
Is antique jewelry stamped? ›
The main types of antique symbols stamped on jewelry are purity marks, maker's marks, assay marks and date letters. Start by studying these to learn more about your jewelry's history, age and ultimately, value.
