Antique Diamond Jewelry

The lure of antique diamond jewelry can attract an investment minded consumer for any number of reasons. It might be the history of the piece that intrigues them, or they may have a preference for the design esthetics of a particular time in history. Whether that preference leans toward the Victorian era, the Edwardian era, the Georgian era, or perhaps is more inclined toward an art nouveau or art deco style, vintage ornamentation has a unique appeal. Some consumers find a romantic connection with antique jewelry rings. Engagement and wedding rings from days past give some consumers a sense of connection with another place and time. For others, the idea of purchasing vintage pieces as an investment is the top priority and quality items can certainly increase in value as the years go by. Estate sales can often be good sources of pre-owned pieces of a more recent vintage. Some consumers simply prefer the trends and fashions of past decades to contemporary choices.

Searching for antique diamond jewelry is easier than some might think. There are many businesses that specialize in this type of one of a kind merchandise. When searching for a unique engagement ring, for instance, the choices in the area of antique jewelry rings expand far beyond just the traditional diamond. In times past, wedding and engagement rings did not just feature the diamond, but many other precious stones as well including the sapphire, the aquamarine, the topaz, the emerald, the ceylon and others. Some of these pieces included diamonds along with the other precious stones and some did not. Whether contemplating vintage or contemporary pieces, it is important to remember to consider the four C's of quality when making any diamond purchase. These C's stand for color, clarity, cut, and carat. Color is measured on a letter scale with the letter D meaning colorless, the letter Z meaning yellow or brown, with several grades in between. Clarity measures the stone's level of flawlessness. Stones with no flaws are represented by the letter F. From there, the scale measures whether a stone is very, very slightly included or flawed, all the way to the included grade which means that the stone has a flaw that is visible to the naked eye. Cut has less to do with the shape of the diamond as the proportion and faceting of the stone. Finally, carat represents the weight of the stone.

There are a wide variety of styles that are available within the antique diamond jewelry category. The Victorian style is characterized by ornate miniatures and cameos, or even snakes, worn by Queen Victoria herself, which were considered to bring good luck and denote eternity. The Edwardian period saw a preference for more delicate pieces and intricate filigree work. The city of Paris gave birth to the art deco style in 1925 at the Exposition of Decorative Arts and Modern Manufactures. Bold colors, geometric shapes and strong symmetry were some of the hallmarks of this style. The art nouveau period is believed to have originated as a response to the industrial revolution. Nature was a major theme in fashion during the art nouveau period with the use of birds, flying insects, flowers, and curved lines. Whatever the style, the price of antique jewelry rings can run as high as several thousand dollars.

Vintage items are pieces that were created in the 1930's, and 40's. While not antiques, some vintage pieces carry price tags that are considerably smaller than antique diamond jewelry while others can sell for prices in the same ball park as their more historic counterparts. World War II caused jewelry production to greatly decrease; nevertheless, the items that were produced were marked by large stones and a lavish style. Ironically, this magnificence on the outside masked a very different condition on the inside. Many of the settings were not solid gold or silver but were hollow since metal had to be conserved during the war years. Social conditions also seemed to influence the styles of necklaces, rings, bracelets, and pins during this time. In the war years, women had taken over the jobs traditionally held by men in the business world. Tailored jackets and pencil skirts called for a bolder, chunkier kind of jewelry, which became the calling card for the pieces created during this time.

Another alternative to antique jewelry rings might be estate pieces. In the 1950's, combining style with function became a popular trend. Precious stones were very popular along with curved lines and a sleek and aerodynamic design. The Bible talks about using precious stones for adornment and how King Solomon decorated the temple with valuable gemstones. "And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim." (2 Chronicles 3:6)

Another difference between contemporary and antique jewelry rings might be the cut of the stone. The hand cutting of antique diamonds created a very different look than their modern counterparts. Today's stones are geared toward maximum refraction and the types of cuts that are used reflect that. Older stones were cut to make them weigh more with less concern about refraction and tend to have four major differences from contemporary stones: slighter tables, deeper pavilions, taller crowns, and wider girdles. These characteristics gave the stones a softer glow and less fire. Many consumers find this look very desirable. This difference has increased the demand for classic stones in recent years.