Different factors come into play to determine jewelry's worth, including: Age – The older a piece is, the more value it generally has. Era – Jewelry from certain historical periods is worth more than pieces from other less interesting, exciting, or noteworthy eras.
With antique and vintage jewellery the piece has already gone from 'new' to 'old' before you buy it so its purchase value remains the same. In the same way that classic cars are always in demand and retain their value, so antique jewellery will always be collectable and desirable and retain theirs.
"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.
Antique and vintage jewellery is worth more than the sum of its parts because each piece is unique and it cannot be duplicated using modern production methods. Generally speaking, antique and vintage jewellery costs less than new jewellery and yet it's worth more!
New diamonds are about thirty percent more expensive than older diamonds. Also vintage settings cost around one-half of a new setting since it is pre-owned. Another reason why vintage engagement rings are less expensive is because they are less likely to carry the same markup common with newer jewelry.
Antique Jewelry: A piece of jewelry is considered “Antique” if it is over 100 years old.
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.
Work Precision – Modern jewelry pieces are often laser-crafted and have very precise, sharp details. Vintage pieces, however, are hand-crafted and may not show exact symmetry or alignment in fine details. This not only adds character to the jewelry, but also helps show that it truly is a vintage piece.
Any professional jeweler or gemologist can quickly establish the exact market value of a second-hand diamond ring. Obviously, they'll try and offer you the lowest possible price, but they know that if you settle for 70% of the resale price, they'll still make an acceptable profit on the deal.
The more precious and scarce the metal, and the more of this precious metal is used, the higher the price of the engagement ring. A wide platinum engagement ring costs more than a delicate engagement ring in gold, which in turn has a higher price than a silver ring.
Much like the often emotional purchase of an automobile, a diamond ring's value can depreciate quickly after the initial purchase. That said, if you purchase a high-quality engagement ring and take good care of it, the piece will keep a relatively consistent value that could go up over time.
Vintage jewelry means jewelry that is older than 20 years. Antique jewelry means jewelry that is older than 100 years. Estate jewelry means second-hand jewelry (regardless of its age). To elaborate: Something antique will always refer to something that is also vintage, but something vintage isn't necessarily antique.
All fine jewellery should be hallmarked unless it is over 100 years old or the hallmark has worn away. The hallmarks 18K, 14K, 10K, 750, 585, and 375 indicate the gold's purity. Platinum is typically hallmarked with the numbers 950, PLAT, or PLAT. 925, Silver 800, and Sterling are all familiar silver hallmarks.
Rarer cuts like the old mine and European cuts found in antique engagement rings have a higher value and make them more expensive. It's all supply and demand. A hallmark is a stamp or engraving, which is quite common in modern-day engagement rings.
My rings are not worth much, but they do tell my age. What am I? Answer: A tree.
How Much Should an Engagement Ring Cost? A one carat engagement ring typically costs around $5,500, but most couples spend over $6,000—and 7 percent spend over $10,000.
Do jewellers charge for valuations? Yes, of course they do. Jewellers and registered valuers who offer an expert valuation service invariably must charge for their time expertise and use of equipment and supplies it is their living.
If you are looking for a ring that offers something a little different, a unique ring that will hold the test of time, many brides opt for an antique engagement ring. These rings are typically less expensive, often have superior craftsmanship and add a unique charm and story to your engagement.
While there is a strong market for fine contemporary jewelry, those who want to sell vintage jewelry have the advantage of rarity. Pieces like this vintage diamond bracelet, which sold for well over $17,500 USD are always in demand.
Another easy thing you can do is closely examine the item for hallmarks. A hallmark is a stamp that typically outlines the metal content of a piece and the country of origin, designer, or manufacturer. And British hallmarks on jewelry often include a date stamp, indicating a year of production.
An item should be at least 100 years old to be defined as an antique. Generally speaking if the item is no older than an antique but not less than 20 years, it falls under the term vintage.
There are plenty of genuine antique pieces of jewelry that do not have hallmarks. Not every piece was hallmarked. It does not mean it is a fake, it just means that you have to rely on other methods to evaluate the period in which it was made.
Jewelers routinely buy back engagement and wedding rings and are happy to give you a cash payment. They will either clean and polish the ring and resell it, or separate the diamond to use in another design. The precious metal setting is then smelted for bullion and nothing is wasted.