How to Buy a Vintage Engagement Ring

If you're thinking about buying a vintage engagement ring, you probably want a ring that's as unique as your beloved -- as well as something that's high quality, a good value and has a touch of romantic charm.

But shopping for a vintage ring can be as overwhelming as -- or even more overwhelming than -- shopping for a new engagement ring. For one thing, vintage engagement rings are less ubiquitous, so often you have to shop online and buy the engagement ring without seeing it in person. Also, you have to learn about eras, styles and materials -- and then find a ring you like in the right size, or get it resized. But, the little bit of extra effort that you go through will pay off when you see the look on her face when she sees the one-of-a-kind ring you chose.

With that in mind, here's everything you need to know to buy a vintage engagement ring.

The first thing to look at when considering buying a vintage engagement ring is your budget. One the many charms of vintage or antique engagement rings is that they are available in a wide range of price points -- from as little as a few hundred dollars for a white gold vintage ring with a small diamond (or pearl, sapphire or ruby) up to $15,000 or more for an elaborate platinum antique ring with ornate details and a large diamond or multiple stones.

But many of the choices you'll see will fall into a middle range budget of, say $1,000 to $5,000. Of course, if you want to, you can spend much less or much more. If you do have a lower budget, you will likely be able to get a better value in a vintage ring than you would in purchasing a new ring for the same amount. In fact, you can buy a perfectly nice vintage ring for about $500. (In addition -- you'll surely get points for the style of the ring; everyone will be too busy oohing and ahhhing over the elaborate filigree work to fixate on the size of the diamond.)

If you are concerned about your budget, the proprietors of most stores that sell vintage jewelry -- whether a storefront or online -- can advise you on what you're likely to get for your money and help you pick a ring that fits within your budget and tastes.

After you've got a price range in mind, then you might want to start thinking about the style of your bride-to-be and what kind of vintage ring she might like. You probably are considering a vintage ring because you know she has a propensity for all things vintage. If that's the case, is there a particular era she's in love with? If so, it's probably a good idea to concentrate your search for a ring in that time period.

If you don't have a particular era in mind, you might take your cues from her style, her likes and dislikes, and her taste in vintage items in general:

• Is she a true romantic who reads Jane Austen, loves lace, and still writes letters on paper? If so, you might look at Victorian rings.
• Is she more of a tomboy who wears her hair short, loves any movie starring Katherine Hepburn and feels most at home in a T-shirt? If so, you might consider an Art Deco ring.
• Is she a bubbly type who enjoys I Love Lucy re-runs, loves all things kitschy and occasionally dusts off her mom's old Betty Crocker cookbook? If so, you might consider a ring from the 50s or 60s.

Before we look at the different eras and styles of vintage rings, let's clear up some terminology: what's the difference between an antique ring, and estate ring, and a vintage ring? Dealers usually use the term "antique ring" to refer to a ring that is more than 50 years old, while they typically use the term "estate ring" for a ring less than 50 years old. Most people who are not dealers would just call an "estate ring" a "vintage ring."

So, let's take a look at the different eras and styles of antique and vintage rings:

• Victorian rings -- The Victorian era lasted from the mid-1830s to the turn of the century, during the reign of Queen Victoria in England. Jewelry during this time was soft, romantic and ornate, and rings usually were made of yellow gold or rose gold. According to the antique jewelry site Topazery.com, heart, flower and bird motifs were popular during this time.
• Edwardian rings -- The Edwardian period lasted about 20 years, from the turn of the century to about 1920. Advances in technology made platinum popular during this time period, and diamonds were popular, as were peridots and sapphires. According to Topazery, light, sophisticated lacy and filigree designs defined the period.
• Art Deco rings -- In the Art Deco period from 1920 to 1935, curvy and feminine designs gave way to the straight lines and geometric patterns of the Jazz Age. In this era, flappers cut their hair short, wore saucy hats and shook off the constraints of rules about how women were supposed to behave. Rings from this era have clean lines; platinum and white gold were popular, as were emeralds, sapphires and rubies.
• Retro rings -- The Retro period lasted through the 50s, and rings from this era were big, playfully gaudy and fun. Yellow gold was used in many of the rings from this era, as were some synthetic gemstones, including rubies, citrine and aquamarine.
• Post-Retro rings -- Rings from the 60s, 70s, 80s and even 90s could be considered vintage rings. While these are not antique rings, rings from these eras still can offer quality and style at a more affordable price. If you do buy a ring that's not an antique, just make sure you know what you're getting and what era it's from because a dealer can call just about anything a "vintage" ring.

If you love the look of vintage rings but don't quite feel comfortable buying an older ring, you might consider a vintage style engagement ring. There are new rings available that are replicas of vintage rings, and these come in just about every style imaginable. While they won't have the patina, the mystery and the history of a true vintage ring, there are some advantages.

The main advantages to a vintage style ring are that you know exactly what you're getting and you don't have to worry about wear and tear on the ring, or a stone coming loose, as much as you might with some older rings that could be more delicate. (This is not an issue with every vintage ring, but it could be with some.)

If you decide to go with a new vintage style engagement ring or antique style engagement ring, follow the same guidelines in choosing an era and style as you would if you were buying a vintage ring.

There are many places to shop for a vintage engagement ring. If you feel more comfortable seeing a ring in person before you buy, check for local jewelry dealers that sell antique or vintage rings. One way to find them is by calling a reputable jeweler in your area and asking for a referral to a shop that sells vintage rings.

If you feel comfortable shopping online, this will expand your options considerably. Here are a few online shops that specialize in antique jewelry and stock antique engagement rings:

FayCullen.com -- This shop has a wide selection and many higher-end, expensive antique rings.

Topazery.com -- This is a smaller shop that offers a wide range of price points in antique rings.

Sylvia's Antique Jewelry -- This shop offers antique and estate jewelry.

AntiqueEngagementRings.com -- This online store offers antique engagement rings and replicas.

Ebay.com -- Sellers on Ebay offer a wide selection of vintage jewelry, including engagement rings.

Finally, here are some tips for shopping for a vintage engagement ring:

Know your seller. Find out how long they have been in business, what their qualifications are and if they specialize in antique and estate jewelry.

Find out the return policy. Most reputable sellers, especially online sellers, will allow for returns within a certain time period, usually about two weeks to a month. If a seller does not offer this option, beware.

Look for an appraisal. Does the seller offer an appraisal done by a certified third-party appraiser who is not affiliated with the shop? If so, what are the qualifications of the appraiser?

Get insurance on the ring. Don't forget to insure the ring for its actual cash value. If you take the ring to an appraiser on your own, make sure it's an independent appraiser not affiliated with a jewelry store, and that the appraiser has extensive experience with antique and vintage rings.

Pair of Rings Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdickert/ / CC BY 2.0 Vintage Lady Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/myvintagehut/ / CC BY-SA 2.0 Edwardian Ring Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/perfectjewels/ / CC BY 2.0