Antique/vintage engagement rings

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Posted here for traffic.

DP and I have decided to get married and have started looking for a ring. We had a wander around the jewellery quarter in bham and I've decided I would like an antique/vintage ring as they seem to be better value for money (want to stay under 1.5k), I want a gold band and we're after something a bit different.

We didn't find many shops selling antique stuff so has anyone got any recommendations of places in England that have places like this? We are thinking of combining it with a little weekend away. We are thinking of York but not sure how good it would be for stuff like this?

Another recommendation for Berganza here

Walsh Bros in Tunbridge Wells

www.walshbros-jewellers.co.uk/

No suggestions but my engagement ring belonged to my late aunt. It's tall and gold with a gorgeous diamond.

People always comment because it's so different from the usual white gold modern rings (I also wear a modern ring, not slating them)

Good luck finding something beautiful

I recommend grays antiques in London. Found my engagement ring there it’s circa 1920. My SIL got a vintage engagement ring there too. It’s lots of individual stall holders so loads of choice. We looked at Burlington Arcade too, beautiful rings but man do you need deep pockets - would need an extra zero on your budget. Lovely to look though.

Good luck finding your prefect ring.

Mine is beautiful. From the lanes in Brighton. There’s lots of lovely little jewellers there. Have fun!

I got mine in Hatton Garden, it has opals but I also loved one with pearls.
I actually lost it and had a replacement made.

Mine is Art Nouveau platinum filigree and diamond. From a tiny antique shop in Kent. He could've bought it three times over for your budget

I cannot believe all the love for Berganza, it doesn't even sound like the same place.

Well I wish I hadn’t looked at that Mortimer’s website. I want It all!!

www.audreybull.co.uk/collections/fine-jewellery
Come to west Wales for the weekend 😀
Had a lovely aquamarine and diamond eternity ring from here for our silver wedding anniversary

I got mine at a car boot sale! Paid very little for it, but is apparently worth almost £500. It was about 40 years old, and has a sapphire and 2 diamonds. Was told the diamonds were paste but it was real gold, and paid about £25 for it over 25 years ago

Powell's antique jewellery in Chester. We bought my vintage engagement ring there, never seen another like it.

Was just browsing the Berganza website and realised that I actually have one of the rings that they are selling!
It was my great aunt's and I inherited it when she died when I was 14 years old.
I wouldn't ever sell it, but I was amazed at what they are selling it for!
www.berganza.com/Victorian-three-stone-diamond-ring-by-S-Blackensee-Son-English-circa-1879-.html?search_category_id%5B%5D=1&search_pricerange_id%5B%5D=2&search_pricerange_id%5B%5D=3&search_max_price=2000&page_num=0&page_size=0

@drspouse - I have an opal engagement ring and got it in Hatton Gardens about 29 years ago!

I recommend auction houses. All online

@Lovesabadboy - I have one of those with rubies in from my great aunt too! I think they were very popular and I can’t believe what they are selling it for either.

Got my 1901 emerald and diamond ring from a shop in the Lanes called Fidra.

Oxford has a lot of vintage jewellery shops.

Wow Berganza is ridiculously expensive. OP, auctions are a good idea, I work for an auction house and it’s where all the second hand jewellery shops buy from! Be advised that you do pay 30% on top of the hammer price though in fees and VAT.

Other than auctions I do love the jewellery quarter.

1. I think you need to be very very careful, diamonds are never discounted....people do overpay (especially if buying from the highstreet) but if you see something "cheap" there will be something wrong with it. Diamonds are a traded commodity and have a set value.

2. rings do wear out so make sure any stones are secure.

3. Fraud is massive, more people want 2nd hand than exists. Fake stones are put in vintage style mounts, and "aged", put in old boxes and auctioned. Be very very careful if something is in an old box, old jewellery boxes are sold on eBay for this purpose. Just because it's in a store doesn't mean it's genuine. You will see stuff described as "solitaire ring in Cartier box" this means it's probably neither diamond nor Cartier. Check the hallmark matches the box (each manufacturer has a listed hallmark). You need to be checking/asking for guarantees that what you are buying is real diamonds, not High pressure heat treatment, no fluorescence, not brown, green or milky, not drilled or filled.

4. Without outing myself too much (I'm in the trade) personally I would buy a new GIA certified diamond ring in vintage style from an online retailer. That way you know what you are getting and you will be paying the right price. I'd be looking at www.samarajames.com www.77diamonds.com www.purelydiamonds.co.uk or similar etc. Phone them up and get some advice before launching yourself into the second hand market....you will find then no second hand stuff is cheaper!

Congratulations OP! I really like the Victorian / Edwardian daisy rings, like this one. There's plenty out there.

I'm also a fan of coloured stones, which you can usually get for under your budget.

www.amberjill.com/vintage-diamond-ring-549.html

It's very interesting some of the stuff people are linking to - much of it is modern "fake vintage"! Check the hallmarks.....they have date letters on them so you can see how old they really are...

Auctions ok , but view first.
Stanford on Avon has some lovely jewellers.

• Stratford

There are a couple of nice antique jewellery shops in Stratford Upon Avon so not to far from Birmingham and it’s a cute place for a day trip even if you don’t find a ring.

I agree with mortimers!