Antique/vintage engagement rings

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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?

Congratulations!

I don't know York well, but Skipton is a lovely Yorkshire town for a weekend away and has 4/5 jewellers. I"d especially recommend Fusion and Alexander's in Craven Court. Both have gorgeous antique pieces and are very friendly and helpful. You could even combine a visit with a trip to York?

Pp mentioned Oxford (yep there are a couple of very good places on the high street) and Stratford upon Avon. If you are close to Birmingham, then this is probably worth a visit. There are quite a lot of independent jewellers dotted around. My OH bought me some earrings in one. They didn't have what he wanted in stock, but took OH's description when they went to buy their stock and bought him the perfect pair. If you know what you like, that could be an option?

Or getting your own design made?

I bought mine in an antique shop in York! It was £75 and I still absolutely love it.

I'd go to Brighton
Congratulations OP, enjoy your search

I got mine from an antiques shop in Cambridge 20 years ago. Having looked around the one I liked didn't have a price on........ it was an unusual huge pear grey diamond ring but not quite a pear shape, unusual colour and I loved it. It didn't matter if it was a real diamond or not by that point, after a few phone calls with the vendor -he secured it for under 2K cash.The vendor was very merry at on that saturday his daughter was getting married -so it took a long time to get hold of him and yes we were there for the phone calls. It was the only thing my ex husband didn't quibble about -it was pretty ridiculous when I look back on it. For something we only had their word (although we had shopped in there loads and they did have a good reputation), for was actually a diamond. But I wasn't part of the negiotation just kept the receipt. It went in to a jewellery shop to be resized and they were like "where did you get this" etc and they told us it was a bargain. Huge unusual natural grey diamond. And VVS? which apparently is very rare and high clarity etc. We then had it properly looked at -they valued it 5 years ago at 40K.

You get much more for your money second hand. My ring is an unusual statement piece - I get lots of comments about it .Mine looks like this a bit www.debeers.co.uk/en-gb/db-classic-fancy-grey-and-white-pear-shaped-diamond-ring/R102186.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwsO_4BRBBEiwAyagRTfdYMgI9Pd3lQfQaY86ZYTczx4bH3q6kQiuWg4H0uF8w3l5qJSbWxhoC-M8QAvD_BwE but I didn't set out to have one that was expensive or worth a lot. I think we were expecting it to be glass -even though they said it was a rare diamond.

Just keep looking, local jewellery shops sometimes have a second hand section etc .

I would say antique places -and negiotate hard. My ex did.

Really -because if it is unusual they aren't going to have 10 people in a week liking it..............they have to find that one buyer.

I’ve bought several vintage rings and without exception they were damaged during resizing. I recommend looking for a ring that’s already the correct size. Or if you’d be happy with a new ring in a vintage style, try 77 Diamonds.

I really wanted a vintage / antique one but was put off by the fact that you don’t absolutely know the history of the piece and you could end up with bits falling out of it basically

I took a classic design and instead had my own made up with a jewellery designer. Got to pick the stones, mount etc etc all from scratch which was lovely and MUCH cheaper than buying ready made, even second hand

We got my engagement ring from the lanes in Brighton. There are loads of little antique jewelry shops there and you could definitely make a weekend of it there. Congratulations and good luck with the search.

*jewellery

WOW! Thanks everyone this is all so so helpful! DP joked and said, you'd have to pick the most difficult kind of jewellery "who doesn't find a ring in the jewellery quarter!?"

It's so overwhelming and daunting. I've seen a few that I really like but thinking that I'll look at it forever more makes me so scared to get it right. So much beautiful stuff out there.

To the PP who mentioned that some jewellers try to pass off new stuff as old, I saw one I loved (won't mention the website) and when I did a bit of a google search, turns out it is made by a tv shopping channel; they are still selling it!! Unbelievable.

@Duchessofealing
I have seen the ruby ones - very pretty!
It is nice to know their approx date of origin...not sure I would pay £1100.00 for it though!!

@ILoveStickers

I was also going to recommend Mortimer's in Exeter, though I see someone else got there first! I got my ring there.

I have also heard there's a lovely place in Oxford with a huge selection of vintage rings (on the High somewhere?) but I'm afraid I don't know the name.

Could be Payne and Sons? Though I’m not sure if they sell antique jewellery.

I believe diamonds are pretty much overrated. May be a sapphire. Also research little bit before decide. Below is a nice read on sapphire vs diamond amazingsapphire.com/do-sapphires-sparkle-like-diamonds/