You might be happy to rummage around in your grandma's jewellery box or in vintage shops for accessories, but have you ever considered going vintage for your engagement ring? There are so many things to think about when you're choosing your engagement ring (if you even get to choose it yourself) but many brides-to-be are opting for antique rings (anything over 100 years old) or vintage styles (usually considered to be over 30 years old). If it's good enough for Kate Middleton, it's good enough for us. Here are all the reasons why you should choose an antique or vintage engagement ring, along with some tips on what to look out for when shopping for your new jewel.
The very best thing about vintage treasures is that they can be passed down through generations. Perhaps yours came to you from a family member, or perhaps you were the one to bring it into the family Either way, you've got a family heirloom on your finger now. Whether it's passed down to a daughter, a beloved niece, your son's fiancée, or even a goddaughter, there's something very special about a piece that will be cherished for another lifetime.
Top tip: If you don't know where to being your search, vintage writer Frances Ambler suggests you "go somewhere like Grays or Alfie's Antiques and have a chat to the very knowledgable owners who can offer advice."
1 / 9
2It'll Be One of a Kind
Image Source: Kayleigh Rattle
Tiffany certainly cuts a beautiful diamond, but hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of other people may have the same design on their finger. A vintage engagement ring will belong to you and no one else. Food writer Kayleigh Rattle knows just how special a vintage ring can be. "I've always loved vintage, whether that's clothes, furniture, or wine, and my fiancé cottoned onto this fact too (I may have subtly tagged him in the occasional Instagram picture of vintage rings!). Vintage means buying original, individual, and unique — and I've never seen a ring quite like mine before!"
Top tip: Try on dozens of styles to find the one that suits you. While you might have designs on a big stone, if you've got dainty hands, it might not look right when it's on. Don't be afraid to try something unexpected: it might just be the perfect thing!
My own aquamarine engagement ring is from the 1920s and has the initials R.B engraved on the inside of it. I have no idea who "R.B" was, but I love the idea of my ring being a part of someone else's love story, too. It's such a beautiful, secret detail and it's inspired my fiance and I to get our wedding rings engraved with each other's initials before our wedding day. When she saw the ring, one of my bridesmaids told me that she really liked the idea of someone in the 1920s being just a little bit like me, which made my heart soar. When your grandchildren ask the story of your romance, it's these details that will go in your made-for-Netflix love story.
Top tip: Make sure you look inside the ring for any secret messages, and ask your jeweller to look in more detail at the hallmark so you'll know exactly where you ring was made and when.
If you're on a budget, a vintage engagement ring is likely to save you money (after all, romance is not a good reason to get into debt). Of course, you can still spend £20,000 on an Art Deco sapphire the size of a small island if that's what you want, but in the world of antique and vintage jewels, it's always possible to get a good deal, and you might even get to do a bit of haggling.
Top tip: Most vintage and antique rings won't be perfect, so consider their imperfections part of their charm. If there really is something that will need fixing, such as a missing stone, you can use this to get a better deal.
4 / 9
5The Diamond Trade Is Questionable in Some Countries
With so much debate around the ethics of diamond mining, you wouldn't be the first bride to decide not to add to the demand. Conflict diamonds now make up a much smaller percentage of the world's diamond production than they have previously, but if you want to be sure your gems didn't come from a conflict zone, your best bet is to look for an antique ring. You might even decide to forego diamonds completely and opt for a coloured gemstone instead.
Top tip: the four Cs still ring true for vintage diamond rings: cut, clarity, colour, and carat. Your jeweller should be able to tell you about these.
While we might not be throwing our wedding rings out with the weekly rubbish, as a society we are becoming more and more reliable on disposable materials. We don't buy things for keeps anymore, and some people even "upgrade" their engagements rings every few years (Victoria Beckham apparently has 14). If you're a conscious consumer, keep it vintage and make a home for one piece of beautiful jewellery that already exists in the world.
Top tip: Although you might want to start your search with nearby shops and antique markets, when you've determined exactly what you're looking for, you can expand your search the world over with reputable sellers on sites like Etsy or Ebay. Buying from abroad opens up new opportunities, especially if you like a certain style or stone that was prevalent in a certain part of the world.
Just like any accessory, engagement ring trends go in and out of fashion. The diamond solitaire that's so popular nowadays wasn't the done thing 100 years ago, so you're more likely to get a cut that's unusual. If you can't tell the difference between a row of platinum set brilliant cuts, but going bespoke is out of your price range, this is the way to go. Making the right choice can still be tricky, though. Hannah Summers, who is currently engaged, knows how tough finding the perfect ring can be. "We've gone to fairs, shops, looked online and not found the right one yet. I'm happy to wait for something I love. I'm just not a £5k ring person and I joke that there will be a wedding before the ring!"
Top tip: "Look at museum jewellery collections to work out what you like (even if beyond wildest dreams to ever buy)," says vintage writer Frances Ambler.
Buying a ring from a big name or a chain jeweller may feel a little impersonal to some people. Antique and vintage rings are more likely to be sold by small, independent businesses. When it comes to my own wedding, we've decided to stay local to the area that's been our home for five years, and that was probably a decision that was made when my fiance proposed. We found the ring in a tiny antique shop just down the road from our flat, and I was so pleased that our local area is part of our story.
Top tip: Visit a local jeweller to discuss exactly what you're looking for. Even if they don't have it in stock, they'll keep an eye out and act as your own personal trinket detective.
I got lucky on the search for my antique engagement ring – despite being incredibly specific about what I was looking for, we found the perfect ring in the first shop we went into. In fact, it was the first one I tried on. But that's not always the case, and if it takes you a few trips to multiple jewellers to find your perfect ring, consider it all part of the fun. I was really excited about unearthing some precious piece of treasure and was more than ready to hunt all over the place to find the perfect piece that felt like mine. But trust your gut: vintage and antique shopping is not unlike finding the right partner, you know when it's the one.
Top tip: Your engagement is about so much more than the jewellery, so it really doesn't matter if you don't find one for months (or even years) after you get engaged. The most important thing isn't that you find the perfect ring, it's that you find the perfect person.
