Antique Engagement Rings in Jacksonville, FL
Antique engagement rings are becoming popular for their uniqueness and character. However, just because someone claims a ring is antique doesn’t mean that is true. So how can you tell if the ring your holding is truly antique? Here are some things to look for when looking for an antique ring.
Antique diamonds will be one of several common cuts:
Old Euro Diamond – Diamonds that are considered Old Euro imply the facets on the diamond are larger because the technology didn’t exist to create a modern brilliant cut diamond that has smaller and more precisely cut facets. The European cut diamond proportions between the table, crown, and pavilion will be different from today’s modern cut round diamond as well. You can often see the culet if you look straight down the center of the diamond. This gives the diamond character, meaning no other diamond will look exactly like it.
Old Mine Diamond – These diamonds are often “out of round” meaning they do not have a perfect circular cut, so each diamond will look different even if two diamonds were identical in color and clarity. This also gives the diamond character, meaning no other diamond will look exactly like it. Old Mine Cut diamonds are generally considered older than Old Euro Diamonds.
Antique Diamonds often have color ranges in the J-K-L range.
The reason for this is because the modern brilliant cut diamond has become so popular; diamond dealers have taken older cut diamonds that have good color and clarity, and had them re-cut into a modern brilliant.
Due to this, Old Euro and Old Mine cut diamonds are becoming increasingly hard to find.
Antique Diamond Rings are usually made out of Platinum.
Antique Rings are most often made out of a platinum with 10% being Iridium.
Will be shown as (10% iris. plat) or (950 Plat – meaning 95% platinum)
Most platinum rings that are 10% iris. plat and considered antique, were created between 1910 and 1930. Ring production made with platinum all but stopped in the mid 1930’s due to the great depression and WWII shortly afterwards. Today many engagement rings are made out of platinum but will not have other characteristics as rings made almost a century ago.
Antique Diamond Rings were often made with some sort of filigree and milgrain that will not look perfect. Today modern jewelers use lasers and high-powered optics to create jewelry, by popular demand everything must be perfect looking. Jewelers decades ago did not have this technology, as such milgrain on a diamond ring might be off by 1/2 a millimeter, or the filigree on a ring my not match identically on opposite ends of the ring. It’s true you may have to use a loop or optic glass to enlarge the ring to see these small differences, but it’s these types of small details that give a ring it’s authentic antique feel.