While vintage solitaire engagement rings may seem in high demand right now, antique solitaire engagement rings have always merited somewhat higher price tags, primarily due to their age and extremely limited supply. Because of this, knowing the ins and outs of antique solitaire engagement rings can be a very effective shopping tool. In fact, one of the most important thing to understand about antique solitaire engagement rings is the various periods or eras they most frequently come from.
While antique solitaire engagement rings can be found dating back to ancient history, these pieces are typically on display in museums or part of famous crown jewel sets.
Some of the earliest antique engagement rings on the buyers market tend to date back to the Georgian period, being made anywhere from 1714 to 1830 and named for the reign of the four Georges from the House of Hanover. These particular solitaire engagement rings may feature a variety of stone types, including glass or paste stones which were often popular. The general age of Georgian solitaire engagement rings tends to restrict them to special occasion wear, as they tended to be very delicate and dainty in nature, not a quality wanted in everyday wear solitaire engagement rings. Ring sizing for Georgian rings also tended to run very small and, while it is possible for them to be resized, many jewellers prefer not to make alterations to solitaire engagement rings dating back that far.
The next major category of antique solitaire engagement rings comes from Victorian times, ranging from 1837 to 1901, named for the reign of Queen Victoria. Victorian solitaire engagement rings are not only some of the most popular on the market, they are also some of the most elegant antique engagement rings to be found. Almost always made from yellow gold, Victorian solitaire engagement rings are larger in comparison to Georgian solitaire engagement rings and, therefore, more suited for frequent wear under optimal conditions and with regular maintenance. Like Georgian solitaire engagement rings, Victorian solitaire engagement rings are found with nearly any stone imaginable set into them and are sometimes noted for use of unusual accent designs, such as snakes and buckles.
