Antique Diamond Engagement Rings

Diamonds are forever. Diamonds are girls’ best friends. The value that societies place on diamond is undeniably impressive. But what is a diamond? A transparent form of carbon, its claim to fame is its composition: it is the hardest known natural mineral.

Diamond boasts two distinctive properties: brilliance and fire. Diamond has a high index of refraction. This means that more light is reflected by diamond to the observer’s eyes, causing it to appear more brilliant. It also has a high dispersion value. This leads to the white light being split into more rainbow colors, making it appear as if caught in fire. Among all natural, transparent, and colorless materials, diamond has both the highest index of refraction and highest dispersion value. A diamond could serve a variety of purposes, including as a cutting tool and an abrasive. The composition, appearance, uses, and fame of diamonds provide people with enough reasons to crave for this highly prized gemstone.

Diamond is highly prized and is highly priced as well. In spite of the bill, there is no stopping people from fancying these treasures. Countless jewelry shops offer diamonds in a variety of cuts, shapes, and settings. Buyers can select from available pieces or design one themselves. The most common enthusiasts of diamonds are lovers.

For many lovers, antique diamond engagement rings are of particular interest. The earliest record of one being given was in 1477. Archduke Maximillian of Hamburg commissioned a ring which he gave to Mary of Burgundy in order to unite their houses and let their marriage serve as a unifying symbol to the country. Today, these rings are preferred by increasingly many couples because of their magnificent, first-rate craftsmanship. The refinedness of these works of art are a far cry from the blandness of most modern rings.

Many antique diamond engagement rings come from unsold inventory of jewelry shops which closed some decades ago. Some are produced at the present and could even be hand-engraved to create custom-made rings.

Only high-quality diamonds are suitable for use as gems. However, eighty percent of natural diamonds obtained from mining contain flaws or have impurities that make them unsuitable gems. How does one choose an antique diamond engagement ring?

The four C’s—carat, clarity, color, and cut—still apply with antique diamonds. The bases of carat and clarity remain the same. However, in the 1930s and 1940s, diamonds were popularly set in white gold squares. This was done to make the diamond appear larger, creating an "illusion" setting. These antique rings give today’s budget-minded consumers the "look" of a larger diamond at the price of a smaller one. The color can vary depending on individual taste. Antique diamond, unlike modern laser-cut diamond, was cut by hand and thus, seem to have “preserved the hand of its artist”.

Moreover, there must be a fifth C in judging antique diamond engagement rings: character. This refers to the detail and workmanship of the ring. The major difference between antique rings and modern rings is the precision and uniqueness of the former. As it is costly to replicate such meticulous details nowadays, one can foresee the value of antique diamond engagement rings increasing continuously over time.

Among the rich and famous, Camilla Parker Bowles received an antique diamond ring in her engagement in 2005. Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. These antique rings can cost up to US $28,000. But in the romance arena, what is a few thousands? When such relic symbolizes the everlasting promise of love, price is nothing.