If you’re looking at vintage engagement rings, and you’re not buying from a dealer like Cynthia Findlay Antiques, then you’re understandably concerned about the authenticity of what you buy. Authentic metals, gemstones and other hallmarks are used to evaluate the value of a piece. If you don’t know these signals, you might over pay for something that isn’t worth the price. Here is some advice to help you determine the authenticity of a piece.
Backed by Appraisal
You can’t bring an appraiser with you to an estate sale, at least not normally, but you can ask the seller if the piece has been appraised. Appraisals done by certified individuals carry clout, and offer you some peace of mind. If the art deco rings you want have been appraised at a certain value, you’ll be able to insure them once they are in your possession. In the event of a loss, you won’t get those rings back but you can recoup some of the lost value.
Metalwork Says a Lot
The type of metals used tell you a lot about the ring, but can also be misleading if you don’t know how to identify a metal. Appraisers can be very helpful, but you’re eyeballing a piece at an estate sale. How can you tell if it’s custom jewellery from Toronto, made in the style of something, or the real thing? Look for stamps in the metal that help to identify the jeweler, and do some research ahead of time on the luster of certain metals. Platinum, for instance, is quite brilliant and may be easy to identify if the piece is clean.