Second hand rings are an exquisite venture in today's times of economic uncertainty. All over the world, population are buying gold as a tangible, concrete investment. As provide runs scanter, the price of gold is set only to increase. A second hand ring represents not only a great nest egg, but gives hours of delight to its owner.
It's fair to say that, just like a car being driven away from a garage forecourt, a ring depreciates in value from the occasion it's slipped onto a finger, be that your finger or man else's. By purchasing a pre-owned ring you can turn this fact around to your advantage, for once. With the immense mark-ups imposed by some High street jewellers today, a second hand ring represents great value for money, not to mention craftsmanship and individuality sadly lacking in today's mass-produced pieces. With vintage and antique rings, the workmanship and concentration to information can be jawdropping, and far too costly for manufacturers to try to emulate today, if indubitably they are able to replicate these methods at all. Whereas most pieces fall off a premise line nowadays, in days gone by fine jewellery was made by hand by highly skilled artisans.
Ring Buyer Guide
When purchasing a used ring, there are several factors to consider. Where costly stones, particularly diamonds, are included, a buyer will do well to remember the 'Four Cs'.
Carat
Gemstones are sold in carats. The carat refers to weight rather than the dimensions of a stone, which can sometimes be misleading. Generally, the higher the carat, the more the commercial value of the stone, however this need not always be the case. The remaining three Cs all have a great bearing in determining the value of a semi-precious or costly stone.
Colour
The colour of a stone, in particular, diamonds, rubies and sapphires, is integral to deciphering that gemstone's value. The conventional diamond colour is, of course, white, however diamonds indubitably come in several hues. Coloured diamond versions go in and out of fashion. The canary yellow so en vogue in the Fifties is much less beloved today. That said, pink and blue diamonds are very much in fashion now whilst they were less beloved in the past. So far as rubies go, the deep scarlet Burmese ruby is always a safe bet, set never to go out of style. That isn't to say the splendid fuchsia toned stones are any less desirable, however. It is, on the most part, a matter of personal taste and the order of the day. With sapphires, the most highly prized colouration is the vivid royal blue Ceylon sapphire, though many prefer the cornflower blue and even lilac shades. The padparascha sapphire is a sumptuous shade of peachy pink and is highly respected by gem merchants the world over. Where the other three Cs are met, colour is more a matter of personal preference. Though conventional colourations are always going to be the safest bet, if you're looking for a piece to wear with a bit of individuality, a non-conventional coloured stone might just be for you.
Clarity
This is arguably the most important observation in determining a stone's value. Most stones have natural inclusions of one description or another, particularly emeralds and sapphires. Where these cannot be seen by the naked eye, microscopic problem is caused. Indeed, star sapphires and star rubies would be nothing without them - this is indubitably what creates their starburst effect. Approximately all emeralds feature inclusions - it doesn't stop them being one of the most sought after costly stones of all time. However, where inclusions are descriptive this presents a problem and will drastically reduce the value of a stone
Cut
The cut of a costly stone can be its manufacture or downfall. Diamonds come in a wide range of cuts, from trillion to baguette; princess to brilliant. When found in its natural state, the stone is assessed and the cut is made, taking into account that's stone's shape and clarity. A fantastic cut gives a diamond a dazzling sparkle, understanding some prefer the understatement of an emerald cut. Again, there are no proprietary and wrongs where the stone is shown off to its absolute best - which one you prefer is down to personal taste.
Besides these considerations in respect of costly stones, there are two other matters to think when seeking out second hand or antique rings. Firstly, the health of the ring is vital. It is potential to have small scratches buffed out by a jeweller, but great wear or damage is best avoided. Where stones are damaged, these can be especially difficult to put right and may need to be replaced. Diamonds are celebrated for their drive and longevity, however, where they feature an inclusion they feature a fault, and a hard knock in the wrong spot can break them, as can great extremes of temperature. costly stones like sapphires or rubies are harder and more hardwearing than semi-precious stones like topaz or pearl, understanding the former can still show wear over time. Having said all this, that's all the more speculate why a well cared for piece of vintage jewellery makes such a splendid find today.
The other point to think is the piece's character. antique and vintage rings often feature splendid workmanship and concentration to information wholly lacking in their run of the mill, mass-produced contemporaries. Their quality, together with their ever growing scarcity and individuality, make antique rings so highly prized and longed for today.
A Buyer's Guide to Second Hand Rings
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