Every week, a couple walks through our door on Royal Street holding hands and looking a little nervous. They've browsed the big chain stores. They've seen a hundred rings that all look the same. And then they lean over our cases and see a ring that was made by hand a hundred years ago, and something changes in their faces.
Here's why so many couples are choosing antique and vintage engagement rings, and what to know if you're thinking of one.
๐ 1. It's Truly One of a Kind
A new ring can be made again tomorrow, a thousand times over. An antique ring can't. It was crafted by hand, often by a single jeweler, in a style that is no longer made. When you wear it, you know no one else in the room has the same ring.
๐จ 2. Craftsmanship You Can See
Look closely at an antique ring and you'll see the work of human hands: hand-pierced filigree like lace, tiny beaded milgrain edges, engraving on the sides of the band, settings shaped one prong at a time. Many of these details take hours to make, and modern mass production simply doesn't do them anymore.
๐ 3. Diamonds Cut for Candlelight
Before electric light, diamonds were cut by hand to sparkle by candle and gaslight. These old mine cut and old European cut diamonds have bigger, softer flashes of light than modern diamonds, a warm, romantic glow that many people find more beautiful. They're also no longer cut today, so every one is a survivor.
๐ Learn more: Old Mine & Old European Cut Diamonds
๐ 4. The Most Sustainable Ring There Is
An antique ring has already been mined, cut and made. Choosing one means no new mining and no new manufacturing, just giving a beautiful piece a second life. It's the original recycled jewelry.
๐ฐ 5. More Ring for Your Budget
Because antique and vintage rings don't carry the mark-ups of new designer pieces, you can often find a larger stone, a finer metal or more intricate work for the same budget. And at David's, our 90-day layaway lets you spread the cost with no interest.
๐ 6. It Comes With a Story
Someone chose this ring once, nervously, just like you. Someone wore it through a lifetime of mornings and anniversaries. When you choose an antique ring, you continue a story of love that began long before you, and that's a beautiful way to begin your own.
๐ What to Check Before You Buy
โ The condition of the prongs and setting. Worn prongs can be repaired, but it's good to know.
โ The ring size. Many antique rings can be resized, but some designs, like rings with engraving all the way around or certain settings, are harder to resize. Ask before you fall in love.
โ The metal. Platinum and gold are both lovely; look for hallmarks that tell you what it is.
โ Daily wear. Delicate filigree is best for someone who's gentle with their hands. A bezel or sturdier setting suits an active life.
โ Ask about the stones. Natural, lab-grown, treated: a good jeweler always tells you exactly what you're buying.
๐ Our full guide: Choosing an Engagement Ring: Fit, Stones, Settings & Care
๐ Our Advice
Don't choose a ring because it's popular. Choose the one that makes you both go quiet for a moment when you see it. With antique rings, you'll know.
๐๏ธ Find Your Ring
Visit us at 322 Royal Street to try on antique and vintage engagement rings, or browse online.
