Antique Engagement Rings

What Makes an Engagement Ring Antique?

An engagement ring is generally considered antique when it is over 100 years old. The period in which a ring was made can often be recognised through its design, diamond cuts, settings and the techniques used in its construction.

Our collection includes rings from several distinct periods:

• Victorian engagement rings (1837–1901): From simple gold solitaires to elaborate cluster rings, often featuring old mine cut diamonds and coloured gemstones.
• Edwardian engagement rings (1901–1915): Delicate platinum settings, fine metalwork and old European cut diamonds are characteristic of this period.
• Art Deco engagement rings (1920s–1930s): Geometric designs, platinum settings and striking combinations of diamonds and coloured gemstones.

We also have a collection of vintage engagement rings from later decades, including the 1950s through to the 1990s.

Why Choose an Antique Engagement Ring?

One of the things we particularly love about antique engagement rings is the variety. Even rings made during the same period can be remarkably different.

Older diamond cuts have their own distinctive appearance. An old mine cut diamond, for example, has different proportions and faceting from a modern brilliant cut, while the settings themselves can reveal interesting details about how jewellery was made.

There’s also something rather special about a ring that has already been worn and treasured for generations. We may never know its original owner or the circumstances in which it was given, but that’s part of its fascination.

Choosing an antique ring also means giving an existing piece of jewellery a new chapter, rather than buying something newly manufactured.

Read our guide to antique diamond cuts

Buying an Antique Engagement Ring from Aladdin’s Cave

We’ve been buying and selling antique jewellery for over 45 years, and selecting rings is still one of the most enjoyable parts of what we do.

Jessica sources pieces from auctions and established dealers across the UK, looking closely at their design, age, gemstones and condition. Each ring is examined before being offered for sale, and we take care to describe its features and any relevant details about its history.

We’re always happy to answer questions about individual rings, whether that’s the diamond cut, the setting, signs of previous alterations or the possibility of resizing.

If you’re unsure where to begin, our guide to choosing an antique engagement ring is a useful starting point.

Visit Our Jewellery Shop in Leeds

If you’re able to visit us at Queens Arcade in Leeds, you’re very welcome to come in and try on a selection of rings.

Photographs are useful, but there’s nothing quite like seeing an old-cut diamond in person or discovering that a ring you might have overlooked looks wonderful on your hand.

Visit Us