According to Cynthia Findley Antiques, there are many reasons you might want to downsize your inheritance. There will inevitably be some pieces that have no sentimental value to you, and do not fit your style. You may also run into the problem of storage, which can be a challenge. If you’re looking to sell off older estate jewellery, and unsure of how to get the best price, hire an appraiser.

Downsizing: Some opt to downsize an estate before they pass. This serves a few purposes, it can help the person who owns the estate to consolidate the wealth and build a bigger inheritance for family. Those assets essentially get re-allocated in other ways. Appraisers help these people get a fair price for their assets.

Inheritance: When a close family member passes, they sometimes leave an inheritance for you. Not everyone is prepared to keep vintage engagement rings. Either they do not have the space, or the jewellery does not fit the style. Appraisers help you sell off what you don’t want from the collection, so you can use the money to create a new tradition for your own family.

Explorer: If you’ve ever gone to an estate sale, you’ve probably found more than a few pieces you’ve wanted to take home. Some of us actually do, and an appraiser is useful in identifying antique engagement rings and assessing value. Who knows, you might have stumbled across something truly valuable.

For pieces that are less valuable, but still sentimental, you might consider re-using the metals. You can melt older pieces and have them remade as custom designs to start your own traditions.

Walk through any museum or store selling some vintage engagement rings, and you’ll quickly notice how elaborate and beautiful every piece can be. Handmade jewellery from antique eras shines brilliantly, but buying authentic pieces can be a difficult task. This guide aims to help anyone identify jewellery, including which qualities are most useful in determining which era your jewellery comes from.

Basics

During the 1930s, and even as early as the 1700s, costume jewellery fashioned after real pieces became fairly common place at public gatherings. There were a variety of reasons for that, but essentially jewellery production had three grades that corresponded with the materials used: fine, semi-precious and base. When you’re looking at antique engagement rings, a good question to ask about is the type of stone used. The answer to that question can give some clues on whether the piece is an authentic piece or costume jewellery.

Style

World War II greatly disrupted the flow of precious metals and gemstones throughout the world, so gold was in short supply in the post war era for about one or two decades. During that time, jewelers would frequently combine silver and gold to make a new metal called vermeil. According to Cynthia Findlay Antiques, one clue that a piece is post war is that is contains more metal than gemstone because of the supply challenges from Europe to the US.

Inspirations

Custom jewellery from Toronto is designed to look like the real thing, but these pieces are inspired by the era rather than a direct copy. Custom jewellery can be handed down from generation to generation, just like antique counterparts. If you like the style of vintage rings but can’t find a specific one you like, create one. Skilled jewelers can duplicate the methods used back then, creating one-of-a-kind pieces made specifically for you.