From the very moment she saw the gems nestled within the antique leather box, she has been drawn to the distinctive diamonds in her engagement ring. She is constantly stunned by their unique glitter – sparkling for over 100 years, never to dim.

 

Her heart warms as she creates narratives born from the ring’s handmade imperfections. She can imagine the staunch stonecutter, arched over his workbench in the gold flush of candlelight, taking the time to discover the future possibilities within each gem, as he labors over the angle of every facet.

 

She romanticizes the lives and loves of the women who treasured the ring generations before her. How the crest of their cheeks must have bloomed with a joyful glow when their true loves presented them with this unifying symbol of love!

 

She sees herself as a catalyst of enduring love. For years from now, she will pass this sentimental heirloom to her own daughter; she finds comfort knowing that the ring will be cherished for generations to come.

 

An unending circle of love begins with an antique engagement ring, lovingly crafted with hand-cut diamonds - eloquently unique, forever bright.

 

 

At Isadoras, Valentine’s Day is one of our most favorite holidays; we love to feel romance fill the air in anticipation of February 14.

 

The weeks (and days) before Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time to shop for engagement rings, and there is nothing more romantic than an antique engagement ring.

 

Vintage and antique engagement rings are unbelievably sentimental due to their poetic nature. They evoke a time and space where candlelight ruled, and diamonds were much harder to come by.

 

Each one-of-a-kind antique engagement ring at Isadoras is chosen for its exquisite and unique qualities. Antique jewelry is the most collectable, rare, exotic jewelry there is. We often tell our clients, "If you want an antique ring, be patient, and the right one will come to you."

 

We love helping couples find the antique or vintage engagement ring of their dreams, no matter what their budget is.

 

It is important to keep in mind that the price of an engagement ring is affected by a diamond’s clarity, color, and size. We all know that a .50-carat diamond is more expensive than a .25-carat diamond, but if your budget is tight, there are ways to shop for beautiful diamonds without giving up on size.

 

We will show you how!

 

Diamond Clarity

Each diamond is assigned a grade corresponding to its clarity.

• VS1-VS2 – Very Slightly Included
• SI1-SI2 – Slightly Included
• I1-I3 = Included

 

Diamonds with very minor inclusions that can only be seen under magnification are graded VS1-VS2.

Diamonds with tiny flaws nearly invisible to the naked eye are graded SI1-SI2.

Diamonds with flaws that can been seen with the naked eye are graded I1-I3.

 

The cost of a diamond decreases as you move down the scale from very slightly included diamonds to those that have inclusions.

 

Isadoras sells ideal stones, and a flawless diamond is a thing of beauty, but it never seduces us the way a stone with its own quirks, flaws, and ultimate beauty does. 

A stone with its own idiosyncrasies puts butterflies in my stomach; and when one of those stones arrive in our store I find myself inexplicably drawn to it.

 

Diamond Color

Each diamond is assigned a grade corresponding to its color.

The diamond color scale begins at D and ends with Z.

As a general rule, diamonds slightly tinted are much less expensive than colorless stones.

D, E, and F diamonds are nearly colorless. The color difference is so negligible, that the grade can only be discerned by a gemologist.

Diamonds rated G-J on the color scale are nearly colorless; however, the price decreases as you move up through the scale.

I-J colored diamonds will be less expensive than G-H colored diamonds.

If you are drawn to diamonds with a faint warm hue – you will find that the stones with a faint color grade (K-M) are much less expensive than G-colored diamonds.

 

Diamond Size

Each diamond is assigned a carat weight

If you choose a stone with slight inclusions and a faint color, you can buy a higher carat diamond for your money.

 

 Gemstones – The Alternative

Don’t forget - gemstones are a stunning way to get more for your engagement dollars. Typically, larger gemstones cost less than their diamond counterparts.

 

Because most antique diamonds are cut by hand, they have an individuality and character that cannot be emulated. Please visit our blog post, A Beginner’s Guide to Antique Diamond Cuts, for more detailed information.

 

For more ideas, visit our Pinterest boards and browse our Instagram page to find inspiration for unique antique Valentine’s Day engagement ring and gift ideas.

 

Our knowledgeable staff is always happy to help you find the perfect antique engagement ring for your beloved!

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