A Vintage Ring Finds a Home & We Explain Replica vs Authentic Antiques

Last week at Malka Diamonds, we had a customer buy one of our favorite vintage Art Deco rings. He was thrilled to find such a stunning ring that was incredibly popular in the 1920s and now a rare find. Inspired by the architecture of its time, this 1.15 carat European cut diamond platinum ring houses .35 carat total weight side stones and is set low in a vintage classic style. His fiance was thrilled with the ring and came into size it. She asked, "How does one tell which rings are authentic antiques and which are replicas?" Great question! It's not an easy answer, but with so many companies creating replicas, if you are in the market for antique and vintage rings you should do your homework.

First, spend sometime looking at images of vintage rings to get familiar with the styles of the era.

Second, look for the platinum/gold karat mark on the back of the ring, pin or brooch, using a jeweler's loupe to locate these small symbols. They may be faint due to years of wear and tear. Look for other markings that indicate the company or artisan.

Third, look at the stone's setting. Antique jewelry contains hand-cut diamonds and other gems. Baguettes and invisible settings were first used in the 1920s.

Last, look at the the way the diamonds were cut. Diamond cutting has changed significantly over time. Around 1875, stones were cut in the European-cut manner. The invention of the steam-powered lathe made the cutting faster and easier. This form of cutting continued until the early 1900s. The transitional-cut diamonds were used from around 1918 until the mid-1920s - a short frame of time that ended when the modern cut diamond was created. From the 1920s to the present day, diamond cutters use mathematical measurements to cut the diamonds with 56 facets to create the round brilliant stone that dazzles and dances.