How do I care for antique silver rings?

Silver naturally tarnishes over time when exposed to the air, requiring gentle cleaning with a soft microfibre cloth rather than harsh liquid dips that can harm underlying foil or softer gems. Store each piece individually in a lined box to prevent the harder diamond facets from scratching the softer silver metal and neighbouring stones.

Can I wear a silver diamond ring daily?

Many surviving rings were constructed with silver top layers over gold or platinum shanks to provide daily strength while maintaining a bright white appearance around the stones. Delicate Georgian or Victorian examples with closed-back settings require care to avoid moisture exposure during hand washing or vigorous daily tasks.

What is an old cut diamond?

Old cut diamonds are historic stones shaped entirely by hand before the standardisation of modern brilliant cutting formulas in the mid-twentieth century. They typically exhibit smaller tables, steeper crowns, and larger culets that create a distinctive, warm pattern of light under low lighting conditions.

How do I date an antique ring?

Dating relies on observing the combination of metal techniques, gemstone cut styles, and overall design motifs characteristic of periods like Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, or Art Deco. Specific settings, such as closed-back collets point to earlier nineteenth-century origins, whereas geometric platinum mountings indicate the later 1920s and 1930s.