How do I wear an antique ring safely?

Historic gold rings benefit from removal during manual labour, swimming, or heavy lifting to protect the prongs and softer gem materials like opal. Storing pieces in individual fabric-lined boxes prevents scratching against other jewellery.

Can these rings be resized easily?

Most gold bands allow skilled jewellers to alter the ring diameter by adding or removing a small section of metal from the shank. Intricate hand-carved shoulders require careful attention to preserve the original patterns near the stones.

What do the hallmarks tell us?

British hallmarks indicate the metal purity, such as eighteen-carat gold, alongside the specific assay office and year of testing. These stamped marks provide reliable clues for dating the piece alongside stylistic evidence.

Why are old cut stones different?

Historic lapidaries shaped diamonds by hand to maximise weight and sparkle under ambient candlelight rather than mathematical precision. This method yields unique optical patterns distinct from modern brilliant-cut diamonds.