Vintage Engagement Ring

With the right search phrases, shopping for an engagement ring at an online marketplace can be similar to walking through a mall with hundreds of jewelry stores. Having so many different dealers side by side makes it easy to compare prices and store policies. It’s even more beneficial to shop at an online marketplace when looking for a vintage engagement ring because heirloom rings are one of a kind and can’t just be ordered out of a catalog, so having a lot of options is important. Depending on your taste and your budget, the right marketplace is sure to have a dealer that has your perfect vintage ring.

There are four online marketplaces right now that far exceed any others when it comes to vintage jewelry. Not only do they have a wide variety of different dealers, but they also have a lot of buyer protection measures in place to make buying an expensive ring online considerably less risky.

1. Amazon

Of the four marketplaces on this list, Amazon is the largest and most well known. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best place to find an antique engagement ring, but it is certainly a contender. This multi-billion dollar marketplace was founded in 1994 by Jeffrey Preston Bezos and was a major part of the dot-com boom. The thing about Amazon is that it can be overwhelming to browse through. A simple search of “antique engagement ring” pulls up over 10,000 listings. If you narrow down your search by category, you will get a much more manageable list. Since there are so many dealers and items up there, it’s important to read a seller’s feedback thoroughly. Amazon has a great buyer protection program, but it’s important to first feel confident with the seller you are purchasing from. Chances are your perfect heirloom engagement ring is listed on this site! Shop this ring »

2. Etsy

Etsy was founded in 2005 by Robert Kalin, Chris Maguire, and Haim Schoppik. It began as a socially conscious marketplace for handmade items but grew to include vintage items and supplies. Over the years, more and more quality antique jewelry dealers have been flocking to this site because of the amount of exposure Etsy offers its sellers.

3. Ruby Lane

Ruby Lane is a widely known marketplace for anyone in the antique business, but it is not as widely known by the general population. The site was founded by Tom Johnson and Jim Wilcoxson in 1998 and has recently undergone a major reconstruction, making the site more user-friendly and modern. All the sellers on Ruby Lane are antique dealers, making this akin to a very convenient online antique mall. The bonus being there is a ton of amazing vintage jewelry! Many of these dealers have been selling on Ruby Lane for ten or more years, so they have built up a great reputation. A cool feature on this site that some dealers offer is the Make Offer button. See a ring that is out of your price range by a couple hundred dollars? Ruby Lane lets you barter just like you would at a flea market!

4. 1stdibs

1stdibs was founded by Michael Bruno at the Paris antique market, Marché Aux Puces in 2001. The company started with a handful of antique dealers known for their high-quality items and has grown into an incredible marketplace housing the finest antique shops in the world. This is a great marketplace if you are looking for a high end or designer antique engagement ring between $5,000 – $20,000. Right now they even have a ring on there priced well over 9 million dollars! They have many signed designer pieces as well as some lower end antique engagement rings in the $1,200 range. Even if you can’t afford one of the rings here, it is still a great place to get inspired.