Can You Guess How Much These Vintage Rings Cost?

Vintage jewelry is all the rage these days. Many celebrities on the red carpet are wearing vintage rings and other accessories to complete their look and stand out among their esteemed peers.

But, have you ever wondered, why is some vintage jewelry so much more expensive than others? I know I have. Especially when the pieces look almost identical!

We asked our vintage buyer at Long's Jewelers some questions about a few vintage rings from our store that seemed to be very similar. Why were some of the pieces close in price while others had a price difference of almost $6,000? Well, some of the answers may surprise you.

Can you tell the difference between these vintage rings? See for yourself:

1. Which Sapphire Vintage Ring Costs More?

And the winner is....the top ring!
Retail $4,950 (top) vs. $2,995 (bottom)

The top sapphire and diamond ring is more expensive in this case because of the quality of the sapphire. It has a more even color and saturation and a royal purple color that is more desirable and sought-after. It also has a higher metal weight with platinum vs. the bottom which features white gold.

2. Which Opal Vintage Ring Costs More?

And the winner is....the bottom ring!
Retail $4,450 (top) vs. $4,785 (bottom)

These rings are very similar in price, yet when worn side by side, they are very different sizes. Even with the top opal stone being larger, the bottom opal is a more rare and desirable color with the blue and purple. It also is a black opal which is more valuable because of the dark body tone resulting in a more vibrant play on color.

3. Which Emerald Vintage Ring Costs More?

And the winner is....the top ring!
Retail $7,295 (top) vs. $1,875 (bottom)

The price difference between these two rings is substantial, yet they look very similar. Even though the bottom ring features a stone with a more desirable emerald color, the top stone is more transparent and has less inclusions. Also, the top ring features four significantly sized diamonds which are higher in carat size than the bottom ring.