You’ve decided to go for it; you’re going to buy an emerald ring; it’s official. It might be as an engagement ring; it might be a statement piece you want to wear at special occasions; or it might be as a gift for someone else. Of course, you can get excited about the prospect of getting an emerald ring however you’ve still got to actually buy it. So (without offending anyone) maybe rein it in just a little bit.
Buying an emerald ring might seem like the easiest part, especially if you had a long back-and-forth decision-making process. I’m here to tell you that it definitely can be seamless, easy, and worry-free – especially with some help from this little guide.
Where’s the best places to buy an Emerald Ring?
Auction Houses
Buying from a reputable auction house is a great way of coming by your emerald ring. Often, it is a cheaper option for buying jewellery in general. It is also a great option if you like the idea of reusing and recycling. After all, auction houses are used for people to sell good quality items, as well as buy them, meaning that often the piece will be antique or vintage and will have had a previous owner. I personally love the history of antique and vintage pieces; I find that they are typically more unique than the more contemporary mass-produced emerald rings we can find from high street chains.
Perhaps one down-side to buying at an auction house is that the choice can be quite limited; it really just depends on the day as to whether you will find what you’re looking for. The best way to approach an auction house sale is to go in with an open mind. If you are keen on a very specific style and design of emerald ring then perhaps an auction house might not be the best shout.
As has been mentioned, the price of an emerald ring will be lower at an auction house than the typical retail price. On one hand, great! On the other, you need to make yourself aware of the condition of the piece you intend to buy, and talk to a specialist to hear their opinion. You don’t want to buy something only to find that it is a more fragile piece than you initially suspected.
There are many auction houses out there to choose from ranging from your local auction house, to auctions hosted by Christies, Bonhams, and Sotheby’s. The choice is yours! Before you make the trip, often auction houses will have specific dates for specific items, and might even have a catalogue you can peruse before the event.
Retail Stores
We are all familiar with the retail store, and certainly this is a typical place you can buy an emerald ring. There are numerous jewellery stores in many different places, with many having an online website for you to browse. A lot of retail stores particularly your typical high street jewellery store will stock a wide range of contemporary emerald rings for you to choose from. Some retail stores (especially the high-end retail stores) will also hold a stock of their vintage emerald rings for sale. The price will be higher than at an auction house, and will range from low thousands to (potentially) millions. The main benefit of buying an emerald ring at a retail store is that there will be a wide range for you to choose from; and once you’ve found the perfect emerald ring for you, you can then purchase it immediately. A great option especially if you want to buy an emerald ring to take away to wear straight away.
Online Marketplaces
When looking for Greek fine jewellery, these platforms can also offer a variety of unique and authentic pieces, provided you take the necessary precautions to ensure quality and authenticity.
Almost everyone is aware of buying products online. You can find almost anything you might want to buy online, and this certainly includes buying jewellery (and specifically emerald rings) online. It might seem a bit daunting to buy a relatively expensive item online. This is partly because you can’t try the ring on; you can’t see exactly what it looks like in natural light; and there’s a general wariness of buying a product without seeing the shop or the person from whom you’re buying from. However, there are a few different ways you can buy an emerald ring online with confidence.
Online marketplaces can provide a bit more of a safety net for you, especially luxury marketplaces such as 1st Dibs and LAPADA. This is partly because not everyone can sell on these marketplaces, but also, the marketplaces have a bit more formality to them; especially when returning an item, getting a refund, and there is usually a clever interface for all of that. The whole experience is designed to be incredibly professional and reassuring for both the seller of the item and also the buyer.
Another type of online marketplace you can go to when buying an emerald ring is eBay. Yes, more or less anyone can sell items on eBay. This is why reading reviews, and doing a bit of online research before buying from eBay is the best way forward. You can find some great emerald rings on eBay, and some trustworthy sellers, so don’t be put off! If you have any questions, for example surrounding the condition of the emerald ring, you can always get in touch with the seller to confirm and clarify a few things – just to give you peace of mind. The same goes for other similar marketplaces such as Etsy and Amazon. Don’t be afraid to do your research and ask questions.
Specialist Antique Dealers
I’ve already mentioned some of the appeal about antique emerald rings (unique, interesting history, reuse recycle etc.), and jewellery specialists seem to agree. Many argue that you can get more for your money, and that an antique piece will hold its value for longer – making it more of an investment heirloom piece than more contemporary emerald rings. When it comes to buying an antique emerald ring, a great place to buy from is a specialist antique dealer. Not only do they typically have a passion for all things antique, but they will have carefully curated pieces that they feel are fine examples of antique emerald rings, making your job a little easier.
When it comes to buying from a specialist antique dealer, firstly have a little research to find out the history of the dealer: how long they have been dealing for; what they specialise in; the aftercare services they provide; if they have a storefront or exclusively sell online. You want to be safe in the knowledge that the people you are buying from know their stuff – they need to be specialists if they are advertising as so.
Often once people have discovered a specialist antique dealer they just keep coming back for more. It’s always nice to discover something you like, and that can go for antique dealers too! So delve into the world of specialist antique dealers, it is well worth an exploration.
I’ve mentioned a few different places where you can buy an emerald ring. Explore the options above, but also have a look around for yourself, and discover which type of platform works best for you. Do some research beforehand, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and remember, you can always do a bit of window-shopping (physical or online) before you commit to anything. Now go out there and pick up your perfect emerald ring!
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