At Potteries Auctions, we are specialist sellers of jewellery at auction. Buying jewellery at auction has many benefits – not only is your item potentially unique or rare, in some cases it may even be a one of a kind! We all know diamonds are forever,and engagement rings are a fantastic purchase at auction. You’ll find some gorgeous Art Deco pieces, vintage rings, and jewellery from the 70s, 80s and beyond. Price is also another great reason to buy at auction. But it’s more than just price, it’s the wonderful experience of placing the winning bid, hearing the hammer drop and knowing you’ve secured the ring you were looking for.
How to Buy an Engagement Ring at Auction
When buying an engagement ring at auction, there are lots of considerations to take into account – and we’re just talking about the ring, let alone the huge life decisions and the journey you’ve undertaken before the purchasing point!
It’s worth thinking about the following:
- Consider your budget. It’s important to know where your boundaries are and be clear on how much you’d like to spend.
- Consider the style you like. What should you look out for? Are there styles you don’t like and need to avoid?
- Consider the size of the ring. Some rings can be changed; however, some designs can’t be altered so, it’s worth checking the size before you buy.
- Consider if it’s worth buying an engagement ring and wedding together. Some lots we sell included a ring set. It could be better to buy both rings together.
- Consider the person you’re buying for. Would they like the ring? Does it suit their style?
- Consider the diamond. Look at the cut, the carat, the clarity, and the colour of the diamond as this can help you establish the quality.
This stunning 18ct single stone diamond ring was approximately 1.6 carats (sized K1/2).It started with estimates of £1000-£2000, but its final sale price was £2300, and it’s easy to see why! With a clear diamond and beautiful setting, it would make the perfect proposal ring.
Here at Potteries Auctions, there are a number of ways you can bid on any upcoming jewellery lot. Including in person, online and over the phone. Please contact us to arrange beforehand if you’d like to come and bid in person or via telephone, or bid online from the comfort of your home with The Saleroom.
How Much Do Wedding and Engagement Rings Sell for at Auction?
We see some fantastic lots in our auctions, and diamond engagement rings and wedding bands are no exception. Below, we’ve shared some excellent examples of the sales we’ve seen.
This spectacular 3.9 carat single stone diamond solitaire ring sold for an incredible £10,400! The shoulders of the ring are each set with four tiny diamonds. The shank and setting are all platinum, and it was UK ring size P. It was sold with an accompanying office Anchor Certificate from the Birmingham assay, along with a recently undertaken diamond gem laboratory grading certification, grading the colour as M-N, the clarity as SI, and the carat weight as an estimated 3.9ct. This would have made an incredible proposal ring!
If you’re after something simpler, we’ve had some lovely vintage and meaningful pieces that we can only imagine are filled with memories and stories.
This 22-carat gold wedding ring band (weighing 3.7grams), together with an 18-carat gold and diamond engagement ring (weighing 3.0g) sold for a delightful £125. It even comes with the original box, which only adds to the character.
Who says an engagement ring has to be a traditional solitaire? This beautiful 18-carat gold, three stone diamond ring is believed to have an insurance replacement value in excess of £4000. The diamonds are slightly larger than 1 x 45 points, and 2 x 20 points. In our opinion, the stones are colour G – H, VS I / II – SI I / II. A fine piece of quality jewellery and it would make a lovely, unique engagement ring.
How To Sell A Wedding Or Engagement Ring At Auction
At Potteries Auction we want your sale to be hassle-free and easy. We care about getting the best price for you for your ring. It could be a family heirloom, or it could be time for change. Whatever your reason for selling, our experts can help you with a valuation if you’d like to sell, rather than buy. Remember that gold is still very valuable and if you’ve decided to sell off your old wedding ring, you could be in with a nice pay out.
Talk to our team of experts who will be able to give you an accurate auction estimate on your piece and recommend the best auction for your piece. You can join us at one of our valuation days every Tuesday. Email us for an appointment on enquiries@potteriesauctions.com or call us on +44 (0)1782 638100 Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
If you can’t come in and see us in person but would like to submit items for auction or valuation, send us an email with details and a photograph (e.g. edition, style, measurements, condition) and one of our experts will provide information and auction estimates. Alternatively, give us a call to arrange an appointment.