Guide To Buying Second Hand Diamond Rings

Benefits of Second Hand Diamond Rings

There can be some hesitation when it comes to buying preowned compared to new. Such as around how good is the quality –are there any scratches or damage? Is the piece genuine? What about the diamond in the ring, how does it measure up in the 4Cs? All questions are valid, but rest assured there are a lot of reasons why you should buy preowned diamond rings:

- Great quality: All of our pre-loved jewellery gets accessed by our expert team before it goes on sale, meaning you can rest assured that each piece is high-quality and genuine. With diamond rings, our experts look at each stone to make sure they are all in great condition and measure them against the 4Cs. Your preowned diamond ring will sparkle and shine just like new.

- Durable materials: With each piece being accessed by experts, you can rest assured that you’re not only getting high quality but that each piece is made of long-lasting and genuine materials. Meaning your preloved piece will last for a lifetime.

- Value for money: Buying second-hand pieces is better for the bank; once it’s been worn, the price will automatically drop. Meaning preowned diamond rings are more affordable than their newer counterparts. It also means that your money will get your farther, enabling you to find rings with more diamonds, higher quality stones or a higher carat band for less of the price than a newer piece.

- Unique and rare pieces: Buying preowned means you have more of a variety to choose from; you can find unique and rare pieces that no one else would have. Or you could find a vintage piece with a historical background – some tracing back to the Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian eras.

- Eco-friendly: If you’re looking to be greener, buying preowned is better for the environment and is more ethical. Not only is it being reused, second-hand diamond rings reduce the demand of mining for new diamonds. Mining for diamonds and precious metals has a detrimental effect on the environment but also affects human rights in those areas.

What To Look Out For When Buying Pre-owned Diamond Rings

If you’re considering second-hand diamond rings, no matter where you go – online or in-store, there’s some important things to look out for so you can check the authenticity and quality of your ring.

1. Buy From Reputable And Certified Jewellers

One tip to buying pre-owned diamond rings, or any jewellery for that matter, is to make sure that you check the reputation and credentials of the company before you buy. This is to be sure that you are purchasing from certified jewellers qualified to assess that the piece you are buying is genuine.

You can usually check on the company’s website. Or if you’re buying second-hand via platforms like eBay, check if the individual selling is assured; they should be Assay Assured which is the digital Trustmark for online jewellery sellers. You can also check in-store as most pre-owned jewellery will come with a certificate of authenticity, so be sure to check the documentation.

Here at Ramsdens Jewellery, we have a team of expert jewellers and gemologists on hand who assess each piece before it goes on sale. Our professionals analyse and certify the quality and characteristics of each diamond ring. And we are happy to provide a Ramsden's grading report for any of our diamonds over 0.30ct. We also have a range of jewellery with GIA-certified diamonds, so you know that you are buying a genuine and truly exceptional diamond ring.

2. Check For Stamps And Hallmarks

Another tip to buying second-hand diamond rings is to check for stamps or hallmarks. These help to identify the carat, quality and how genuine your piece is.

You should see one of these stamps called the Fineness Mark stating the carat of the metal such as yellow and white gold:

• 9ct (375)
• 14ct (585)
• 18ct (750)
• 22ct (916)

There’s different marks for other metals such as silver, palladium and platinum to look out for. Other compulsory hallmarks to look out for are the Sponsor’s Mark, which is the registered mark of the article, and the Assay Office mark, which tells you which Assay Office tested the article. As stated before, Assay Office marks are a good indication that the seller is reputable.

For more information and visuals for what to look for on pre-owned pieces, take a look at our Hallmarking Chart.

Choosing A Second Hand Diamond Ring

Finding the right diamond ring is important, whether you’re buying for yourself or as a gift for someone else. Before choosing a ring, you need to know about the 4Cs – colour, clarity, cut and carat weight. This is the globally accepted standard for grading the quality of a diamond, and knowing what the 4Cs mean can help you decide what is best.

In short, colour refers to the natural tint of diamonds, clarity is how pure and rare the stone is, cut is how a diamond's facets interact with light, and carat denotes the weight and size of the diamond. For more in-depth information, check out our helpful guide on Understanding The 4Cs.

We’ve got a lot of Tips For Choosing A Diamond Ring, but some aspects you need to take into consideration when choosing a pre-owned diamond ring are:

Ring Size
When buying pre-owned diamond rings, know that there is usually only one in stock, meaning one size. So, make sure that you measure the wearer's finger and know which ring size you’ll need – as not all rings are easy to resize. This can also narrow down the choices of pre-owned options that you have. The best way to measure is using a ring sizer to put on one’s finger, or by using a printable ring size guide which you can use by measuring against a ring that fits you and find the size that way.

Ring Style

With pre-owned diamond rings, there are a lot of different styles to choose from. The ring design determines how many diamonds there are, how they are arranged and more. Some popular second-hand styles include:

Solitaire: Featuring one central diamond on the ring, the classic second-hand diamond solitaire ring is great for weddings and engagements.

Cluster: Pre-owned diamond cluster rings feature numerous diamonds set in a cluster, as the name suggests. The diamonds reflect light through each other, making the ring sparkle at every angle.

Eternity: With a horizontal line of diamonds, second-hand diamond eternity rings are used as an expression of enduring love.

Trilogy: Pre-owned diamond trilogy rings feature three diamonds representing the past, present and future.

Fancy: A second-hand diamond fancy ring offers unique and different ring designs, diamond shapes and cuts. Here you can find intricate and abstract ring styles – perfect for finding a vintage piece.

Coloured Stones: You can also find second-hand diamond rings paired with various other precious stones such as emerald, sapphire, ruby or more. Choosing pre-owned diamond and coloured stone rings offers a unique piece with a pop of colour, and you can even find your birthstone.

For more types of diamond rings, take a look at our A to Z of Ladies Ring Styles.

Diamond Shapes

From ring styles, you can also find a wide range of diamond shapes. The most popular shape is round diamonds, but you can also find pear, oval, rectangular, square or heart-shaped.

Round is the most traditional shape, catching light in all directions. While all our pre-owned diamond rings are inspected, choosing a round-shaped diamond can hide any minor flaws in the long run. Whereas more unique stone shapes, such as pear-shaped is a classic example of a vintage design. Or you can even find romantic ring shapes, like pre-owned heart rings which have been popular since medieval times.

To learn more, why not check out our guide to Diamond Shapes. And each diamond shape can come in a range of cuts, from rounded or pointed edges to the inner cut pattern of the diamond.

Metal Colour

Another thing you’ll need to know about second-hand diamond rings is the metal type. There’s a few different types to choose from, such as white gold, yellow gold, platinum, rose gold and palladium.

- Yellow Gold: Second-hand yellow gold diamond rings feature the traditional golden yellow colour and is made from pure gold, copper, silver and zinc. This colour doesn’t rust or tarnish over time.

White Gold: Pre-owned white gold diamond rings are made with pure gold with nickel or palladium and are coated with rhodium to give it a silver-white finish. A durable choice, however, the coating can wear away over time and show the yellow tint.

Rose Gold: Second-hand rose gold diamond rings give off a pink hue and are the perfect middle ground between gold or silver colours. Rose gold is made from pure gold and copper, which gives it its warmer unique tone.

Platinum: Second-hand platinum rings are made from platinum and cobalt or palladium and is the purest precious metal. Featuring a beautiful silver tone that doesn’t fade, this ring metal is very durable and will last a lifetime – even preowned models.

Palladium: Second-hand palladium diamond rings are members of the platinum family and palladium is a naturally white metal. Another durable choice that won’t fade or damage over time.

You can also find a wide range of preowned diamond rings with a mix of metal types, such as a blend between yellow and white gold – creating a unique tone. The metal you choose affects the diamond colour as it can reflect through. White and silver metals are great for lighter diamonds, whereas yellow and rose gold go better with tinted diamonds as both complement their counterparts.

Which metal type you choose depends on which colour you prefer wearing. But a tip, if you’re unsure, is cooler skin tones work best with silver or white jewellery, whereas yellow gold complements warmer skin tones.

Once you buy your diamond ring, you’ll want to make sure it lasts. We’ve got a helpful guide on How To Clean And Care For Your Rings with tips for gold, silver and platinum metal types.

Buying A Second Hand Diamond Engagement Ring

If you’re looking for a preowned diamond ring to use for engagement, there are tons of stunning designs for you to choose from. And buying second-hand means you can find a unique piece for your special someone – making this romantic gesture all the more memorable. And you know that a second-hand option will sparkle and shine just as much as a newer piece for a lower price. Any diamond ring will make the perfect engagement ring, but we have a range of gorgeous second-hand engagement rings, perfect for the special day.

To help with deciding which ring is best for you, why not check out our Engagement Ring Guide. Or our Engagement Ring Price Guide for knowing how much you should spend.

And why not pair your unique engagement ring with a second-hand diamond wedding ring. You can find beautiful pieces to last a lifetime.

Related: Engagement Ring Trends To Look Out For.

Are Second-Hand Diamond Rings A Good Investment?

Yes, pre-owned diamond rings are a great investment. This is because diamonds are precious stones and last a lifetime. Pre-owned diamond rings are also more affordable than newer ones, meaning you get more for your money. Even if the ring only just left the shop, it’s now considered second-hand, so your ring could still be considered new, but the price tag will have dropped.

Buying second-hand is also a great investment piece as they can increase in worth over time. Since they are durable pieces with valuable characteristics and precious materials, it could be worth more in the future. And the best thing is that the demand for second-hand pieces is high; with various economic, financial and social factors, many brands are increasing their prices, meaning more people are wanting to shop preowned, making it easy to resell and recycle pieces.

Buying A Pre-owned Diamond Ring

Choosing a second-hand diamond ring is a great option for getting a newer designed ring at a lower price, you could even find rare vintage pieces. All are which are high-quality, genuine rings which will last a lifetime.

With a plethora of options available online and in-store, it can be hard the find the right pre-owned ring for you. It’s always good to view in-store so you can see the ring for yourself and speak to jewellery experts. At Ramsdens Jewellery, you can find your nearest branch and come take a look at the second-hand options available. Or, if you’re interested in one online, you can have it shipped to your local store to look at it in person.

Here at Ramsdens, we have a range of second-hand diamond rings and to match second-hand diamond jewellery for you to choose from, with different designs to styles for men and women alike. If you need any further advice, feel free to contact us, we’d love to help!