Vintage Ring Prices of the 1920s

It is so much fun to look back and see what things cost in the past. Vintage ring prices back in the day were cheaper than a cup of coffee is today in some coffee shops. Let’s take a little stroll down memory lane and look at what a vintage ring might have cost.

Jewelry was such an important part of fashion that many times a dress or outfit was sold with matching accessories such as pins, necklaces, belt clips and of course rings. The most expensive dress one could buy from a current mail order catalogue was $24.95. An extravagant purchase that many women longed for was a raccoon coat that sold for the whopping price of $265.00!

The Montgomery Ward Catalogue of 1928-29 had over twenty pages of jewelry items. Long strands of pearls were extremely popular and were worn with almost everything. There was even such a thing as bathing costume jewelry.

Synthetic stones were detailed in most of the advertisements. Rings were set in 10, 14, and 18 karat gold with fancy filigree mountings. The prices for this type of vintage ring ranged from $4.98 to $13.75.

Onyx was a special stone of the day and very often set in white gold to emphasize its dramatic appearance. Often a diamond would be set in the onyx enhanced by a very fancy filigree setting. Such a ring, including a genuine diamond would sell for about $12.75.

Birthstone rings were very popular, usually set in a white gold filigree setting. A 10 karat vintage ring with a small round stone sold for the average price of $1.98. A matching cameo pin might sell for $.79.

Heading into the 1930s, synthetic stones became widely available and made jewelry available to all women regardless of budget. While the fashion pages in the catalogues now decreased, the jewelry pages were expanded.

Designs changed at this point and became more modern and Art Deco. Many pieces from this lavish period of the Roaring Twenties are out there to be had for the earnest vintage ring shopper.