How we price rings

Every price on this site is an eBay seller's asking price including postage, compared with the asking prices of similar rings listed at the same time. Here is exactly how.

1. We read every ring listed on eBay UK

Every day we collect every ring in eBay UK's Vintage & Antique Jewellery rings category, every fine jewellery ring described as vintage, antique, Art Deco, Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian, retro or from a decade before 1970, and every pre-owned fine jewellery and engagement ring from £80 up. Each hour we re-check the listings that hold the best-priced rings, so ended and sold rings drop off quickly. Today that is 67,701 rings, last updated 13 November 2026 at 14:04.

2. We leave out what isn't a genuine, complete, fine ring

Listings are dropped when the title says "vintage style", "inspired", "reproduction" or similar; mentions cubic zirconia, moissanite, lab-grown or simulated stones, crystals, plated, gold-filled, rolled gold or "gold tone" metal; is an empty mount, a damaged or incomplete ring, a job lot, or not a ring at all. Today we left out 10,675 listings: 5,200 not solid fine jewellery, 862 not a ring, 4,254 made to look vintage, 54 more than one ring, 270 incomplete or damaged, 34 modern and new, 1 not for sale.

3. We read the title

From each title we read the era (from words like "Art Deco" or "Edwardian" and from dates and hallmark years), the main stone (in "sapphire and diamond cluster" the sapphire leads), the diamond cut and total carat weight, the metal and gold standard (a 15ct mark dates a ring to 1854–1932), the style (solitaire, three stone, cluster, half hoop...), the UK size, and whether it is hallmarked or comes with a certificate or valuation.

4. We price it against similar rings

Each Buy It Now ring is compared with other rings in the same group: vintage or second hand, men's or not, main stone, metal (18ct gold or platinum; 14–15ct; 9ct; silver) and style, and for diamond rings the carat band (under 0.25ct, 0.25–0.49, 0.50–0.99, 1.00–1.49, 1.50–1.99, 2ct+). The typical price is the median asking price of at least six rings in the group, leaving out sellers with a poor record. If a group is too small we use the broader one above it.

A good price is at least 30% under the typical price of at least eight similar rings, from a seller with a good record. A ring 50% or more under is labelled check carefully: at that price something is usually different (smaller stones, synthetic stones, damage, or a mistake in the title). Diamond solitaires and three stone rings are only scored when the carat weight is in the title, because a 0.2ct and a 1.5ct solitaire are not comparable.

5. What the score doesn't know

We can't see stone quality (colour, clarity, cut grade), condition, or whether a stone is natural, beyond what the seller writes. Two rings of the same era, stone and metal can be worth very different amounts. Use the score as a first filter, then read the listing and look closely at the photos. Prices are asking prices, not sold prices.

6. Sellers

A green shield means a Top Rated seller, or 98%+ positive feedback from 50 or more buyers. Sellers with under 10 feedback or under 97% positive are marked, and never appear as a good buy.