How Do You Appraise Antique Cameo Rings?
Antique cameo jewelry has been in style for centuries. Genuine antique cameo rings are hand-carved in relief and made of shell or other natural substances such as ivory, lava, glass, agate, coral and stone. The foreground is a silhouette or face, while the background is a different-colored layer. The raised relief of the cameo or silhouette itself is what distinguishes a cameo antique ring from an inferior imitation. The antique method of making a cameo ring is often called “high relief.” An antique cameo ring is worth as much as what the market is willing to offer. Look at your cameo ring. What kind of scene does it have? Cameo rings made in the 1800’s with mythological motifs, natural scenes in background and portraits of actual historical figures are considered valuable. Prices range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Is your cameo made from genuine gold or silver? Use a magnifying glass to look inside the band for any maker’s marks or karat weight to help determine value. Old g
