As the brains behind the Insta-worthy @noahnoahnoah.shop, if there’s one thing Noah Lehava knows, it’s vintage. And as a former editor and Coveteur alum, Lehava has an eye for all that sparkles. She’s parlayed it into her Instagram business account where she sells vintage treasures she’s sourced from all over the world. And while she might have started small, she’s grown her following with regular drops online and pop-ups with retailers like Holt Renfrew and Reformation. Along the way, she’s caught the attention of Vogue and clients like Hailey Bieber, who regularly wears Lehava’s mini Piaget Polo in her Tik Toks. Since there’s nothing like a vintage ring, we caught up with Lehava to get her expert opinion to help you source the one of your dreams. Keep scrolling for her official guide on vintage cuts, colours and carats.

Why Some Brides Are Choosing Vintage

“People are seeing jewellery as an extension of their personal style more and more these days and are having a lot more fun with it. They’re getting more comfortable in extending that to their wedding and engagement rings. I think with the help of Instagram and sellers like myself that are in the vintage resale world, more people are getting exposed to different styles of jewellery, which is exciting them.” 

What Makes Vintage Rings So Special

“I love vintage jewellery because it always surprises you. You come across unique cuts of stones, settings, or hand carvings and engravings. I think that vintage and antique rings have a very human element to them because they’re forged by hand, they’re crafted by an artisan. With vintage techniques, rings were hand carved out of wax or hand forged, so it was meticulous work. There’s something you almost can’t define about it unless you see it. The best way that I can say it is like there’s a human element to it, you know? It’s how I compare film photography to digital photography.” 

What You Should Know Before Buying

“This is going to sound very obvious, but I think it’s important with vintage rings to know your ring size. While most rings, especially if they’re on a simple band, can be resized, some antique and vintage techniques like engravings or the way that stones are set is something that’s very delicate. It can make ring sizing impossible or very, very challenging. Knowing your ring size is an easy thing to determine ahead of time and it opens your options. Especially when you’re coming across a vintage ring it’s a one-of-a-kind for the most part, right? You don’t want to end up falling in love with something that you can’t make work for you.”

What She Thinks About Multiple Stone Rings

“I love it, like the Toi-I-Moi, which is actually based off of a vintage style, but obviously there’s a contemporary spin on it. I think if you want something a little bit different than doing the two stones, you can do something that’s maybe multiple stones, but a lower profile and a cluster diamond ring or opting for a mixture of gemstones. Instead of just doing two diamonds, you could do two different coloured gemstones or something like that but bypass a little bit more dramatically. I think those are stunning options as an alternative.” 

Why You Should Avoid Trends

“Definitely buy what you like. Don’t pay too close attention to trends. They honestly don’t matter. There are no rules on what is and isn’t an engagement ring. You’re the one that’s going to have to look at it every day and so get something that you absolutely love.” 

Feature image: courtesy of Noah Lehava.