UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories The Honor Ring Forum End of year 2022 Market Report

Well, for me at least 2022 was a decent year for my ring collecting..

I'm not actively collecting but,,,IF, if I see a ring I can upgrade with a fair price I'll grab it... OR, Like at the MAX IF II see a type / pattern I've never had and again fair priced I'll get it too..
- Only looking for 3 different type rings for my collection. I'll probably never get them but keep up hope!

Photo of most my MAX haul,,,and my recent 'Paris' ring.. Think I got something at the beginning of the year but don't remember! - old age



- * SO,, I have been very fortunate to be able to attend the MAX show this year. - Our subject area of WW2 theme rings has been hit hard... Since hitting mainstream maybe 10 years ago or so its been harder and harder each year.. Doesn't matter if Axis, Allied, Collaborating/Friendly its been hard...
Even WW2 U.S. rings.. enamels are almost not even seen the last year or 2! And, like the German rings prices got high... Our little niche hobby of years ago hitting mainstream hit hard. Gone are the days of a $100 authentic ring! Doesn't matter which type Allied, Axis etc. You will not find it.. With more people collecting them gone are the 'flea market', bazaar' 'boot sale' ring finding days!

I've seen some who collect a certain pattern/type ring. SS only,,WestWall only,,Skull... Those who've been collecting a long time end up with a excellent collection.. Most of the time not exceptionally large but of the rare ones, unique patterns etc. You end up with a nice ring case of your type.

- Others collect any type WW2 ring they can get their hands on. I'm doing it 40+ years so I have 300 or so rings in mixed categories, conditions etc. I like it like that. Everyone is different so you collect what you like and makes you happy when you look at them and think of their historical journey to you... How could such a small thing, items not made in the 1000s pattern wise,,,how did they make it to our case.!

- So we have other problems. In my next post I'll hit upon where rings have been showing up,,and where to look.....

Our market... As of 2022 its been very poor all around the world I bet..

- Economy affects the market most of the time and its bad everywhere... But for us its also the decline of finding authentic period patterns!.,

SO, where do you find your rings.. I've had emails - 'Gaspare I have money,,where can I find SS and Skull rings?' Moneys great as you can't make a purchase without it unless trading is involved.. But you got to move guys! Some effort is involved if you want . An email or internet posting is fine,,but won't get you much anymore...

- Well the good old way of eBay is over. U.S., German, where ever,,,its dead. Sure plenty of listings,,,of fake/fantasy rings! Yeah eBay the good ole' standby is over

You guys can post where you find rings. But I don't think I'll get much a response , Its that tough now days. Giving it up may cost you rings for your collection!

So I'll post a short list:
-Well sure,,keep on checking eBay,,never know you might get lucky.

-Lately these seems to be 2 military auction sites in Germany that have been having a nice variety of rings. But,, you've got to be careful,,,the fakes and fantasies are everywhere..

-The internet military collecting forum sites,,GDC, WAF, etc etc. Go to the For Sale section. Rings show up from time to time. They will be expensive though..
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-Flea Markets, Bazaars , 'Boot Sales'.. I've posted above about them. But,,if you have one or so that is close to you it doe not hurt to check.. Around by me we have a couple during the warm weather months. I go early,,get some walking in and you never know!.. I have not found anything probably in the last 2 years or so keep that in mind......Next.

-The Military show. Especially the mega shows. Here in the US the 2 best is MAX and the SOS. There are rings there. Honor Rings, Private Purchase. They can be expensive so bring your 'A' game if you want a fair price. I always come home with at least one. - This year I went to help MilitaryNuts family sell his pieces and the Lord blessed me with a nice haul this year [see above, 7 rings!]. Every couple hours I'd hit the other tables fast and found rings!
Hopefully the country you live in might have a big show.. IF, if you can you should go.. Make sure you bring a very good loup,,maybe a Tardys hallmarks, and I guess with the phones now you will be able to look up hallmarks etc. Half the time the ring at a show will be expensive. You got to bring your negotiating skills with you if you want at least a fair price. You can also [if you have] bring a few small pieces of Militaria with you. I bring a couple badges/medals, a small piece of cloth, maybe some paper [soldbuch etc].. You can always offer a trade... IF you want the ring let them have the better of the deal. Or at least let them think they're getting the better of the deal,,remember,,you there to bring home a ring!!

- and last,,Maybe a jewelry show. Or a large jewelry store in your area. They are all buying gold and silver for scrap.. You go in and ask them to see the scrap pile OR if they have anything like this: Show they a photo of a dated WestWall ring. Avoid the Swas. and SS runes [at least first]. . 'you are looking for WW2 era mens rings, especially those with a military theme'. I've gotten lucky [with at least one piece] almost every year hitting the jewelry shows/large Jewelers..

Thats it for now. You guys know your always welcome to post your ideas, comments, photos..... Next posting,, 'The Real Problem'........

SO,,the real problem with our hobby:

It is a few things... One, For many years specializing in rings and 3rd reich jewelry collecting was not popular. Guys started collecting Honor Rings really not that long ago.. Private purchase is relatively new, 25 years ago you could go to an internet auction and see 100 authentic rings available... So what happened?

- Well, as more became known about private purchase rings collectors were seeing it can be safe to collect them. This once specialist / niche area became more mainstream.. The more collectors the more rings gobbled up until you get a very thin market.. This happens to all subject areas of military collecting.

Most of our rings were sold/bought pre war.. Indeed there was laws put in to effect about not selling 'kitsch' / junk items with a swastika runes or any other military organizational emblems on them. After 33 it slowed way down until you had mainly WestWall rings, Skulls. there was left over stock to be sold,,the occasional ring with emblem...

OK, also remember these pieces we collect a finite amount were made. Only a certain amount of each pattern were made. Most jeweler eventually got bombed out. Went on to produce 'other' things. I'd say by late 43, early 44 people weren't buying rings! They had other things to buy / worry about.

Current;y.. Collectors are getting rings from auctions, the ways described above etc. Also, Many keep in contact with other collectors to see if and when they will sell.. I know a collector who emails me every couple months to see if I would sell a piece. Or do I know anyone selling,,see anything around... There are a few other sites that have ring/jewelry sections.. They are all showing less and less on their sites..
So we will join the SS cloth collectors, Dagger, medal/badge collectors etc. who have been collecting a long time and grab what we can if we're in the right place at the right time... There have been years that I've gotten 1 ring in that year! Sometimes you do well when you least expect it - this year at least 8 rings total....
Keep at it guys. Its tougher sure but I've always said 'patience' gets you the ring you want... You got to stay in it to win it! , so be careful and happy hunting!

Anyone always invited to add your thought and comment here if you like...., G.

This is all great information and advice Gaspare. Thanks

I have been collecting rings for nearly 20 years now. I started because I had always wanted a skull ring, any wartime vintage skull would do. I finally found one… and got hooked. Now I have around 100 rings.

Back then, a few collections varying from a dozen or so to several dozens became available. There were a few reasons for this, the main one being that the seller needed money quickly because of, for example, a nasty divorce, or deciding to collect something else and selling his rings to fund that, or even illness (in the US anyway, where many folks can’t afford to pay the medical bills for a serious condition). These collections were snapped up very quickly and you couldn’t hang around.

I got lucky... most of the time. I also got burned more than a few times too. As you once told me, we all have a few clunkers in your collections. I guess that’s how you learn… by your mistakes. This forum is a good place to get advice on whether a ring is good, bad or uncertain. My experience is that, unless it’s a downright fantasy piece, or a poor, usually cast copy, it’s sometimes impossible to be 100% certain a particular ring is bad. Some copies are very, very good. ‘Super Fakes’ as we call them here.

Nowadays, I reckon that all of the good rings have disappeared into private collections that the owners don’t share, not widely anyway. I haven’t bought a ring for over two years now. Too many fakes and fantasies on offer in recent years. Unless you know a knowledgable, honest dealer or collector (Like some of the guys here), your best bet is probably the militaria shows like the ones you mention. There are one or two of those every year in Europe too. But even there, there are probably more than a few duds on offer, either because even the dealer doesn’t know it’s a dud, or because he doesn’t care.

Cheers,
Stephen

Stephen,,, yes,, every collector gets dry spells. I was on one and boom,,7 rings! - It's better [at least my opinion] to buy none than to buy a questionable ,'clunker' ring...

That is another way to get rings as you mention.. Anothers misfortune, too many bills, divorce and death,,,it happens.

And yes everyone usually in the beginning gets burned,,,Andy used to call it 'Tuition'.

So there are ways to get rings. There aren't many out there now but you got to hang in there, patience and a bit of luck eventually breaks a dry spell.. Thanks for the post..,G.

Checking,,, I also had gotten this year,,,early on I got a 'Pirate skull' ring in fair condition,,,and a very early solid gold initial ring with swastikas and edelweiss on it.. Makes my total.. So 10 rings for me this year. I have not done that in over 20 years! For me a very good year.. I have been patient.......

But weekly I get requests for either me to sell one of mine,,or do I know anyone selling a particular ring.. 2 hot wants as I;m sure you all can guess is SS rings and Skull rings.... IF your having a blank year and still have the ring budget money you really should invest in another pattern. A WestWall, a Luftwaffe, even a US enamel.. Collections should be rounded out I believe and I also believe they will be an investment because we have seen nothing buy rising prices on our rings and all in a relatively short time........., OK with 2022 almost over with,,,anyone else with a 'big' year for your collection? , or comments about the market always welcomed...............,G.