There are lots and lots of beautiful rings for sale on eBay every day~it's a fun (and addictive!) place for a ring-lover to shop. But sometimes what may be a great ring is passed over by buyers (or, maybe worse, sells for much less than it should) because of insufficient information in the listing. As a long-time eBay shopper as well as seller, I've put together a short list of what every seller should include in the listing of a Vintage or Antique Ring.

• Take clear pictures! The ring should be clean (you can do this yourself with mild soap and water and an old toothbrush). The pictures should be in sharp focus ( use the macro setting on your camera, if you have one). The image should be close up. The ring should fill the majority of the space allowed for the photo. (We should not see a blurry little image sitting in the middle of a table--something barely discernable as a ring). Your pictures should show, inasmuch as is possible, the true colors of the ring.If you're selling a citrine, the photo should show me, as accurately as possible, the true shade of that stone, from "lemon" to "madeira". If the gold is white, I should be able to see that in the photo.
• Show the ring from all angles. Show the "face" (the important part) of the ring from the left, right, and straight on. Show the inside of the shank, especially if there are any markings on it. Show the entire ring from above. This gives important information about the condition of the shank~is the ring out of round? Is the shank very thin at the back? ~ both things that can be fixed, but will cost money and need to be considered in the buyer's final bid.
• Give the size of the ring. Some people like this information to be in the title of the ring. I personally don't care. If I like the ring enough and can get it at a good price, I'll pay to have it sized. If you don't have a ring sizer and plan to sell a few rings, get one for about $5 on eBay. Slide the ring down on the sizer to where it rests~ you can put a little pressure on it, especially if it's old and a little bent, to get the correct size.
• Include the size of the face of the ring. This is my biggest pet peeve. Without this information, it is extremely hard to  get an idea of the "scale" of a ring. A setting that looks big and bold may actually be small and dainty, and vice versa. Measure the setting (a.k.a. face) of the ring from "East to West" and from "North to South". Measurements can be in centimeters or inches, and should include anything that is not the band of the ring. If there's any question, say what you've measured.
• Describe the ring-- the things people might be able to see in the photos, as well as the things they can't. Obvious things that should be included are type of metal and type of stone, but you should only include this information if you're sure about it--that is, you've had a reputable jeweler look at the ring and give you either a written (usually expensive) or spoken (free to $10 or so) appraisal. If you don't know what the ring is made of, don't guess, unless you make it really clear that you're guessing.
• Describe the ring some more! Include the color of the stone or stones as you see them. Does it change with different light? Mention that! Describe the ornamentation in the setting. Does it have chips in the stone? Is the band scratched? All these things need to be mentioned, plus anything else that you might see. Pretend you're describing the ring for a blind person. You can't be too basic, or too detailed.
• Don't forget Provenance. People like to know where their new possessions come from, and their story, if you know it. If it really was old Aunt Millie's, say so. If you got it at an estate sale, say so. If you fished it out of a dumpster behind the local Mall-Mart, you might want to keep that info. to yourself. Just please, don't lie. It's bad karma for everybody!