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Roselina

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Feb 1, 2020
Messages
1,141
Hi lovely PSers
I won this ring at an auction. Due to COVID I put in an offer by E-Mail, which was rather low and I thought I‘d not get it anyways. But I did.
I wasn‘t interested in the sapphire and just wanted the piece for the old cut diamonds (for a new project). I now took a closer look at the sapphire and that got me interested. The stone has a wonderful intense blue - almost artificial (might it be?). But what intrigues me most is the silvery shade on top in certain angles. What is this? I‘ve never seen it, except in cabochon cut stones.
You experts might know more :-)EC46600F-F387-424E-90AE-C11C53D05DF9.jpeg37295A3E-BF9D-4977-A381-3CAE95AD9D8D.jpeg3B00086E-B447-45E3-91E4-7C4A23F61157.jpeg
 
What a great find
its stunning
:appl: :kiss2: :appl: :kiss2: :appl:
 
Thank you! The setting is a bit awkward, the diamonds being set wide apart. That’s maybe why no one else cared to bid on it. But the diamonds look very good and have a good size, around 2ctw. But the sapphire I have no clue...
 
Can't really tell, and I am not an expert, however, I believe I can see zoning at the top of the stone.

I believe zoning happens when the chemicals that give a crystal its colour are not evenly distributed when the crystal is growing.

However I could be wrong.

DK :))
 
There are two areas and I'm not sure which you're referring to? Are you referring to what looks like a different colour along the edge of the right hand/top side of the table? I think that's where the edges of the facets have been knocked around a bit - which you would think is normal if the piece is of a certain age. I have an old glass Emerald in a 1920s piece that's done exactly the same thing - I'm not suggesting yours is glass btw! Also in your photos at 7 o'clock there appears to be an inclusion of some kind. It's not possible to see exactly what it is. It could be silk Idon't discount that) although I don't think it is because I don't think it would look silver and it's also not showing on your last photo. So I'm leaning towards a possible internal crack that's catching the light at certain angles? Or maybe an inclusion of some description???? Do you have a better photo of it - perhaps if you turn it so that it's at 12 o'clock? I've just gone back and looked at the photos again - in photo 3 there are very faint lines running diagonally upwards from left to right. It's not entirely clear what that is - silk perhaps? - or maybe just the photo.

It might be an idea to run your finger nail gently over the edges to see if you can feel the abrasions. Also, can you give it a clean with soapy water? That may help to see it a little better (not that it's mucky but touching the gem always leaves a film on it).

I think it's a great find whatever it is!!!! The diamonds are great and will make a really good project. They look like they're a decent weight as well.
 
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Thank you so much! Very interesting. I didn‘t know about rutile silk or zoning before!
 
LD said:
There are two areas and I'm not sure which you're referring to? Are you referring to what looks like a different colour along the edge of the right hand/top side of the table? I think that's where the edges of the facets have been knocked around a bit - which you would think is normal if the piece is of a certain age. I have an old glass Emerald in a 1920s piece that's done exactly the same thing - I'm not suggesting yours is glass btw! Also in your photos at 7 o'clock there appears to be an inclusion of some kind. It's not possible to see exactly what it is. It could be silk Idon't discount that) although I don't think it is because I don't think it would look silver and it's also not showing on your last photo. So I'm leaning towards a possible internal crack that's catching the light at certain angles? Or maybe an inclusion of some description???? Do you have a better photo of it - perhaps if you turn it so that it's at 12 o'clock? I've just gone back and looked at the photos again - in photo 3 there are very faint lines running diagonally upwards from left to right. It's not entirely clear what that is - silk perhaps? - or maybe just the photo.

It might be an idea to run your finger nail gently over the edges to see if you can feel the abrasions. Also, can you give it a clean with soapy water? That may help to see it a little better (not that it's mucky but touching the gem always leaves a film on it).

I think it's a great find whatever it is!!!! The diamonds are great and will make a really good project. They look like they're a decent weight as well.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I‘m referring to the shimmer (silver, grey) on the table. When I loupe it, it seems as it is within the stone. Sometimes you see it on the top right, then when moving around it spreads over the table and then disappears when moving around again. It‘s difficult to capture...I guess it‘s quite old so yes, The stone is quite „worn“. 611AEBF4-052E-487E-A5B9-D3483A5E23A2.jpeg525C9356-13BD-42A2-ACBF-A87DBDB010FC.jpeg1A950A61-0213-4402-9F19-E73E92DE2EA1.jpeg
 
Aaaaah I see - so you mean as in photos 2 and 3 (can't see it in photo 1). When you look through the loupe at those areas do you see darker lines? @dk168 mentioned zoning and it could be that.
 
LD said:
Aaaaah I see - so you mean as in photos 2 and 3 (can't see it in photo 1). When you look through the loupe at those areas do you see darker lines? @dk168 mentioned zoning and it could be that.
Click to expand...

It actually looks like mist. Millions of tiny white shimmering dots forming a line.
 
Is this what you're seeing? Both of these are the sort of identifiers for a synthetic corundum. Please don't think I'm suggesting that. I'm purely guessing based on your description. BTW I not great at identifying inclusions as I've been fooled before so I tend to shy away from saying "this is definitely .......". I'm sure more people with expertise will chime in soon x

Synthetic corundum inclusions.jpgSynthetic corundum inclusions1.jpg
 
The bottom one is close. That‘s fine. It‘s an antique piece but of course it is still possible it‘s synthetic.
 
B8046612-3998-42FC-A718-E0A5C02DBCA7.jpeg

I managed to catch the shimmer in an entirely different lightning as well today. Funny stone :-)
 
It's pretty and charming. I would not remove it without knowing more. If it were an unheated sapphire -- even a flawed one, as you are pointing out --I'd leave it alone.
 
LilAlex said:
It's pretty and charming. I would not remove it without knowing more. If it were an unheated sapphire -- even a flawed one, as you are pointing out --I'd leave it alone.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I bought it to reuse the diamonds for another project. But after wearing it for a day now, I start to really like the style of the ring. And I really like that sapphire, synthetic or not, heated or not, I think it has a lovely color. What bothers me is the gaps between the stones. Not only between the diamonds, but especially between the sapphire and the diamond halo.

IMG_3022.jpeg

I'd prefer something like that:

www.pinterest.ch

Sold at auction Sapphire and Diamond Ring Auction Number 2693B Lot Number 274 | Skinner Auction… | Sapphire antique ring, Vintage sapphire ring, Bezel diamond rings

Apr 3, 2014 - Sold at auction Sapphire and Diamond Ring for sale in auction. Auction Number 2693B, Lot Number 274. Bid on similar items for sale at auction
www.pinterest.ch www.pinterest.ch


But don't know if it's possible.
 
Got it. Does make you wonder if the central basket + prongs is not original and if there had been a prior stone, was it a lot wider.
 
If this had originally had a different larger central stone you'd still see lots of the yellow gold. If you look at the outer stones you would see a heck of a lot of yellow gold showing through between them even with a large stone. In one of your photos above, you can see down the side of the central stone to the prongs and the platinum basket. From the photo, it looks like the prongs may have been replaced which does indicate a swap out of stones. Also uless it was a significantly larger stone, you'd potentially still be able to see some of the gold of the inner basket of the side stones. Does it have a hallmark/maker's mark or date stamp? I'm wondering if this is a piece from the 1970s? Intriguing!
 
...but the inside of the band looks awfully fresh. And I am not familiar with the "18 ct" hallmark. It is not 18K (with a "k"). And it is not an 18-ct center stone. Seems fishy...
 
It’s not fishy - it’s probably British. Platinum is Pt or plat and 18ct is 18 karat gold. “Carat” and “karat” are, technically, both accurate for the purity of gold, though only “carat” can be used for gems.
 
LilAlex said:
...but the inside of the band looks awfully fresh. And I am not familiar with the "18 ct" hallmark. It is not 18K (with a "k"). And it is not an 18-ct center stone. Seems fishy...
Click to expand...

I also think, that the setting might be newer or at least not very very old. But ct is ok. The ring is of European origin. The diamonds are also real. I’m still wondering about the sapphire. I might bring it in to have it checked if I find the time :-).
 
@Roselina I love this ring. Everything about it.Those old cut diamonds exude old world charm and the color of your sapphire is stunning. What a wonderful find! Enjoy! :love:
 
missy said:
@Roselina I love this ring. Everything about it.Those old cut diamonds exude old world charm and the color of your sapphire is stunning. What a wonderful find! Enjoy! :love:
Click to expand...

Thank you! It’s funny because I did not even have a proper look at the sapphire and did’t care for the ring, just bought it for the diamonds. But I grew attached to it quite fast... I’ll bring it in tomorrow for an expert to look at it and will report back.
 
I wonder if the setting is a mixture of Platinum and Gold, hence both metals are stamped on the ring.

The basket and prongs for the Sapphire look white to my untrained eyes compared to the shank.

DK :))
 
I don’t know anything about any of this but that’s a beauty.
Whatever you do with it, enjoy. I hope it lights up your eyes!
 
PreRaphaelite said:
I don’t know anything about any of this but that’s a beauty.
Whatever you do with it, enjoy. I hope it lights up your eyes!
Click to expand...

Thank you :-)! The only thing I’m not so excited about are the prongs around the sapphire. I’d prefer a bezel.
 
I think it’s natural.
Synthetics tend to be perfect looking, especially at low magnification.
Try putting it into a glass of water (clear bottom glass) upside down (sapphire table resting on glass bottom) and hold it over a white background or a light source.
see if you can see any colour zoning.
and I do think that the sapphire isn’t original to the setting. That doesn’t make it necessarily synthetic though.
 
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