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Curious about this ring I found.

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Ann G

Rough_Rock
Joined
Oct 31, 2024
Messages
5
My Grandmother passed away about 20 years ago. When we were cleaning out the house nobody wanted her " junk" jewelry, so I put it in a zip lock bag and brought it home. I came across the bag tonight and decided to look at what was in there. I found this ring with a beautiful stone in it. I have no idea what it is, it is very bright and kind of light gray with big flashes of bright white! It looks like the thing is literally lit up!
The stone has a really interesting shape about it and is kind of tall on the top. I also noticed that it is in a 14 carat gold setting so I don't think it's just costume jewelry. Can anybody help me identify this?
 

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There aren’t that many semi-precious stones that are gray or light gray. This might be an older cut diamond. It might be worth your while to take your ring to a jeweler - they should have no trouble telling you whether or not it’s a diamond. While you’re at it - if you’re planning to wear that beauty (I certainly would!) ask them to check integrity of the prongs.

Whatever it is, it’s a beautiful stone. I’ve always wanted a ring with a gray gemstone, if only because it would be so unique! I hope you’ll wear this ring, or re-set the stone into something that suits you, as a reminder of your grandmother!
 
Ann G said:
My Grandmother passed away about 20 years ago. When we were cleaning out the house nobody wanted her " junk" jewelry, so I put it in a zip lock bag and brought it home. I came across the bag tonight and decided to look at what was in there. I found this ring with a beautiful stone in it. I have no idea what it is, it is very bright and kind of light gray with big flashes of bright white! It looks like the thing is literally lit up!
The stone has a really interesting shape about it and is kind of tall on the top. I also noticed that it is in a 14 carat gold setting so I don't think it's just costume jewelry. Can anybody help me identify this?
Click to expand...

i love grandma jewellery
im so happy it has resurfaced and is about to start its next life with you !
im so glad you brought it home
it shell be interresting to find out what it is
grandmas' had such tiny fingers back in those days, hope you will post hand shots when its ID-ed, checked over and fixed up and sized for you
 
That is likely an old cut diamond. They have a “puffy” top and a little flat facet in the middle (looks like a circle in the centre when looking straight down. If you pop into a jeweller or even a pawn shop they can easily test the stone for you. Dont accept any offer from a pawnshop of course, they offer the lowest amount ever. If it is a diamond, get a jeweller to resize it to fit you if necessary and wear that beauty.
 
For what it's worth, I don't think the stone is gray but an old diamond that is poorly cut so depending on the angle of the diamond a lot of light is getting lost in the diamond, rather than bouncing back at you and reflecting light. Just because the stone is a great cut doesn't mean it isn't an amazing find! The best part about old diamonds, in my opinion, is that all look unique. These were all handcut!
 
What does the girdle surface look like?
Smooth polished
Faceted
Frosty
A combo of frosty and…..

Can’t tell from your side view picture.
 
I hope it is an old cut diamond, definitely worth taking it to a pawn shop to get it tested first.

Don't know about other countries, however, in UK, one would be lucky to get more than 20% of a piece's replacement insurance value!

Could be a Spinel, however, I have not come across any old cut Spinel in vintage/antique jewellery myself.

DK :))
 
Ooh, a mystery! Could be diamond, sapphire or spinel. Possibly glass/paste.
Let us know, this is very cool.
 
VRBeauty said:
There aren’t that many semi-precious stones that are gray or light gray. This might be an older cut diamond. It might be worth your while to take your ring to a jeweler - they should have no trouble telling you whether or not it’s a diamond. While you’re at it - if you’re planning to wear that beauty (I certainly would!) ask them to check integrity of the prongs.

Whatever it is, it’s a beautiful stone. I’ve always wanted a ring with a gray gemstone, if only because it would be so unique! I hope you’ll wear this ring, or re-set the stone into something that suits you, as a reminder of your grandmother!
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply!
This ring actually does fit me and I've been wearing it since I found it! It's very "flashy" vs " sparkly" and pretty!
I will take it somewhere and ask if they can clean it up and identify the stone to satisfy my curiosity!
She would be 117 years old if she were alive today, so I feel that this is quiet old and interesting!
VRBeauty said:
There aren’t that many semi-precious stones that are gray or light gray. This might be an older cut diamond. It might be worth your while to take your ring to a jeweler - they should have no trouble telling you whether or not it’s a diamond. While you’re at it - if you’re planning to wear that beauty (I certainly would!) ask them to check integrity of the prongs.

Whatever it is, it’s a beautiful stone. I’ve always wanted a ring with a gray gemstone, if only because it would be so unique! I hope you’ll wear this ring, or re-set the stone into something that suits you, as a reminder of your grandmother!
Click to expand...
 
Tinytreasurers said:
For what it's worth, I don't think the stone is gray but an old diamond that is poorly cut so depending on the angle of the diamond a lot of light is getting lost in the diamond, rather than bouncing back at you and reflecting light. Just because the stone is a great cut doesn't mean it isn't an amazing find! The best part about old diamonds, in my opinion, is that all look unique. These
Click to expand...
Tinytreasurers said:
For what it's worth, I don't think the stone is gray but an old diamond that is poorly cut so depending on the angle of the diamond a lot of light is getting lost in the diamond, rather than bouncing back at you and reflecting light. Just because the stone is a great cut doesn't mean it isn't an amazing find! The best part about old diamonds, in my opinion, is that all look unique. These were all handcut!
Click to expand...

That's interesting! Maybe why it's not symmetrical. The lower right side is a little wavy. 20241103_070404(1).jpg
Tinytreasurers said:
For what it's worth, I don't think the stone is gray but an old diamond that is poorly cut so depending on the angle of the diamond a lot of light is getting lost in the diamond, rather than bouncing back at you and reflecting light. Just because the stone is a great cut doesn't mean it isn't an amazing find! The best part about old diamonds, in my opinion, is that all look unique. These were all handcut!
Click to expand...

Tinytreasurers said:
For what it's worth, I don't think the stone is gray but an old diamond that is poorly cut so depending on the angle of the diamond a lot of light is getting lost in the diamond, rather than bouncing back at you and reflecting light. Just because the stone is a great cut doesn't mean it isn't an amazing find! The best part about old diamonds, in my opinion, is that all look unique. These were all handcut!
Click to expand...

Tinytreasurers said:
For what it's worth, I don't think the stone is gray but an old diamond that is poorly cut so depending on the angle of the diamond a lot of light is getting lost in the diamond, rather than bouncing back at you and reflecting light. Just because the stone is a great cut doesn't mean it isn't an amazing find! The best part about old diamonds, in my opinion, is that all look unique. These were all handcut!
Click to expand...
 
Beautiful! I highly encourage you to go to your local jewelry store and have them take a look. It will cost you nothing to bring it in and ask them to test if it a diamond for not. Heck, you can buy a diamond tester on Amazon for $15 if you’re that curious.
 
I'm in the yeah-that's-a-diamond camp. Quite possibly a big, clean, nice one. Go get it checked, and make sure they check the prongs to make sure it's safe to wear. And come back and tell us what they said!
 
glitterata said:
I'm in the yeah-that's-a-diamond camp. Quite possibly a big, clean, nice one. Go get it checked, and make sure they check the prongs to make sure it's safe to wear. And come back and tell us what they said!
Click to expand...

Agreed - two is those prongs look like they are secure, please spend a little time and effort to get this fixed up so you don’t lose an amazing stone!
 
Also - be sure to have those prongs checked. Since there are only four prongs, the stone will be vulnerable to loss if only one of them breaks! Most good jewelry stores will clean a ring and check the prongs for free - and often they love seeing the older stones come in since they’re less common these days.

I’d be sure to go to a shop that has a good reputation, and one that has lots of very nice jewelry to gawk at while they’re cleaning your ring. If they tell you a prong needs to be fixed, you can ask them to show you why (using a loupe or under a microscope) and of course you can take your ring elsewhere for the repairs.
 
I'm in the diamond camp as well, and the prong checking camp. Also, not sure if it fits the finger you would wear it on, so ask about resizing if that's needed. Can't wait to hear what the jeweler says. I think we are right though on it being a diamond. Fingers crossed.
 
The refraction looks weird for a diamond in some pictures. But I don’t know what paste looks like.

Get an expert opinion and come back to tell us or we will expire from anticipation!
 
Dreamer_D said:
The refraction looks weird for a diamond in some pictures. But I don’t know what paste looks like.

Get an expert opinion and come back to tell us or we will expire from anticipation!
Click to expand...

I agree. Something about the girdle also doesn’t look like a typical frosted girdle for a diamond. And while the cut is pretty it’s not a standard OEC cut. My understanding from American Cut the book, is that early 20th Century diamonds were cut by large diamond houses in a consistent way using precise angles/specifications. This stone doesn’t match those patterns, to me, visually. It’s also very clear and glassy from the side. Looks like a different material. Could be synthetic Zircon? Spinel? If it’s not damaged too much with dings I’d guess Spinel? Zircon is very fragile so if facet junctions are scuffed could be Zircon.
 
To my eye the reflection return isn’t like that of a diamond, there is usually a more silver reflection. With a bit darker contrast between facets, It’s beautiful none the less, but I suspect a diamond stimulant typical of that era white sapphire, spinel or zircon, but to my eye it doesn’t look like a diamond.
I have to agree with @LightBright the girdle doesn’t seem quite right, hopefully I’m wrong.
 
yes. I was also suspicious of the girdle.
 
Ann G said:
I put in in some dawn overnight and this is how it looks in brighter lighting. Whatever it is, I think it's really pretty! I find it strange that my Aunt would have put it in the "junk" pile...now everyone is gone, so no one to ask. 20241102_210854.jpg20241103_065510.jpg20241103_065709.jpg20241103_065721.jpg
Click to expand...

i found a ring and a brooch 'chucked in with grandma's stuff' that mum didnt care for and my sister rejected after mum passed away
it was 9k rose gold and unfortunatly turned out to be glass - rather than than man made tourmalin i was hoping for - but it is still nice to wear
cost me $5 to get it tested

the gold was so tarnished i guess my sister and mum before her may have thought it was brass but it cleaned up a treat
no matter what this lovely ring turns out to be, its a bonus
and i think it is lucky it found you
it has a really nice presents on your hand
its cleaned up really nice
good for you
and good luck
 
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