Ebay Unheated Blue Sapphire Ring 1910

[ilovegemstones]

Eeek! I found this on Ebay and bid on it for $550. It is a natural, unheated blue star sapphire ring. You can see the silk inside and it has a perfect six ray star that glides on the surface. Very clear stone inside with just natural silk, no eye visible inclusions. The setting looks very worn but the shank seems brand new. The seller said the original owner had a picture of his grandmother wearing it, and it was her wedding ring from their marriage around 1910. To me the setting looks older but I am no expert. Does anyone know? From France perhaps? The prongs are so interesting! Sold as 14k but I would like to get it tested. !

 

[ilovegemstones]

2 more

 

[September_Blue]

That's lovely! I have zero experience with sapphires (which is a shame since it's my birthstone), but it's a gorgeous ring. I'm also incredibly jealous of your eBay finds!

 

[stracci2000]

I'm a little concerned about that setting.
It looks a little too worn, and why is the shank newer looking?
I have some rings from that time period, and they don't have that "worn down all over" look.
And what about that illegible mark inside? Jewelry made during that time period with that kind of sapphire would have been well made and carefully executed.
The prongs look like "gallery wire" to me. I'm including some shots of gallery wire.
I'm not saying for sure, and I could be wrong, but it looks like it was made to look old.

 

[ilovegemstones]

I really don't think it is gallery wire. I think the jeweler was right - That the original owner had it polished a lot which wore the metal down. I think a jeweler must have rebuilt the shank hence the newness. The stone itself is worth a lot more than what I paid and that is why I bought it, not so much the setting. I have also seen old rings from the late 1800's with this type of worn prong look. I have asked some antique jeweler friends for help with it too.

 

[ilovegemstones]

The stone is definitely natural and untreated. I am not crazy about the setting but there is something charming about it. And it fits!

 

[stracci2000]

Well, I thought you were asking for opinions, and I offered mine.
Did you ever see the photo of the grandmother wearing it, like the vendor claimed?

 

[ilovegemstones]

You gave your opinion on the setting but not the stone. I know that the stone is genuine and would be a lot more if it was in a setting in better shape. I did not see the photo because he said the owner would not part with it. If I do find the setting to be newer I will have the stone reset. The stone deserves to be in a beautiful setting.

 

[stracci2000]

You gave your opinion on the setting but not the stone. I know that the stone is genuine and would be a lot more if it was in a setting in better shape. I did not see the photo because he said the owner would not part with it. If I do find the setting to be newer I will have the stone reset. The stone deserves to be in a beautiful setting.

It is an awesome sapphire, and great color, too.
I'm sorry if I seemed harsh in my opinion of the setting.
If you love it, that's all that counts!

 

[ilovegemstones]

Thank you Stracci. I love the stone and am intrigued by the setting. I will post what I find out about it when I do. I think whoever tried to fix the shank/resize the ring damaged the stamp. Because the engravings are so worn out a reset may be it's future!

 

[ilovegemstones]

Thank you September Blue! I wish it was my birthstone! Mine is Emerald.

 

[Bluegemz]

Just my opinion here.....To me, the prongs show individual differences and thickness consistent with hand work. (I can imagine that the band was replaced or gold was added at some time) To me, the wear and styling and wear seem old. Plus, the setting stylistically is quite unique and unusual. Not an ‘expected’ setting. I personally have never seen a ring designed to look old successfully enough to be convincingly so, but I’m sure they do exist. I have always imagined that people do this to copy something iconic or very old and rare...frex making a fake Rembrandt painting or phony ancient pottery, or jewelry from a very famous time period, with designs which capture the essentials of the times, as in Art Deco and art nouveau. Something universally recognizable enough to be worth the forgery/replica effort due to prospect of selling for more or selling in vast quantities.

In this case, It seems like a lot of extra work and I’m trying to imagine for what purpose.....for example, I think there would be less money to be made by selling an old ring rather than a new one...kwim? So many people take stones out of old rings to recycle them in new settings, selling for more. If I’m missing something in my thought process, please inform lol! Maybe ‘distressed’ settings are made in masses these days and I’m not on the up and up about that. Another question, was gallery wire designed after older styles that were popular around that time?

In any case, the setting is really cool! And the stone is more than worth whatever setting, but for me, this setting has a beautiful, unusual organic look which goes with the stone so well.

 

[ilovegemstones]

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/568932003/antique-art-deco-gold-and-platinum?ga_search_query=star+sapphire&ref=shop_items_search_1

This is very similar work, isn't it! Art deco which is what the seller thought when he saw the setting (he thought my ring was polished very often which wore down the engravings).

 

[ilovegemstones]

I also love the organic look of it Bluegemz. Because there is something so charming about it all I will leave it as it is. I just wish the prongs were a bit shorter so I can see the star more.
I have been waiting for months for my Zygopetalum to bloom and it finally did so here they are together.

 

[Bluegemz]

I also love the organic look of it Bluegemz. Because there is something so charming about it all I will leave it as it is. I just wish the prongs were a bit shorter so I can see the star more.
I have been waiting for months for my Zygopetalum to bloom and it finally did so here they are together.

So beautiful! What a pattern! The orchid reminds me of the striking pattern in your meteorite jewelry. Re: the prongs, they remind me of tiny tabs or fingers, holding the stone. Or, like the tentacles of an anemone gently holding it.

 

[ilovegemstones]

Tentacles of an anemone, I love it! You should be a poet Blugemz! Eta: You are making me love it even more!

The vendour who has the black star sapphire ring says that her ring also tests as 14k which makes her think it is American made. The search for answers continues.

 

[VRBeauty]

I also thought it was possible that the ring had been polished (or worn) to the point that it obscured some of the original design elements.

The fact that the ring has been re-shanked and polished or worn extensively also makes it likely that the prongs were re-tipped at some point.

Stracci, re this point: Jewelry made during that time period with that kind of sapphire would have been well made and carefully executed.

That's often my thinking too, but... not necessarily. My father has several rings inherited from his father and grandfather, both of whom apparently had rather grand taste. A year or two ago I took two of the rings to a trusted local jeweler for repairs, and was surprised when he told me that both stone had been set in stock settings - which didn't exactly match the stones - rather than custom settings. Both are deco-era rings, one set with carbonado and the other with a fairly large natural star sapphire... set in something akin to the Stuller of that time! They were most likely made in Asia (where that side of the family lived) but my great-grandfather also travelled extensively (we have a watch and silverware from France) so it's possible they came from Europe.

 

[ilovegemstones]

VRBeauty, thank you for your input and the story of your father and grandfather's rings. Good point about the retipping! I know it is not Russian made. That was ruled out by a very knowledgeable Russian antique jewelry seller.

 

[Marissa Stewart]

I also thought it was possible that the ring had been polished (or worn) to the point that it obscured some of the original design elements.

The fact that the ring has been re-shanked and polished or worn extensively also makes it likely that the prongs were re-tipped at some point.

Stracci, re this point: Jewelry made during that time period with that kind of sapphire would have been well made and carefully executed.

That's often my thinking too, but... not necessarily. My father has several rings inherited from his father and grandfather, both of whom apparently had rather grand taste. A year or two ago I took two of the rings to a trusted local jeweler for repairs, and was surprised when he told me that both stone had been set in stock settings - which didn't exactly match the stones - rather than custom settings. Both are deco-era rings, one set with carbonado and the other with a fairly large natural star sapphire... set in something akin to the Stuller of that time! They were most likely made in Asia (where that side of the family lived) but my great-grandfather also travelled extensively (we have a watch and silverware from France) so it's possible they came from Europe.

That is super interesting! I guess it goes to show that there is mall "quality" jewelry everywhere and at anytime period. It makes sense.

 

[Marissa Stewart]

I also love the organic look of it Bluegemz. Because there is something so charming about it all I will leave it as it is. I just wish the prongs were a bit shorter so I can see the star more.
I have been waiting for months for my Zygopetalum to bloom and it finally did so here they are together.

Your flower and ring are so enchanting!

 

[ilovegemstones]

Thank you Marissa!