Old British ring

[cofor]

Does anyone have a clue to how old? My own guess would be the 40''s, but I have nothing to back it up. Center stone is a small very white and clean 8-cut.

 

[glitterata]

Pretty! Looks very well made.

That style has been popular for a very long time. Opals were especially popular in the late 19th to early 20th century, but it never really went out of style.

If it''s British, maybe it has hallmarks that can help you date it.

 

[cofor]

Two different markings.
One reads S-BS (it might be S"dot"BS) and the other 18°, both in rectangular depressions.

Maybe it isn't british at all. I supposed it was as I bought it in London close to 30 years ago. It might be older than the 40's I have no idea. The ring came in what I think is the original box. White cardboard with black padding in bottom. Lid is fold open and it is clad with light blue surface structured paper. No text.

 

[glitterata]

Can you try to take nice, clear close-up photos of the marks?

What is the symbol after "18"? On my computer it shows up as an infinity sign (number 8 on its side), but I doubt that''s what it''s supposed to be?

 

[cofor]

It should show up as a small raised circle like the sign for degrees. It could possibly be a small c in a raised position. I have to set up my stereoloupe for photomicrography to get good images of these. Presently I have no adapter for my digi cam but only for the standard 35 film Minolta and I have not used 35 film for years

Will get me an adapter shortly as I have found some nice inclusions in a Pakistani Aqumarine I just have to share.

 

[Harriet]

Can the diamond cut be dated?

 

[Pandora II]

It doesn't sound British to me I'm afraid.

If it was, the hallmarks would include a lion, a date letter and a symbol denoting the city where it was assayed (anchor=Birmingham, leopard head = London etc) as well as a mark indicating whether it was 18k, 15k, 9k etc. There might also be a maker's mark.

In old English jewellery it's more common to find 15k (my personal favourite).

 

[glitterata]

The 18 plus symbol may be 18ct, which in the US would mean 18K. Do you know if it''s made of 18 karat gold?

The style of the ring shank makes me think it''s later than Edwardian.

 

[cofor]

The ring is tested to be 18K. The 18 plus symbol is probably a proof mark. Maybe the S-BS is a maker from somewhere in europe or maybe even Australia?
As for the 8-cut diamond there is no way to date it as it has been used for a long time. I think last time I saw a parcel of newly produced 8-cuts was during the eighties.
Had it been a swedish ring we could have pinpointed exact year of manufacture as there has been a "year stamp" on all domestically produced silver and goldware since 1759.

Thanks for trying to help me out

 

[glitterata]

I''m not convinced it isn''t British. They didn''t always put all umpteen hallmarks (including date letters) on little items like rings, and the 18ct mark could be British.

 

[LD]

Here''s a few suggestions:

SBS - could it be 585 for 14k gold?

If not, the S (depending on the script type) could indicate a year. In the UK that would be 1933, 1953 and 1973.

The BS could then be the maker.

Or S.Bs could represent XXXXXX.Brothers

 

[cofor]

When I bought the ring the S.BS (where the dot is placed in height with the center of the letters) was taken as 585 by me, I did not have a loupe but much better eyesight than today. That made med think it was a 14K ring. When at home I discovered the 18c (looks like 18 degrees) by 10x loupe and could also see that it was actually S.BS or S-BS and not 585. As I mentioned it has been acid tested to 18K.
The first S is more like a mirrored Z even if not quite as sharp and pointy. The second one is more round like a normal S.

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 1/24/2009 4:56:24 PM
Author: glitterata
I''m not convinced it isn''t British. They didn''t always put all umpteen hallmarks (including date letters) on little items like rings, and the 18ct mark could be British.

If they don''t have the full set it will just have the karat mark - it would either say 18k or 750. I would put money on it not being British.

It could be French - definitely not Swedish or Danish (I have pieces from both and the hallmarks are pretty easy to spot as being such) or Italian. French hallmarks are very odd, and I''ve seen the thing that looks like an infinity symbol on French silver.

 

[glitterata]

Don''t the British mark gold 18ct rather than 18k, though? I could be mistaken, but I thought they did.

 

[jewelerman]

Date: 1/24/2009 9:24:13 PM
Author: glitterata
Don''t the British mark gold 18ct rather than 18k, though? I could be mistaken, but I thought they did.

yes...Glitterata...in old english pieces the karat stamp is sometimes ct.....my two cents...this ring dosnt feel 1940s...1950s...maybe...but the shank looks more current then retro...opals,cluster pattern and this style of diamond center...im thinkin 1973-1976-ish....

 

[musey]

Oh wow! What a beautiful ring! I really love the design, and agree with glitterata that it looks quite well made. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Gordeous ring, the milgrain around the opals is so fine! Absolutely lovely piece!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 1/24/2009 9:24:13 PM
Author: glitterata
Don''t the British mark gold 18ct rather than 18k, though? I could be mistaken, but I thought they did.

Some are ct and some are k. I have pieces with each.