Please help me identify the gem in my ring

[Curious001]

Hi, can someone please help identify my ring that i inherited from my grandmother. My mum has told me its valuable but unsure of any details other than she thinks it was purchased in either Russia, Poland or Germany sometime between 1920-1930.
It was thought to be a aquamarine but it registers as a diamond on several different diamond testers so im pretty sure that rules that out. I can't find a jeweller that will give me a valuation on the spot in front of me and im too scared to allow anyone to take it away to value it. Please help to identify this ring and any ideas of value would be greatly appreciated, Thankyou

 

[LilAlex]

Just guessing: inexpensive mounting and it looks like it has very few facets. I suspect it is synthetic but you would need to send it to a reputable lab for ID, imo. I don't think you need to be terrified of losing it in the post or to an unscrupulous jeweler, apart from the sentimental value.

 

[Bron357]

Those “diamond testers” can’t be relied upon.
Unless you are using a Presidum gem tester, and these cost a few hundred dollars, and are only “helpful” for identifying glass/ CZ and a few other gems. No gem tester can identify natural from lab grown.
Is the ring hallmarked?
If the metal is a high carat gold (14k or 585, 18k or 750) or Platinum (usually marked Plat) then it’s more likely the gemstone has value.
Gems that are that colour include Blue Topaz as well as synthetic sapphire or spinel.
Most jewellers / pawnbrokers can tell you if it a precious metal and can indicate if the gemstone is likely natural or synthetic. A lab report for a gemstone set in ring with AGL is $185 plus shipping and insurance.

 

[Curious001]

Those “diamond testers” can’t be relied upon.
Unless you are using a Presidum gem tester, and these cost a few hundred dollars, and are only “helpful” for identifying glass/ CZ and a few other gems. No gem tester can identify natural from lab grown.
Is the ring hallmarked?
If the metal is a high carat gold (14k or 585, 18k or 750) or Platinum (usually marked Plat) then it’s more likely the gemstone has value.
Gems that are that colour include Blue Topaz as well as synthetic sapphire or spinel.
Most jewellers / pawnbrokers can tell you if it a precious metal and can indicate if the gemstone is likely natural or synthetic. A lab report for a gemstone set in ring with AGL is $185 plus shipping and insurance.

Thankyou

 

[Curious001]

Those “diamond testers” can’t be relied upon.
Unless you are using a Presidum gem tester, and these cost a few hundred dollars, and are only “helpful” for identifying glass/ CZ and a few other gems. No gem tester can identify natural from lab grown.
Is the ring hallmarked?
If the metal is a high carat gold (14k or 585, 18k or 750) or Platinum (usually marked Plat) then it’s more likely the gemstone has value.
Gems that are that colour include Blue Topaz as well as synthetic sapphire or spinel.
Most jewellers / pawnbrokers can tell you if it a precious metal and can indicate if the gemstone is likely natural or synthetic. A lab report for a gemstone set in ring with AGL is $185 plus shipping and insurance.

The ring is platinum and the only other weird thing is that one of the diamond testers used was a expensive very good one that was accurate when we tested it first on different diamonds then cubic zirconia,aquamarine, sapphire and ruby then my ring and each time we did it it went straight to saying it was a diamond even though im sure its not but your right i will have to just get a valuation. Thanks for your help

 

[LilAlex]

i will have to just get a valuation

Anyone who will give you a "valuation" on the spot is probably not to be trusted. You will need to send it to a major lab, assuming that you are willing to "gamble" $100-200 on it. There are many threads on this exact same question. Some have had happy outcomes; most have not. Well, actually most have no outcomes that we know of...

 

[lovedogs]

My guess is synthetic, but could also be topaz. You'll need a lab report to know for sure

 

[Bron357]

If you dont want to send it to AGL (American Gem Lab) you could have a look online in your local area for a gem / jewellery appraiser. That will be someone with Gemology qualifications who can examine your ring and advise you accordingly. An appraisers business is to examine jewellery for insurance or probate purposes so they are trustworthy.

 

[mihirksh]

Blue Topaz ... not an Aqua nor a Diamond

 

[T L]

My best guess is synthetic blue spinel. They were commonly used as aquamarine simulants for the time period that ring appears to be from.

 

[musicloveranthony]

The low light refraction and abraded edges make me think it's a topaz. It doesn't have the brightness, nor the hardness I'd expect from a CZ or a lab spinel

 

[T L]

The low light refraction and abraded edges make me think it's a topaz. It doesn't have the brightness, nor the hardness I'd expect from a CZ or a lab spinel

If it is, then it’s a reset, because blue topaz that color is typically created by radiation and did not come into prominence until the 1970s or 80s (I forget) which would be later than the timespan this ring was created (mid 20th century). It looks to be a retro piece. Early lab blue spinel can be somewhat glassy in appearance. It could also be synthetic sapphire. I just know that synthetic blue spinel was super common back then as an aqua simulant. My MIL has almost the same exact ring, and she always thought it was an aqua (her birthstone). It’s a pretty obvious simulant lab spinel. I never told her that.

 

[musicloveranthony]

If it is, then it’s a reset, because blue topaz that color is typically created by radiation and did not come into prominence until the 1970s or 80s (I forget) which would be later than the timespan this ring was created (mid 20th century). It looks to be a retro piece. Early lab blue spinel can be somewhat glassy in appearance. It could also be synthetic sapphire. I just know that synthetic blue spinel was super common back then as an aqua simulant. My MIL has almost the same exact ring, and she always thought it was an aqua (her birthstone). It’s a pretty obvious simulant lab spinel. I never told her that.

Good point about the age of the stone! I bet you're right

 

[PrecisionGem]

Since the table is above any of the prongs, the stone could be placed onto a refractometer and a reading taken. That would tell you a lot about the stone, and certainly separate Aquamarine from Topaz and created sapphire or spinel. Any geologist will have a refractometer.

 

[Curious001]

Thankyou so much to everyone for all your help. Greatly appreciated.
I also have a very old bracelet of my grandmothers that my mum swears is valuable but it feels so light and sounds sort of tinny and the little gems don't even look real so i cant see how that is possible. Its hallmarks are a mans head in a diamond and the initials AK.