Ruby Ring - Inheritance

[photoworks]

I have an antique ruby ring set in a 22ct gold ring... I would love any help with identifying its source.

As seen in the pics I have supplied, the markings are as follows:

SD - crown - 916 - F in octagonal box

Has anyone got any idea about the maker's mark SD...who is the maker?

The stone is pure red, 20mmx15mmx10mm, estimated at around 35cts weight; and I have put it through the hardness test so yes it is a real ruby.

Any idea what this beautiful item would be valued at?

The total weight for ring and ruby is 7gr.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Do you have a picture showing the ring itself? I am curious.

About the ruby - take it to a lab and have it tested. A ruby that huge would be worth a fortune if natural, specially one that is that clean (judging from the picture). If untreated, then it is Sotheby auction material. However, my guess would be that it is synthetic (man made). It is just too large and too clean for a natural ruby. A lab report or a good gemologist will be able to tell you.

 

[photoworks]

This is a shot through...exteme macro...showing whats inside the gem

 

[photoworks]

Thanks for your reply.... here's a couple of pics of the whole ring.

I have already tried a hardness test with a steel knife on the underside of the gem... the knife couldn't scratch the gem.

 

[photoworks]

Can anyone help with the markings, please?

 

[innerkitten]

Cool ring. There is a site somewhere about hall marks. Maybe I can find it for you. I think it might be a synthetic too based on the size. Some old pieces set synthetics in gold back then. It would be really cool if it turned out to be a natural ruby or some other gemstone.

 

[innerkitten]

Oh bummer. The site I was thinking of is just silver hallmarks. Maybe there is a sister site with gold hallmarks.
http://www.925-1000.com/

 

[AGBF]

I have an antique ruby ring set in a 22ct gold ring... I would love any help with identifying its source.

As seen in the pics I have supplied, the markings are as follows:

SD - crown - 916 - F in octagonal box

Has anyone got any idea about the maker's mark SD...who is the maker?

The stone is pure red, 20mmx15mmx10mm, estimated at around 35cts weight; and I have put it through the hardness test so yes it is a real ruby. Any idea what this beautiful item would be valued at?

The total weight for ring and ruby is 7gr.

There is a forum for colored stones on Pricescope. If you are serious about investigating this ring, you might ask about it there. The "hardness test" you performed really did not yield any helpful information about the stone.

Link to Colored Stone Forum...[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/forums/colored-stones.11/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/forums/colored-stones.11/[/URL]

AGBF

 

[doberman]

Are you sure it's 22kt? The markings would seem to indicate 18kt.

Also, I have to say that I don't think you have a mined ruby in the ring. The close-up of the stone seems to show air bubbles which would indicate some type of man-made stone or glass. Scratching the stone with a knife(!) will not yield any conclusive results. I would take the ring to a reputable gem dealer and have him/her evaluate it.

 

[JewelFreak]

I too doubt it's a ruby, from its size & clarity, as well as the bubbles in your larger photo, which point to synthetic.

The marks on the gold are difficult to see from your photo -- some are pretty worn. The purity marking looks to me like 18, which would mean 18k gold. If it is 916, then it's 22k; purity can be shown as a % out of 1000 or as simple karatweight.

The F is a dating stamp -- indicating the year the gold in the ring was presented for assay. Manufacturers begin with A & go through the alphabet using a new letter each year. To know what year F means, you need to know the maker & when they started business, then count through to the 6th year. (If a maker is old enough to need to start the alphabet a 2nd time, the letters will be in a different font or surrounded by different indications -- a circle, say, instead of a square.)

SD & the crown probably are maker's trademarks, or SD could be the actual artisan who created the ring, and the crown the trademark. I can't see the SD in your photo so can't help identify it but there are sites online showing what various trademarks look like. It's a chore to go through them, though you might find your manufacturer there. Good luck!