This was the first ring I've ever found, but I know nothing about jewelry?

[cam9457]

Hello all, I found this ring about a month ago and it's the first ring I've ever found. I found it at a mansion built in the 1850's. It was about 7" down near the back door of the home. My questions are, how do I tell if it's real gold and or a real stone?

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[cam9457]

Two more pics

[SC_hunter]

Almost all gold rings will have it stamped on the inside of the band somewhere...10k or 14k. Hard to tell from your pic but gold won't tarnish. If there is no inscription inside the ring, it is most likely not gold, but nice find. Always good to find rings.

[cam9457]

There isn't any inscription at all that I can see SC. The setting that holds the stone in looks almost like it was crudely done by hand. Sorry for the crappy pics

[cam9457]

Some more pictures. I was at an auction place yesterday and they said IT'S REAL! and old. He just said it was real and the diamond was something called markee?

[cam9457]

another

[cam9457]

more

[cam9457]

another

[cam9457]

last one

[jimb]

Troop. what does it say inside the band?

[cam9457]

Nothing at all. Thats was why I thought it was fake. But I'm told that they didn't normally mark jewelry until the late 1800's maybe early 1900's and the seem to think it was made in the 1800-1850 range. It was pretty cool to hear that, I almost chucked it because I really thought it was fake, but then again I know nothing about jewelry

[SC_hunter]

If you are still unsure, take it to a local pawn shop or jewelery store and let him test it to see if it is gold. I hope it is..GL and HH

[cam9457]

Thats a good idea trooper. I'll give it a shot, I've never been in a pawn shop before. Will they test it for free?

[Felinepeachy]

I found an old ring last year, no markings at all. Turned out to be gold. My local jeweler did a scratch test on it for 8 bucks. What did you ring show up as on your metal detector?

[cam9457]

I have a hoopdie of a detector but it kept bouncing back and forth between gold and dime for me. Isn't there some type of liquid solution I can buy to determine the quality of the gold?

[Felinepeachy]

Yes there is but you'll probably pay more for it than just going to the jeweler to have him do it. http://shorinternational.com/TestGold.htm

[cam9457]

Wow, they aren't cheap!

[Felinepeachy]

LOL that's why I went to the jeweler.

[Smee]

Take it to the pawn shop, just like you want to sell it . . . even though you don't really want to.

If it's gold, he/she will tell you and then when they offer you a price just nicely say you were expecting more and then leave.

They won't charge you to check it, because he/she needs to know if it really is gold before pawning it for you.

The pawn broker will only buy it for 70% or less of the value of the gold - and not the retail value of the ring.

[beaverdigger]

Get a good strong magnet and see if you can pick it up. If you can it is not gold.
Alot of good old gold rings were not marked . Markings where not required on jewelry untill the SEC (securites and exchange commission) started to regulate the gold trade. Any jewelry item sold in the USA, adverised as GOLD, must be 10kt (41.7 % pure gold).That is the current law today, I don't recall without looking it up when or what year it was started. The stone will have to be Hard tested by a jeweler to determine size and weight.

Still a real good looking find. Congrats and more good hunting.