10k Bloodstone gold ring for wax seal

cmetal · Oct 29, 2012

Hello its been a about five years since I have been to treasure net. I do recall it was a great place with people with a lot of knowledge. I could use some help finding what kind of organization this ring might fit in with? A time period range? The ring is well worn, has a bloodstone that is cut for making wax stamps. its 10k and weights 10g. I was thinking its religious of some kind due to the crosses and maybe the shield? Was thinking the little dots might be rainfall? Thanks for any help in nailing this down. cmetal

Talon · Oct 29, 2012

That is probably the coolest thing I have seen on T-net since I've joined! I would display that if not wear it personally. Do you think you could do a wax pressing with it? I'm afraid I probably can't help at all with ID but the rings is just too cool. What kind of area did you find it in?

WHADIFIND · Oct 29, 2012

I don't recognize the pattern. Is their a jewelers mark somewhere? Maybe trace it that way? :dontknow:

In any case, a very nice ring!

HH!

Talon · Oct 29, 2012

Some info I was able to find what is in the top right corner and can you provide a closer photo of the bottom middle section?:

Cross crosslet [the cross with crosses at the end of the arms]

This heraldic cross is made from four Latin Crosses arranged at right-angles to each other, with their tops pointing north, south, east and west, traditionally thought to represent the message of the cross going out to the four corners of the earth. The Cross crosslet, like the Jerusalem Cross, is a symbol for world evangelism of the Gospels, which gives an alternative name: Mission Cross. Another common interpretation is that it represents the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.[20]

Chevron [I found multiple examples of a chevron with three crosses]

A chevron is one of the ordinaries in heraldry, one of the simple geometrical figures which are the chief images in many arms. It can be subject to a number of modifications. When the ends are cut off in a way that looks like the splintered ends of a broken piece of wood, with an irregular zig-zag pattern, it is called éclaté.[2] When shown as a smaller size than standard, it is a diminutive called a chevronel.
Chevrons appeared early in the history of heraldry, especially in Normandy. In Scandinavia the chevron is known as sparre; an early example appears in the arms of Arvid Gustavsson Sparre.

pl8man · Oct 29, 2012

That is one beauty !!! Congrats
Glen

TheElementOfSand · Oct 29, 2012

That is an awesome ring, I would be writing everyone I know just so I could use it! :tongue3:

detectahead · Oct 30, 2012

I agree with Talon, probably the most awesome ring I have seen displayed here on T-Net in quite some time. If I'm not mistaken there was another from the Roman period a year or 2 back? Still, I rate this high on the list of finds for T-Net! If others agree, a banner find. I would like to see an impression made by the ring also. Congratulations on a once in a lifetime find!!

shedseeker · Oct 30, 2012

congrats on that awesome find !!!!

tidetraveler · Oct 30, 2012

Was this ring found with a metal detector or in any other way? Do you have a story to tell? Very nice ring.

cmetal · Oct 30, 2012

The rest of the story

tidetraveler said:
Was this ring found with a metal detector or in any other way? Do you have a story to tell? Very nice ring.

The ring was found in a place that I have detected since 1996! Old picnic place from the 1850's years. Also a long time sledding hill,and a hippie hang out from the late 60's. Needless to say this site is loaded with trash! It gives up a good find now and then. It's been hunted tens of thousands of times by hundreds of others. Most people give it up for dead or hunted out. I hunt mostly with a Minelab ex and that can punch past the trash once in a while. I had just won a Fisher f-5 at the club meeting and wanted to try it out. Had been reading the owners manual for a couple days. Packed it up and left the Explorer's at home. I was trying to ground balance the darn thing with the bobbing method, and that was not working to well. I tried the other way which was a little bit easier for me to understand. Near the bottom of that hill I started detecting and had set it to tones d4, pretty much wide open from foil on up. I was getting a ear full of tones. Right away it locked on pull tab and showed a 49 number, the confidence bars where all full. Showed it being six inches deep when I hit the PP button. Made a nice plug turned it over. Scanned again and it rang out loud! Nothing to see as it was clogged with good old heavy wet black dirt. Starting picking at it with my fingers till I could feel it. Removed it from the plug and began rubbing the caked dirt out. Was pretty sure I had another older class ring. Which I soon knew it was something else? The most amazing thing was this was my very first time out with this machine and my first dig ever with it other than testing it out in my backyard. I found three wheat cents and a couple clad dimes and a boat load of tabs and screw caps for the rest of the day. I went back the next day Finding 1 wheat penny and a old lipstick tube and maybe 50 junk tabs and screw caps. I was skipping over a lot of targets both days. Nothing was found over six inches deep so far with the f-5 detector. I did make a wax impression but the pictures are not as clear as the ring's . I would like to thank everyone for helping and reading my post.

bill from lachine · Oct 30, 2012

Great score on the seal ring....not many of those show up.

Regards + HH

Bill

oldsalty19 · Oct 30, 2012

no help with ID, but an awsome ring

Talon · Oct 30, 2012

Could you try for another close up pic of the seal? Maybe with better light?

cmetal · Oct 30, 2012

Talon said:
Could you try for another close up pic of the seal? Maybe with better light?

I used a 500.00 close up lens for the pictures. I will set some lights up and I do have a homemade light tent kicking around her someplace. Give me a day or to post what i hope might be a better picture. As far as a markers make there is the letter A and the symbol of a (star) then 10k inside the band. Thanks again for taking a interest. cmetal

jewelerguy · Oct 30, 2012

that is a very beautiful ring. personally, I believe it is just an intaglio cut design and not intentionally designed for use as a wax seal stamp. based on design characteristics of the relief design around the outside of the ring and the recessed area of the karat stamp, I believe this ring to date to the 1910's-1920's. Just my opinion, for whatever it's worth.

cmetal · Oct 31, 2012

I think your on the right track.

jewelerguy said:
that is a very beautiful ring. personally, I believe it is just an intaglio cut design and not intentionally designed for use as a wax seal stamp. based on design characteristics of the relief design around the outside of the ring and the recessed area of the karat stamp, I believe this ring to date to the 1910's-1920's. Just my opinion, for whatever it's worth.

My friend who owned part of a jewelery store a few years back thinks its the same time frame as you report. Here is the wax impression I made.