Looking for tips on restoring a ring.

[Digger54]

I have a beat up Superman ring that has lost some of it's plating/coating (not sure what it was plated with). I suspect the first thing I need to do is return it to it's original shape. I was thing of using a large wood dowel as a base to form fit it around while using a wood block as a punch. As I believe it is a brass should I heat it up first before attempting to beat it into submission?

Can anyone recommend a company that I can send it to for the re-plating?

Attached are pics of the ring now and what I hope to restore it to...

 

[russau]

It appears that you've got a great start on the restoration of your ring ! If it were mine I'd leave it just as you've shown it ! You did a good job of it !

 

[signal_line]

I recently had a 925 silver ring plated with Rhodium. Cost $65 The jeweler said he had to polish it first. My photography not so hot but it looks beautiful.

 

[russau]

Now to find some sweet youg thing to slip it onto her finger and see the smile on her face >

 

[signal_line]

Just looked up you can plate copper with rhodium but it requires another step to plate it with nickel first. So it might cost too much trouble. But while rhodium does not tarnish it wears off from use or chemicals. But it sure is bright!

So if you find a 925 jewelry that looks fake because there is plating, it probably is real silver plated with rhodium that wore off. That ring I found I thought it was fake because the silver underneath looked so tarnished. I saw just a little bright plating and I finally realized it was rhodium.

 

[Digger54]

Just looked up you can plate copper with rhodium but it requires another step to plate it with nickel first. So it might cost too much trouble. But while rhodium does not tarnish it wears off from use or chemicals. But it sure is bright!

So if you find a 925 jewelry that looks fake because there is plating, it probably is real silver plated with rhodium that wore off. That ring I found I thought it was fake because the silver underneath looked so tarnished. I saw just a little bright plating and I finally realized it was rhodium.

Not exactly sure what the composition is. When I look up 1946 Kellogg's Superman Ring I see Tin mentioned most frequently followed by Brass; and Silver Finish most frequently with some silver plating mentioned.

 

[signal_line]

Easy enough for a jeweler to look at it. Not sure how much you want to spend. That might be too much, but the rhodium sure looks good!

 

[Digger54]

Easy enough for a jeweler to look at it. Not sure how much you want to spend. That might be too much, but the rhodium sure looks good!

Just want to restore it enough that I can give it to my Grandson.

 

[signal_line]

Maybe you can electroplate it yourself. I would try to polish it first. Probably many YouTube how-to videos.

 

[Digger54]

Maybe you can electroplate it yourself. I would try to polish it first. Probably many YouTube how-to videos.

I was thinking that and looking into it. The liquid rub on does not seem to have a very high success rate so was looking into electroplating.

Before I can do that I need to straighten the ring out. You can see one corner (top right) must have been hit by a timber plow and there is a slight crack on the backside. Trying to figure out if I heat the ring up and slide it on a large wooden dowel; if I can gently tap that corner back into place without further cracking it or mashing the surface features. Also need to return the two bands to their proper position.

 

[signal_line]

I can’t see where it is cracked but maybe a pair of needle nose pliers and then some solder. I don’t know, I’m not a jeweler.

 

[Digger54]

The crack is seen on the inside, just don't want it to appear on the outside when I return that corner to it's proper position.