MY FIRST 18 kt DIAMOND & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL? ( UPDATE )

Wimberley Digger · Aug 18, 2008

MY FIRST 18 kt DIAMOND & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL? ( UPDATE )

Alright fellow tnetters,
I'm on the edge of my seat wanting to do a HUGE happy dance, but my lack of knowledge brings me to ya'll for the Expert forum's opinion.
My son, my best friend, and myself hit Boliver Peninsula this morning and finds were few and far between for the first 2 hours. Mostly tabs and budlight cans. After about 3 hours in, I took a break from swinging the dfx on the beachfront and decided to eyesearch the shallow water for anything shiny, or even some cool shells perhaps. I walked about 200 yards with no luck when I saw this light shadow of something that reminded me of a duck's foot. WOW, after pulling it out of the water, It looked like it could be a fossil of some sort. I'm hoping that someone can help me with some id or should I take it to the museum for their diagnosis? For some reason I have a good feeling about this piece.
Now for my next first:
It's hard for me to describe the feeling I had when The ring washed clean from the sand in my scoop. Now I REALLY know what it feels like! It signaled as another pop top or ring with a 32 reading on the dfx. I was detecting on dry sand about 3 feet from the dunes close to an area that had some horseshoe stakes left by someone. I'm so ready to do the Big dance, but Even though I'm almost positive that the ring is gold? and has three diamonds?, and some - what looks like to be opals, I don't know what the 750 is inside the band. I don't see any other markings anywhere.
Soooooo, come on everyone, can I do the dance? or did I just find a really good imitation of what seems to me to be a real gold ring? I have to go to work now but I'll be checking back in later to view everyone's comments.
I'll probably take the ring to a jeweler tomorrow, as well as the whatsit (fossil?) to the museum.
Thanks in advance for ya'lls reviews.
Randy
DFX Texan

UPDATE:

Took the ring to the jeweler today. size 5, weighs 4.5 grams.
did'nt have time to research the fossil yet. 3 - diamonds are real, Opals are a little brittle but probably Australian.
Sincere Thanks to everyone for all suggestions and comments.
Randy

weasel606 · Aug 18, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

no idea on the fossil but i know a beautiful ring when i see it ! excellent find congrats :thumbsup:

Wimberley Digger · Aug 18, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

rmptr said:
LoL!

You guys are SO fun!
I just love Tnet!

Let's try google maps, just for a second... based upon the clues we got here.

Baytown
Texas

Then, boliver penninsula was also mentioned.

OK

Now that we're at the map page, try boliver, baytown, texas

Fellas, BOOKS have been written about what I don't know about the Lone Star State.

I'd imagine that sandspit hasn't been there to very long, and anything that washed all the way down that river is probably fairly close to a grain of sand if it came from Mooseland.

What are the other possibilities here in the research department?

Hmmm.

That sandspit is directly on the Gulf of Mexico. A significant saltwater marine environment not very well known for herds of frolicking moose, or even rutting bull moose.

Since it appears to be a bone, or cartilage, How about let's try google crab, gulf of mexico and see what shapes come up...

I'm certainly no expert on anything mentioned in the original post, but after detecting for a number of years, I've learned about the law of probability.

Keep swingin' that coil and sooner or later something is gonna turn up.
My own fortune runs to 'outhouse luck' but every once and a while, I hit a good find.

One other thing I have learned is that research can make you more knowledgeable, and get you more finds.
And help identify 'em.

Who knows? It might be a flipper socket from a sea lion!

Best,
rmptr

rmptr,
Excellent summary. I'n not too sure about the crab analogy but I really like the flipper socket idea.
Even though it looks similar to a moose antler piece, I agree that given the location where I found it is crazy far away from moose territory, as well as the size is only about 4'' wide x 5 or so inches in length, and about 3/8'' thick at the thickest.
Thanks again, Randy.

Idaho PRB · Aug 18, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

azoner said:
Could it be part of a moose antler?

That's what I think it is

DD-777 · Aug 18, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

It does look like an antler but as stated earlier, the probability of a moose running around south Texas is pretty remote. Something you may want to check out (since it was found by/in the water) is the possibility of it being a gill plate from a fish. When I lived on the coast of Virginia I'd find them washed up on the beach now and again. I've seen them sized anywhere from as small as a book of matches up to the size of my hand. Most had a more "bleached-white" color to them but if this was in the mud that would explain that. Heard stories that some coastal tribes used them as tools (skinning, scraping, etc.). Being on the Gulf - Redfish (a big one for your piece) is the first fish that comes to mind. Hey, you never know! Nice finds and happy hunting...

christ-first · Aug 18, 2008

Re: HELP! POSSIBLY MY FIRST GOLD RING AND A FOSSIL?

azoner said:
Could it be part of a moose antler?

awesome ring !!! i agree....it's part of a moose antler.

MrBling · Aug 18, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

Here's a test you can do.
Rap on the object with something metallic like a metal rod or trowel.
If the object makes a "tink" or "chink" sort of sound like porcelain would , it is probably a fossil
If it makes a dull thud or rocklike sound it is not
Another test-apply a flame from a lighter to the object for a few seconds
If it smells like burning hair, it is bone, horn or antler which is not fossilized
If you smell nothing, it MAY be a fossil

JerV3 · Aug 18, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

That's a nice ring

Lots of fire in those stones.

HH Jer

Daddio53 · Aug 18, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

The ring is nice. It's surely gold (18K) and the stones are no doubt opals. They are obviously brittle and that's why the pieces have broken off. As far as your "fossil" goes, it looks like a piece of Elk or Moose antler. I think you could dance for sure.

TN-Joe · Aug 18, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

:thumbsup:

Congrads on a NICR eing.
Joe

zaxfire69 · Aug 19, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

Nice ring..Fossil reminds me of a Duckbill Platypus foot. Who knows

d2 · Aug 19, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

Great ring and I am gonna guess the bone is a shoulder bone that was shaped by Indians and used for something like decorating pots or some type of tool. From here,Arkansas, the points on it look man made, but I am probably wrong...d2

Wicked Wanda · Aug 19, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

Happy dance!!! That is a very pretty ring that you can be very proud of. Congrats! :thumbsup:

hogge · Aug 19, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

AWESOME finds! Ring is a beauty! Congrats.....Hogge :thumbsup:

kimsdad · Aug 19, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

Congrats on that superb ring!!! Way to go! :thumbsup:

get-r-dug · Aug 19, 2008

Re: MY FIRST GOLD, DIAMOND, & OPAL RING plus A FOSSIL?

Awesome ring!!

As for the fossil (?) maybe. My, VERY uneducated in marine life, guess would be some type of turtle foot...sea turtle maybe......don't know if your near the sea or ocean or if sea turtles would even be in the area. Just a guess.

HH

Grd