Need Help Gold Mark

[Bigcypresshunter]

Im sure this ruby ring is gold but I dont know what karat. For some reason, I cant get a good pic of the mark. I even tried a white background and loupe.

There are 3 letters. The second and third Im sure are TC. The first maybe an I.

The numbers Im sure are 96910. There appears to be the upper part of a K.

ITC 969 10K? or ITC96910K? What is 969?

 

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[Mackaydon]

BCH:
I read it as 10k. The "10k" looks separated from the other numbers.
Don...

 

[mtntrekr2]

BCH
I did a search on dogpile of JTC 969 and came up with several rings.
JTC is the maker and it seems 969 was a line of rings.
Yours being 10K.

Joe

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BCH:
I read it as 10k. The "10k" looks separated from the other numbers.
Don...

Thats most likely. The 969 part I cant figure. Thanks.

 

[High Plains Digger]

I think Joe nailed it with 10d nails. And maybe a rivet or two. Solid.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BCH
I did a search on dogpile of JTC 969 and came up with several rings.
JTC is the maker and it seems 969 was a line of rings.
Yours being 10K.

Joe

Thanks. It could be a J. Do you have the link? Who is the maker? Did you get the age?

ADDED I got a lot of hits on JTC. I should be able to find it. They seem to all be vintage. Thanks.

 

[High Plains Digger]

And BigCY, the stone is probably not a ruby. Can't see it perfectly in your photo, but a ruby that size with that clarity and probably that color would be a fortune. Could be man made ruby, but more likely man made spinel. They make nice rings, are hard and durable. It used to be that the stones in class rings were mmspinel. I don't know any more. Nothing wrong with it, I am just a purist when it comes to stones. "Glass" would have been too cheap for this ring, that is why I guessed mm spinel. It can be tested, but usually the mm tests as real, because it is chemically.

I'll bet the ring comes from the 60's, but it may still be available now. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I get a lot of hits on JTC969 but I still cant find out the manufacturer. It appears to be 1950's era vintage. It appears to be 10K.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think Joe nailed it with 10d nails. And maybe a rivet or two. Solid.

Ha Ha. yes its kinda solid. Also kinda ugly.

And BigCY, the stone is probably not a ruby. Can't see it perfectly in your photo, but a ruby that size with that clarity and probably that color would be a fortune. Could be man made ruby, but more likely man made spinel. They make nice rings, are hard and durable. It used to be that the stones in class rings were mmspinel.

Im still researching. Ill check spinel and mmspinel. Do you really think its not a ruby? I have no idea on how to tell. The color is not coming across in the picture very well. Thanks for the tip.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Ok, I can live with the 50's.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Ok, I can live with the 50's.

I was typing the same time as you.

The ring also has 2 diamonds that are not apparent in the pic. Do tiny diamonds have any value?
Im really not a jewelry person.

more pics:

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The ring is dirty on the inside. Can I soak it in tarnX?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Can't see it perfectly in your photo, but a ruby that size with that clarity and probably that color would be a fortune.

How much is a fortune?

 

[njguy]

The ring is dirty on the inside. Can I soak it in tarnX?

NO!
Leave the patina and keep the value until you've positively id'd it, then maybe take it to a pro for cleaning.

The 969 may not be a model number, but rather perhaps it id's the purity level of the gold used? I've seen rings from the UK with similar hallmarks, though I never seen a 969. Might it read 999? That'd make more sense. Although, if it were 999 I don't think it would be 10K probably it would be 24k.

 

[Chug And Red]

Sweet ring!!! Don't use tarnex!!! Take it to a jewelry shop they will clean it for free and Test the Diamonds and Check the stone for you!!! HH chug

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont trust anybody. Due to the economy, I need to sell my gold. I just came back from an antique place that buys gold and they gave me a price.

I bought a scale at Harbor Freight, I weighed it and used this calculation link http://www.silverrecyclers.com/Calculators/gold_calculator.aspx and the price that the gold buyer gave me was $100 less.

How close should I expect to get to the gold price in the link for melt?

Did you notice gold is at an all time high?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The ring is dirty on the inside. Can I soak it in tarnX?

NO!
Leave the patina and keep the value until you've positively id'd it, then maybe take it to a pro for cleaning.

The 969 may not be a model number, but rather perhaps it id's the purity level of the gold used? I've seen rings from the UK with similar hallmarks, though I never seen a 969. Might it read 999? That'd make more sense. Although, if it were 999 I don't think it would be 10K probably it would be 24k.

I didnt know gold had a patina. Its just dirt on the inside, and the underside of the "ruby" is dirty as well. Ill try water and a soft toothbrush.

I was thinking the same thing about 969. But its some kind of model number I think.

 

[hombre_de_plata_flaco]

I dont trust anybody. Due to the economy, I need to sell my gold. I just came back from an antique place that buys gold and they gave me a price.

I bought a scale at Harbor Freight, I weighed it and used this calculation link http://www.silverrecyclers.com/Calculators/gold_calculator.aspx and the price that the gold buyer gave me was $100 less.

How close should I expect to get to the gold price in the link for melt?

BigCy - here is the gold calculator I use:

http://www.midstatesrecycling.com/karat_kalc

The drop box at the top has units of weight. If you weighed in grams, change the unit to grams, enter the number into the 10K box, then hit calculate. The site also gives you the exact gold content of your particular piece.

If I were you, I would list the ring on eBay just above spot price due to the rings age. Ebay fees end up being around 10%. A refinery would be another option for you, but expect to wait about 2 weeks for the transaction to be complete and they will take their 10% as well.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Ebay fees end up being around 10%. A refinery would be another option for you, but expect to wait about 2 weeks for the transaction to be complete and they will take their 10% as well.

I need some money now. Ill need to sell a few junk pieces this weekend. How close to the spot price should I expect to get at a pawn or jewelery shop? What percent do they usually take?

 

[hombre_de_plata_flaco]

Ebay fees end up being around 10%. A refinery would be another option for you, but expect to wait about 2 weeks for the transaction to be complete and they will take their 10% as well.

I need some money now. Ill need to sell a few pieces this weekend. How close to the spot price should I expect to get at a pawn or jewelery shop? What percent do they usually take?

A pawn shop will normally pay 30%-50% of spot. Avoid pawn shops and "WE BUY GOLD!" places like the plague.