Silver and turquoise

[Roland58]

Found this the other day while hunting with Lakemonster at an old school site. Someone had asked in an earlier thread about cleaning silver and they were using some sort of solution and then having to clean the "black" off of the silver. I have found that simple buffing does the trick very quickly.

Before buffing:

After a quick buff:

Rather hard to really tell the difference in the pictures, but, the difference in person is drastic.
[Dang, I just noticed I left some buffing compound on the edge of the turquoise.....I told you it was a "quick" buff]

 

[Argentium]

Absolutely gorgeous ring man !!! I live here in the heart of silver and turquoise country -
Santa Fe, New Mexico - and I can say that your ring is a real winner ! Argentium.

 

[apixelintime]

My grandfather used to make silver and turquoise jewlery. He used to swear by cigar ashes and your fingertips. It left the tarnish in the recessed areas and really shines up the details... I have several pieces that he made for me, and I use this method to clean them up. it is magic...

 

[TheGeorgiaCanuck]

Water and baking soda, rub with paste on fingers. Use a small toothbrush for the tight spots. Shines silver right up.

 

[Lakemonster]

That cleaned up real nice, dude!

 

[TommNJ]

That's a nice one, , Congrats on the ring!

TommNJ

 

[PikesPeakCharlie]

Congrats !!!!

 

[Roland58]

Thanks to everyone......yeah, it cleaned up very well, but, could still be a lot better. There are no markings on the inside, so, I believe it is a handmade item by a relatively unknown artist. It was obviously made around the turquoise. I am just guessing that the turquoise and silver are real. I don't have a test kit, but, they look real to me! My wife wants the ring resized so she can wear it! It's a large ring, fits my fat fingers.

 

[thrillathahunt]

Oh I'm bettin' the farm that's silver. I have found a couple similar to yours that are indeed sterling. Many custom made early silver rings were not marked or signed.

 

[ModernMiner]

Beautiful ring! Way to go on the cleaning too.
-MM-

 

[Roland58]

Just a little more on the buffer for cleaning.....I dug my first gold and diamond the day after the silver ring. Once again, I didn't spend much time with the buffer, I should have done more and I didn't clean all the compound out of the grooves. However, I believe you can see a distinct difference even though this must be a really old ring....much of the detail has been worn off, no makers mark or purity, but, I'm sure it is gold and a "honker" with a solid back!:

Before the buffing:

After the buffing (with a lot of compound left on the ring, grrrrr, all the dark gray stuff on the signet and in the grooves is compound, it comes out easily by washing or using a toothpick or brush):

 

[CoilFisher]

Nice ring chief!

 

[Roland58]

What would any of you think that signet is? A "T" or "G" or ?

 

[Sonnydigs]

2 great finds.. Real beauties..

 

[Damon64]

Nice rings!