US Silver Eagle Ring Restoration

[ANTIQUARIAN]

A good friend of mine (steelheadwill) gave me this ring as a restoration project, he found it at an old swimming spot in the Atlantic Ocean.

Here's what he told me about where he found it . . .

Where the ring was found is rather a mystery. I know that the little seaside plot was a dump, ash layers and large piles of concrete and asphalt, steel cable, glass, pottery and old medical waste (metal syringe tips & vials). The majority of several dozen coins found date from 1920-1950, whether they came from swimmers after the dump was capped, or if they came along with the street construction debris is open to question. Personally, I think it was a popular swimming spot and a member of the ‘Greatest Generation’, a WWII Veteran, lost the ring.

I took the piece to a local jeweler here in town who was actually willing to listen and to repair the ring according to how I wanted it done. This jeweler has already repaired two of my other silver rings so far this year, so I felt confident they could do the job and be affordable.

I think the ring came out pretty good, considering what it looked to begin with!

Let me know what you all think!
Dave

 

[jeff of pa]

it's always a chore straightening out rings
I usually end up spending time just making small moves then
setting them down, then later move it a little more, etc.
because when I try to hurry on rings that really impress me, they snap.

I've never been able to make a silver ring shine like jewelers do though.


nice job

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

it's always a chore straightening out rings
I usually end up spending time just making small moves then
setting them down, then later move it a little more, etc.
because when I try to hurry on rings that really impress me, they snap.

I've never been able to make a silver ring shine like jewelers do though.


nice job

Thanks very much for your kind words Jeff!
I hear you about trying to straighten out objects when it should really be done by a professional!

I didn't have the jeweler polish this piece, I polished it in my Lortone 45C Tumbler. I 'clean' most of my iron, brass & copper finds in the tumbler. I let the ring tumble for 12 hours at a time changing the solution each time. It took 2 days to get most of the corrosion off, I then polished it with a liquid silver polish and a soft cloth.

Best of luck to you,
Dave