Featured Eternity Ring

Picked up this pretty little ring in a charity shop yesterday for just a £1. It sparkled at me, so couldn't resist. I expected it to be plated (or plastic!) but a gentle wash later and it's neither of those. Obviously the ring has had a lot of wear because it's slightly mis-shapen, grimy behind the 'stones' and worn on the edges.

I'm assuming the stones are paste/glass, because the surfaces are dulled and chipped, but they still have some sparkle. I can't see any marks unfortunately. Any thoughts and/or opinions as to how old it might be?

 

looks like gold and diamonds from here......get thee to a jeweler !!!

 

Wow, I hope so! But the stones are worn and as far as I know diamonds wouldn't do that? I'd settle for gold though!!!

Forgot to say that it's small - a bit loose on my little finger, but way too small for my other fingers.

 

there's another thread floating around here where one of the gals states that diamonds are poor stones for hard worn rings as they tend to chip and get scuffed....so.......maybe?

 

Depends on how long it was worn and what kind of hard work the person did.

Put it in a small bowl/cup. Squirt it with 50-50 ammonia and water. Add a drop of Dawn dish detergent and some water. Swish around for a few minutes, if needed use a soft toothbrush from behind. It will clean up even more.

This won't hurt hard gemstones. Do not do this with pearls or opals.

 

Thanks komokwa... I did wonder, because they do have sparkle. I just didn't want to get my hopes up . I'll look for the thread.

 

what do they say........
" in for a penny , in for a 'pound' ! "

 

clutteredcloset49... this is great information, thank you. It does look well worn, and I'll give it the extra clean as you suggest. Or maybe take it straight to a jewellers! Thanks again!

 

I may not have been the only one, but I have written elsewhere that diamonds are lousy ring stones (@komokwa 'cleavage') because they do chip/fracture readily. What they don't do is get abraded/scratched/eroded. If you find after cleaning that they are still a bit dull due to surface scratches, not diamond. CZ will also sparkle big time.

 

Thanks Bronwen, I didn't know this - close up, some stones have the 'edges' worn, others have dulled a bit, while others are still bright. I need to show the ring to someone with the kind of experience you (and others here) have.

Does the kind of setting have a particular name? I'm just curious!

 

Lovely ring, Batman (or Batgirl ). I agree, gold, and the white metal looks like it is silver, not white gold or platinum. If so, that means it is antique.
Here are some threads on similar eternity rings:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/odd-mark-on-eternity-ring.39757/#post-786848

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/information-on-jewellery-please.36273/page-2#post-562816

 

Thank you, Any Jewelry! I'm happy you could see the different metals... I took quite a few photos to show the ring as it actually is! I'm by no means an expert, haha, but the ring feels old - small and a little rustic. So glad I posted here. I'll check out your links .

 

Absolutely typical of eternity rings from the 60s and 70s. I have mine, my grandmother's and my mother's. Not hallmarked, because there's too little gold. Almost certainly lower standard diamonds. I'd use a bit of spray window cleaner on a toothbrush, that will do it. Or stick it in a drop of gin.

My grandmother's one has rather worn stones because she never took it off.

 

Ownedbybear, thank you! I also have my mum's eternity ring but it's quite different to this one. A drop of gin, you say? Pretty sure I can find some of that!

 

Or vodka.

 

As long as it is booze?

 

I'd not use a decent malt.

 

I was thinking Chablis, but I'd rather use that on something else. Just like a fine single malt.

 

Why would you waste a good swig to clean a ring

 

Well, I haven't raided the drinks cupboard yet , but I have taken the ring to a jeweller... he told me it's 9ct gold & silver, 1970s in date and the stones are spinel. I'd never heard of them before, but apparently it's a gemstone that was used before cubic zirconium came along in the late 70s. I think the jeweller said the stones in this ring are natural as opposed to synthetic.

So there we are! Many thanks for all the help - the ring would probably have lain on the shelf with me just wondering, if you hadn't encouraged me!