Featured What Would You Suggest re: engagement ring?

My husband and his sister have decided to sell their mother's engagement ring. There are a couple of places in the area that we can sell to, but just asking a "what would you do" question. The ring was purchased here in Victoria, BC, Canada in 1953, so I expect it's either made here or in the US. No markings on the inside. My mother in law said that the diamond(s) were .7 carats. Now whether that's all the diamonds or just the central one, we don't know. She also said that the setting was platinum. The diamond setting might be platinum or white gold, but the band (the shank is really thin from wear) is yellow gold. Likely 14k but I don't know for sure. Sorry about the pix -- but hope you can see there is a centre stone flanked by 2 smaller ones which in turn are flanked by 2 small ones in a closed setting. Who buys this sort of thing? We think that there is an antique/vintage jewelery shop that might be fair as we've dealt with them before, but is there a better venue or type of dealer to sell to? Any advice is welcome!

 

My limited experience, and all I've read, leads me to say that you never get real value for old diamonds. Far better to remove them and have them reset into a modern ring or pin...earrings perhaps.

Sell the old setting to help defray the cost associated with such repurposing. That's just an opinion, though...some estate jewelry has a good market among those who appreciate fine old work, & their gems. Good Luck!

 

I'll bet the smallest diamond of the 3, is a replacement

 

It's gorgeous!!!!
Those are Old European cut diamonds.
Jewelers started to phase out this type of cut around 1919.
So the stones are antique. The setting appears newer, probably 1950s, as you said.
I would take it to an antique jewelry dealer, not a regular jewelry store.

 

You say "Who buys this sort of thing?"
I can assure you that antique cut diamonds are extremely popular right now, and any antique jewelry collector would swoon over this!
Kinda like I'm doing right now!

 

@wlwhittier: this is not my ring, so I will offer that suggestion to my husband and sister-in-law. I'm debating on which of my mother's jewelry that I inherited will be re-purposed -- some is staying as it is, though.

@stracci: that is interesting that they are old European cut diamonds. That suggests that diamonds from another (family?) ring might have been used, but she never said so. We are going to see what an antique jewelry dealer might offer -- there's a couple in town that I can think of.

 

I think you are right, Komo.
@kentworld The ring was flipped in the two close-ups, but now I see that one stone is a modern brilliant cut.

 

They could've been HER mother's diamonds!
That time period would've been just right.
Diamonds often get passed down in families with new settings.

 

I buy old cut diamond rings, I love them.

 

Well, I showed the ring to my friend who worked in the jewelry department at the Bay years ago. She says they are brilliant cut. My husband says that the ring was bought new so I guess not stones from another family ring. Tomorrow we go to a dealer in town, so I'll report back. My husband is keen to sell but his Scottish genes will make sure that he feels he gets the best $ possible, LOL!

 

I beg to differ!
Compare your stones to the ones in this illustration

 

I agree, I see an open (flat) culet and small table on two of the stones.

 

Yes, it's a classic example of an Old European cut.
Flat culet, small table, high crown and flowery facets. I even see a bit of kozibe (culet reflecting in other parts of the diamond)

 

The thing is, most employees of modern jewellers have never seen or learnt about old cut diamonds.
And at first glance the Old European Cut looks much like a modern brilliant cut. It is only when you take a closer look, preferably through a loupe or blown up like the photo, that you see those tell tale details.

 

I do see what you are referring to -- you can see the culet quite clearly. To be fair, my friend was looking at it in a poorly lit location and we used the flashlight on my phone!

 

Well, the deed is done. The bar of gold and the ring are sold. Personally, for what my husband was given for the ring, I would've kept it. However, the stones are old cut, I now find out that the ring was made from one that belonged to my husband's grandmother so the stones are different sizes. The main stone is a good one and about .7 carats. So said the appraiser at the store.

 

Too bad it couldn't have stayed in the family.
The center stone would've made a gorgeous pendant for you!

 

I certainly would've kept the centre stone, but I think that the memories associated with it may not be all happy ones for my husband and sister in law. Thanks for all your help and interest.

 

That's certainly understandable. I'm glad it all turned out ok.

 

I am in Vic and it seems like there are fewer and fewer places to get older jewels. May I ask which ones you were thinking of? argh. Messing up this comment. Question is for @kentworld