Help identifying hallmarks of this gold ring!

Hello everyone! I found a gold ring on an auction site and there is no other information on the carat value, brand, etc. I found out that the brand is most likely "Ostby & Barton" but I don't understand what the "Y" means. I also don't know how to tell the carat value because there's no marking for it.

Thanks for your help!

 

Seems to be an Ostby & Barton mystery ...
https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-find-out-when-an-Ostby-and-Barton-ring-was-made
https://www.worthpoint.com/dictionary/p/jewelry/-american/ostby-barton-jewelry

 

Ahg a cliffhanger! Got any idea what the Y could stand for or is it just unfindable?

 

I found one that looks almost the exact same except the "Y" letter is different:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-gold-ostby-barton-ob-ring-3778943230

 

Also, do you think it's real gold? I see a bit on the side that looks like it could be tarnished. Thanks for your help

 

a major producer of gold rings in the United States until the death of Englehart Ostby on April 15, 1912, as he perished on the sinking of the Titanic.

that would seem to be your latest production date...

Oh.....& btw.....nice photo for a newbie , showing others that it is possible to get it done right....... without any hoopla regarding..." this site won't let me load photo's !!"

Well done !!!!

Nice ring !!!

 

that ' tarnish'....looks like the ring was sized down at some point...

 

Hmm.. interesting, I see that little cut in the ring. I'm looking at the little spot on the side that seems to have been chipped away. I'm attaching a picture here (if i can figure out how to do it )

 

What I'm wondering is: if the 3 crowns in the middle mean "14kt gold" why is there a Y as well? I was informed by someone else the Y means "gold plated." Pretty confused right now haha

 

BTW The US has no "hallmarks" only maker's marks.

 

Thanks! So I know it's defintely an Ostby & Barton ring- now just to know if it's real gold or not

 

Welcome Torrie. Are you thinking of buying the ring? If you are trying to decide just from photos whether it is gold, that's going to be a tough one. I think chances are it probably is not gold if auction has no mention of gold content. There are always exceptions, but it is so easy to sell gold any more, that most sellers would at least try a pawn shop or similar to determine whether gold. In Roaring 20's link above, it states that this company made gold filled rings as well as gold rings, so I think you need more info about content.

If you already purchased it, testing for gold content is going to be your next best step.

 

OB, an American company, were trying to make their wares look official by putting on pseudo Euro Hallmark looking marks. They weren't the only ones who did that... American silver makers also did it. The "Y" is supposed to simulate a date letter like used in England.

They also usually marked their fine metals 14k, Sterling, etc. afaik.

 

Gold jewellery is rarely pure gold, hence the different finenesses. It is usually an alloy of gold, silver, and copper.
Gold can tarnish a little due to the silver content or even the copper content. The culprit is usually silver, so if it is yours, you could rub it with a sunshine cloth (good brand silver polish cloth).

 

So interesting! Thank you for this

 

Yes, it's on an auction site and the material is marked "unknown." I found this weird because it's a very trustworthy auction company and when I asked if they test all the gold jewelry the man laughed and said of course they do. I guess it's possible that it's a mixture of many different metals or something similar.

 

Good to know, thanks!

 

Hmm... Usually if it's not solid they list as "mixed metals" or something else non-committal. My opinion based on the one photo of the spot, and that there's no metal finess mark present (unless it's on the other side we can't see), is that it's gold fill. There's a possibility the metal finess was where it was resized but.... Without seeing it myself or having the seller's accessment, I would pass. There are plenty of other second hand gold bands.