I see Gold! update....

[BillF]

Had my wife take the ring to a jeweler today. He said it is the strangest thing he's ever seen. It appears to him that it is possibly brass on the outside, gold on the inside. It has been worn for so long the sides and bottom have worn to the point that the jeweler didnt feel comfortable trying to make it round. Very, very old.
The jeweler could not figure why it would be stamped with 14K if it was not all gold. Oh, well, it was pretty exciting for a while anyway.

 

[mudpuppy]

Thats really weird...did he do an acid test or anything? You'd think he could also heat it up with a torch and then round it out on a mandrel with a leather mallet? Thats what I do anyway. I've got a goofy really old ring that looks gold but appears to be brass as well, not stamped, brittle too, and came out of the ground black as well...like brass would. Sort of survives an acid test at 10k...too small to worry about, but that one you found is big, and has one of those old time type of stamps. This is a puzzle I hope you solve and let us know!

 

[BarberBill]

While it appears you have a mystery in the ring, it does occur to me that a possible reason for the 14k stamp is that it's counterfeit? Just wonderin'
BB

 

[BillF]

Hey guys, this thing is wierd. The counterfeit theory has crossed my mind, however, and I think this might be a little important, gold was extremely cheap a hundred years ago. Something like $16 an ounce. Why counterfeit a ring? Why make ring thats one metal outside,gold inside. Maybe to keep a finger from turning green?
I didnt get to take it in to have an acid test done, maybe I can do that this weekend.

 

[BillF]

I forgot to say, my wife told me that as the jeweler was looking at the ring , he sniffed it and then told her it smelled like brass. Hmmmm, wierd.

 

[DigDugNY]

Sorry to hear that it's not completely gold. Was there any way he could clean it up to look for designs?

 

[BillF]

I haven't seen it yet Bobby. My wife said he cleaned it up quite a bit. I'll post a pic later.

 

[BarberBill]

Of course would be better if it were all gold, but it's becoming an increasingly interesting find.
BB

 

[BillF]

Of course would be better if it were all gold, but it's becoming an increasingly interesting find.
BB

Yea Bill, it really has my curiosity peaked. I think I will take it to someone else this wkend for another opinion.

 

[BillF]

Here is the ring after going to the jeweler. A little more polished up, but I am just unsure of it's metal content. If I get any more info from another jeweler, I'll let you know.

 

[DigDugNY]

Looks gold to me, especially if its stamped 14k. Definitely looks old for sure and I hope you can get more answers. I'd assume getting an acid test done will help

 

[Elton]

Or a reworked ring by a Jeweler in a flea market stand. We have a guy in my area who does this type stuff..

 

[KVM2]

Take it to the "We Buy Gold "people...If they say, they'll buy it, it's GOOD. I hope it is a winner for you....

 

[BillF]

Elton,
When you say reworked, do you mean taking an old ring and doing something with it?
This thing is pretty old. Very thin on the sides, most of the side pattern on one side has been worn off. Brass is harder than gold.
I'm going to get another opinion, and may do just what KVM2 says. If they'll buy it,I'll take the money and walk away.

 

[KVM2]

Gold and silver are being driven down...I called a shop this AM and was offered 40% of metal content..Take it, get an appraisal, and offer..ASK what the gold is, and the weight..Then walk.....right over to your computer..Go to a place that does not exist called FIND'S,,walk down the hall to the area where you can sell stuff, punch in the numbers, fineness, weight of the ring, and post, MAKE an OFFER.. I am sure some of the unholy assortment of jail birds, and other upstanding citizens, that frequent this site, can and will do better. Those "We Buy Gold" places, don't even offer Vasoline anymore....

 

[SpiritRelic]

The main thing is a hallmark.Hallmarks are very difficult to see.Even with a loop.The hallmark could be worn down.You have to goggle this to find out how to bring the hallmark out so you can see it.These hallmarks are micro tiny.On any fine jewelry,you need a hallmark to do a trace.

 

[KVM2]

Anyone that hunted old houses and found gold rings can tell you the majority were gold filled, or gold plated..Gold was cheap, but not in terms of real dollars..I remember seeing 28.00 dollar weekly pay checks..late 40's early 50's....

 

[BillF]

I've looked hard for a makers mark, real hard, no such luck. Doesnt mean it hasnt been worn off. My understanding is that if it was gold filled, it would be marked as such. 14K by itself denotes that the entire ring is 14K, not filled, not plated, not some other material. That being said, I dont know if this is a really old ring, that they didnt do things differently back then. I am going to try and find out more about it from some other sources.
We have talked about this a bit at work, and the concensus is, like you say KVM2, many years ago the average wage may have only been $30 a month or less, so $10 might have been a big expense. That may be why this ring is like it is. Poor mans gold.



[quotote=KVM2]
Anyone that hunted old houses and found gold rings can tell you the majority were gold filled, or gold plated..Gold was cheap, but not in terms of real dollars..I remember seeing 28.00 dollar weekly pay checks..late 40's early 50's....[/quote]

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[kansa54]

I found a wedding band yrs. ago on an old homestead. It was marked 18k but it was a brass ring . Must have been gold plated.