River or Sea?

[hbyrne]

I've a new pretty to ponder over, and wondered if anyone could say what their hunch is with the Pearl? It is perhaps a bit worn and has low lustre, but I love it's gentle bouton shape.

It's an antique ring, probably made around a hundred years ago. Nice old hand-cut Diamonds. I haven't had it tested yet and mark is too worn to read, but feels like 14ct gold, and if so, won't be English, although I bought it here.

 

[pattye]

Helen, wish I could offer info, but it is a beautiful ring. Is the pearl backed with mop? And what is the approx diameter? The old diamonds fascinate me, the new ones, not so much.

 

[pearlescence]

No UK Hallmark? The shank gap is odd, almost as if a hallmark had been removed (which is illegal)

 

[pattye]

Wondering if the ring was cut to remove it from someone's finger?

 

[KarinK]

Wondering if the ring was cut to remove it from someone's finger?

Or resized... Less morbid thought

- Karin

 

[MSC]

Helen, that is a lovely ring! I'd venture a guess and say salt water, it's got the appearance of the natural salt water pearls I've got.
I've got my grandmother's 2 engagement rings, both of which were cut off her finger, and they don't look nice and neat like the cut on your ring there.

 

[hbyrne]

Thank you for your replies...Pattye, no, there's no mop but it's kinda mabe shape isn't it?

I'd assumed it had been cut off as its previous owner had got it stuck...it was completely full of grot, whoever had been wearing it wore it all the time I'd say!

I'm hoping its saltwater, MSC...fingers crossed! I'm going to give it a proper clean up and see if I can loosen it at all...

 

[hbyrne]

Pattye, you were right...a mabe...what good eyes you have! I had it fixed up, and as I was cleaning the compound off, the Pearl broke off the mother of pearl back! Frightening moment, but it's all back together now...thank goodness for araldite!

 

[amti]

Just a thought but maybe when they had to cut the ring off, they had to remove more band than normal to avoid ruining the diamond settings. When my daughter sprained her finger in gymnastics, we had to have a ring removed and most jewelers refused to work with us because they said the ring would be damaged. We finally found someone to slice the back and that was enough to ease the pressure on her finger so the ring was never damaged, although it is still sliced six years later (she didn't want to repair it).