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Can you help me solve the PD mystery?

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BeeLazyy

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 29, 2017
Messages
12
Hi everyone, I have been scouring the internet trying to find info on this ring I purchased at a local thrift store. Initially I assumed it was costume, but when I saw "PD" stamped inside the band I jumped on it (hoping it's palladium). Please forgive me, the ring desperately needs cleaned. Hopefully you all can help me by offering your insight. Is this a score, or just another costume piece?
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You have to upload your pictures to the site. We are not allowed to post links to outside photo posting sites.
 
diamondseeker2006 said:
You have to upload your pictures to the site. We are not allowed to post links to outside photo posting sites.
Click to expand...

I apologize I am new to the community and I thought I had created an album on here and linked the photos. I'm gonna try to upload photos directly to my reply here, please bear with me.20170528_171620-1.jpg 20170528_175856.jpg 20170528_181029.jpg 20170528_181218-1.jpg 20170528_180624.jpg
 
I hope that worked. I am also on mobile so it makes things even more interesting to figure out. Please let me know if you need additional photos.
 
It's worth taking to a local jeweler and asking them to check to see what the metal is and test the stone to see if it is a diamond. Do not go to a mall chain jeweler because they rarely have a gemologist present. Go to a nice quality independent jeweler in your town that has a gemologist and does appraisals. They can check it for you probably at no charge.
 
Far from an expert here, but it seems quite well made and substantial for costume jewelry.
Look at that band linking the prongs to secure the diamond.

Also there's a hole under each melee diamond for cleaning.
Does costume jewelry ever have that?
Unfortunately it blocks our view of the girdle reflection, one indicator of diamond.

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kenny said:
Far from an expert here, but it seems quite well made and substantial for costume jewelry.
Look at that band on the side to secure the diamond.

Also there's a hole under each melee diamond for cleaning.
Does costume jewelry ever have that?
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It is not uncommon for rhinestones to have an open back, but I don't think that is the case with this ring. The main stone is so beautiful in person it's almost unreal.
 
kenny said:
Unfortunately it blocks our view of the girdle reflection, one indicator of diamond.
Click to expand...

I don't know how important the girdle reflection is, but maybe it was intentionally blocked from view? So that it wouldn't be so obviously fake?
 
I really appreciate your input, guys (and gals!). I want to take it in to a jeweler but I fear that I will be automatically turned away before they even consider the possibility of it being real. The rock is HUGE and I'm (stereotypically) not the kind of person that would be rocking (pun intended) a diamond of this size. I probably sound silly and perhaps my concerns are unwarranted, but it would also be really embarrassing if they took one look at the ring and knew right away it was obviously fake. Is it frowned upon by jewelers to bring jewelry just to find out if it's real?
 
Did a quick search- looks like it may stand for Premier Designs, they make costume jewellery.
 
A jeweller should at least have a diamond tester that they can put on the stone to see if it's real.
 
Center doesn't look like a diamond to me.
 
Snowdrop13 said:
Did a quick search- looks like it may stand for Premier Designs, they make costume jewellery.
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Premier Designs has a crown and an olive branch on their stamp. The font is totally different as well. I searched tirelessly for designers that mark their work with "PD" and still haven't found any that look like mine.
 
AprilBaby said:
Center doesn't look like a diamond to me.
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If you don't mind my asking, what is it about the stone that gives you that impression? Diamonds are not my area of expertise (to say the least) but I love collecting old jewelry and I would definitely like to learn the differences in diamonds and the rest.
 
It is very unusual to see a finished precious metal ring with a casting skin left on the surface. Especially when that area is easily cleaned (inside surface of ring in first image).

That said, the stone setting and prong work does not scream costume.

My guess is costume, based on the casting skin and the lack of a makers mark.

I hope I'm wrong for OP's sake.

Brian
 
Thank you for your insight! I feel silly for asking, but what exactly is a casting skin?
 
I've certainly not seen every hallmark for palladium, but usually you see "Pd", "Pall", "pall" or 950Pd -- some variation since there is no hallmarking law in the US for palladium -- but "Pd" (notice lowercase d) is the most common. In the UK, they usually require the fineness in a geometric shape (see below). I agree with PP that the mark you have is for Premier Design. They make high-end costume jewelry.

palladium2.jpg
 
I used to work at Jcpenney as a college job and their "fine" jewelry department used to carry a diamond probe, worked at two stores and both had them, not sure if this is still the case but would save you the embarrassment you feared at a real jewelry store.
 
You could aways go to a pawn shop and play dumb that it is real and see what they offer if you are that scared of a jewelry store. They will have a diamond tester.
 
I wouldnt trust a pawn shop , as their job is to buy low sell high. Any reputable jeweler can use a diamond tester at no cost and test it though!
 
Hi BeeLazyy,

The casting process typically leaves a less than perfectly smooth surface. This casting skin is easily cleaned/smoothed with an abrasive wheel or emery paper and then later, polished to a perfectly smooth finish.

While this preparation/detailing may be a no-brainer with a precious metal ring, the labor it takes to do this may not be cost effective for costume jewelry.

Enlarge the first image and look at the areas on either side of the PD stamp. IMO, it looks very much like a casting skin that was not removed.

Brian
 
That is so strange, I thought this was the Premier Designs signature:
download.jpg
 
Brian Knox said:
Hi BeeLazyy,

The casting process typically leaves a less than perfectly smooth surface. This casting skin is easily cleaned/smoothed with an abrasive wheel or emery paper and then later, polished to a perfectly smooth finish.

While this preparation/detailing may be a no-brainer with a precious metal ring, the labor it takes to do this may not be cost effective for costume jewelry.

Enlarge the first image and look at the areas on either side of the PD stamp. IMO, it looks very much like a casting skin that was not removed.

Brian
Click to expand...
Thank you for explaining this to me, that is very helpful info. I assumed it was well worn and would shine again after a good cleaning. This was mostly because it's shiny/smooth in some places (like the upper portion) but not on the bottom of the band.
 
I can see green under the melee stones. Costume jewelry can seem very substantial. I would bet the farm on this being costume.
 
Snowdrop13 for the win!! Thanks so much. I am glad I didn't take it in to a jeweler!
 
Hi BeeLazy. As a rule PD stamped in a ring means Palladium. However, anyone can stamp anything in a ring. I would recommend taking the ring into an independent accredited appraiser in your area who can identify the stones and do an acid test on the setting. This way you can have a determination made on the stone identity as well as determine what metal is used in the setting. Unfortunately a picture will not help determine the identity. Good Luck, and I hope this helps out. If you let me know what city you're in I would be more than pleased to recommend a good appraiser to take the ring to.
 
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