Circa 1840 OMC ring - fancy color??

[pokerface]

I've had this ring for a few years but never posted it before. I was feeling sorry for myself because I thought the diamond had cracked, but when I looked at it under my loupe, I saw it was not cracked, just really dirty! And then something else caught my eye - a little flash of blue. Previously, I had thought there was some chance it would be graded as a fancy gray, but it was too small for me to bother. The diamond matches the pearls on either side, which I would describe as mauve/purple/gray. After verifying that the blue was not a reflection or dirt, but rather coming from inside the stone, I took a look at Leibish, and noted that my diamond looks very close to what Leibish is grading as fancy light blue. I estimate my diamond to be around .05ct. The ring is 22ct yellow gold. A GIA cert would cost $98. What do you think - worth a try?

 

[Rfisher]

Pretty ring!
Does the diamond show any fluorescence, do you have a light to check?

if I had play money and since I’m a curious person - yes I would -
BUT
I think you have to unset the stone? So that’s more play funds going towards a qualified jeweler to do the unsetting and resetting.
Having a non competent or uninterested jeweler ruin the look of the ring/prongs as it currently is, would really put me off.

 

[pokerface]

Unfortunately, I do not have a UV light. GIA does color reports for both mounted and unmounted stones, and at this size, it's the same price.

 

[Rfisher]

They do? Well now that removes a whole bunch of hesitation then!

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

If it’s just ~$100 - I’ll admit, I would probably do it from a curiosity POV, not really a value POV. I wouldn’t have bothered if it were a more “common” colour, like yellow; but for blue I feel like… why not? Just for the joy of having a blue diamond

 

[JackTrick]

Is the blue flashes of fire/dispersion? That’s where the diamond acts like a prism splitting apart light.

 

[stracci2000]

It's really beautiful! I am interested in antique jewelry.
What makes you say it is 1840?
Is there an inscription?

 

[pokerface]

GIA can't offer carat size on unmounted stones, but yes, they do color ID.

 

[pokerface]

Is the blue flashes of fire/dispersion? That’s where the diamond acts like a prism splitting apart light.

No, at least, I don't think so. There is a single spot inside the stone. The flash is from the one point.

 

[pokerface]

It's really beautiful! I am interested in antique jewelry.
What makes you say it is 1840?
Is there an inscription?

No inscription or hallmark or anything. The seller said it was early Victorian, circa 1840.

 

[blingmeupscotty]

I would most definitely beautiful piece!

 

[minousbijoux]

Yes! How could you not?!!

 

[Cerulean]

I’d go for it, just out of curiosity. What a gorgeous ring, btw.

 

[junebug17]

I would go for it!

It's such a beautiful ring.

 

[kgizo]

I’m in a similar position with an Art Deco piece with a small pink diamond. I’ve often thought of sending it to GIA to learn what level of pink, but the idea of it getting lost in the mail terrifies me. It is a piece of history and in no way replaceable. If I could personally deliver it to GIA I would, but otherwise not willing to take the risk. I’ve had terrible mail delivery for going on 3-4 years. If you have a different experience and confidence level that is totally understandable.

 

[Niel]

Is that in a bezel that is closed in the back? I am concerned it may be buildup

 

[pokerface]

Is that in a bezel that is closed in the back? I am concerned it may be buildup

Nope, it's open! Definitely needs a clean, but the dirt is not blue. It's more likely to be @JackTrick's suggestion of dispersion than buildup.

 

[Niel]

Nope, it's open! Definitely needs a clean, but the dirt is not blue. It's more likely to be @JackTrick's suggestion of dispersion than buildup.

lol I don’t think the dirt is blue but. I am not convinced by your photos it’s a blue diamond but I’d love to be wrong.