ha-ha!

[Arkteia]

I bought this gold-and-ruby ring at Target in Des Moines in 1996. (That Target had the jewelry section which had "diamond events" selling octagon-cut 2-ct D and E diamonds. It was in the most upscale area of Des Moines). They had estate jewelry section and the ring cost $50 and looked old). I bought it because I never had a ruby in my life.

My current appraiser was telling me that it was a cheap ruby but I insisted on appraisal. If I bought it and it looked old in 1996, thought I, it could be heated, but nothing else. It did not look transparent, though, so I hoped it could be unheated.

Well, the memo says "heated" and "clarity ehnanced with residues". I know that flux-healing has been around since the beginning of this century, but I know when I bought my ruby!

I got (and lost) the paper with the name of the author who published an article about glass healing in late 70-es. I am trying to find link on GIA.EDU but I lost the paper with the name of the author. It is interesting, though, that even old corundum is "unsafe" to buyers. Maybe it looked so old? It scratched easily. But gold around it also looked old.... Well, at least the gold costs $ 50.00 - and more!

 

[chrono]

Crasru,
There is always the possibility that the ring isn’t as old as you think – the antique appearance could merely be that the ring has been worn “hard”. Are you able to date it by the design? Of course, sometimes an antique setting could have a newer stone put into it as well.