Heirloom ering - real diamond?

[Vinyaernil]

I recently inherited my great-grandmother''s engagement ring. The band is 14K yellow gold and the setting is platinum (making me suspect that the diamond is indeed real), but the diamond appears to have some damage around the crown; kind of like someone took the edge to a belt sander. I don''t know if the type of damage it has is possible with a diamond (clueless here). I''ve done the best that I can with a picture (I didn''t have a box, and the only way I could get it to focus was to put it in something bigger and textured. Hence the rose.). I know that it was worn on a daily basis for about fifty years, and my great-grandfather didn''t have much money when he bought it, so the actual quality of the cut may be to blame? I''m not sure. Hopefully you all have a bit more knowledge than me. Thanks!

 

[Circe]

It''s a beautiful ring with a great deal of sentimental value: while I, personally/selfishly would LOVE to see more pics (are those fishtail prongs? they are!), no one is going to be able to diagnose it off of pics alone. You need to visit either a jewelry store with a diamond tester (faster, easier, cheaper, but a little less reliable), or a qualified appraiser (PriceScope has a list under "Resources") if you want an honest answer.

 

[Vinyaernil]

I was planning on taking it to an appraiser later this week; Just curious to see what everyone has to say. The back of the band is broken and someone (grandpa... *cough*...) attempted to solder it back together. So it''s not very pretty at all except in front. But I''ll try to get some more pictures. The hard part is getting the darn digital camera to focus!

 

[surfgirl]

I think the best thing you can do right now is locate an independent appraiser (use the "Resources" button at the top of this page to find someone in your area) and let them give you an unbiased appraisal. You should know what you have, and you should also know it's value and it's current condition.

You say it looks like it was sanded around the edges and I'm assuming it's just wear/tear on 50 years of daily wearing. It happens and actually, my appraiser likes to see some wear on the stone because it adds to the confirmation that it is indeed an old stone. However, if the wear is quite bad and affects the stone's performance, it might be possible to have it polished a bit to restore it. That's really only recommended in more extreme cases and it's difficult to tell based on that one photo.

Also, regarding photographing your ring/stone...put it on a dark cloth (you can lay out a t shirt or table cloth or something like that) and if you dont have any ring boxes, then put it on your own finger, against the dark background, lit well, and put your camera set to macro (usually a "flower" icon is the setting), and see if you cant get better shots close up. I'm interested in seeing it clearer and close up to see the wear you're talking about.

ETA: The setting looks like a vintage "fishtail" setting, with the prongs creating a right angle edge at each "corner"...

 

[Vinyaernil]

Thanks, that''s good advice on the picture. I''ll do that as soon as I get home this afternoon.

 

[:)]

Date: 7/23/2008 3:25:39 PM
Author: Vinyaernil
I was planning on taking it to an appraiser later this week; Just curious to see what everyone has to say. The back of the band is broken and someone (grandpa... *cough*...) attempted to solder it back together. So it''s not very pretty at all except in front. But I''ll try to get some more pictures. The hard part is getting the darn digital camera to focus!

Hee hee

 

[purrfectpear]

It''s possible that the girdle of the stone is bruted. They do look rough and unfinished.

 

[kcoursolle]

Ditto the others, the best way to find out is to go to an appraiser. However, if you don''t want to spend the $100 a jewelry store could probably give you a quick answer.

If the stone is real, it could be repolished inexpensively to look brand new again.

 

[Vinyaernil]

Date: 7/23/2008 5:31:40 PM
Author: purrfectpear
It''s possible that the girdle of the stone is bruted. They do look rough and unfinished.

....Girdle? ....Bruted? Those are some awful fancy words for lil'' old me. Clarification would be greatly appreciated. Sounds like you know what you''re talking about!

 

[Circe]

The girdle''s the bit at the outermost circumference of the stone, its broadest part: nowadays, they usually facet it, but in the past cutters would sometimes leave it unpolished, creating that "sanded" look, which is called bruted. Were you referring to that part when you said the crown, or did you mean the circle of facets around the table (the broadest flat facet at the top of the stone)?

 

[Vinyaernil]

Thus begins the pictures...

Wow that's really big. Sorry, but at least you can see the detail!

 

[Vinyaernil]

From the side.

 

[Vinyaernil]

...from above

 

[Vinyaernil]

This is from the front

 

[Vinyaernil]

I figured at least one of you would want a view of the back of the setting.

 

[Vinyaernil]

Date: 7/23/2008 6:26:40 PM
Author: Circe
The girdle''s the bit at the outermost circumference of the stone, its broadest part: nowadays, they usually facet it, but in the past cutters would sometimes leave it unpolished, creating that ''sanded'' look, which is called bruted. Were you referring to that part when you said the crown, or did you mean the circle of facets around the table (the broadest flat facet at the top of the stone)?

I meant the circle of facets around the table. You can see it in the pictures now.

 

[Circe]

Thanks for providing the additional images! The back of the ring is indeed intriguing: I think it sounds really, really sweet of your grandfather to have tried to fix it. I don''t know if you want to reset the stone, or to keep it in its original setting, but I''m betting a good jeweler could give you suggestions for either option: I know other posters have had great experiences with Quest Jewelers and heirloom stones. As for how to tell if it''s real ... if you''re not sure about whether it''s worth it to pay a hundred bucks+ for an appraisal as yet, just duck into a local jeweler and ask them to use their diamond tester on it (but ask them to steam-clean it first: the testers can give false negatives once in a while if a diamond has any schmutz adhering to it, thereby freaking out more than a few posters). Good luck!

 

[HeartingDiamonds]

I agree with Circe above. Before anything is done, the stone needs a good soaking and scrubbing with a toothbrush. It also appears that the stone is just abraded and bruised all over. If indeed the stone is real, a repolish should make it look gawgeous with sharp and crisp facets all over. Weight loss sould be minimal.

Good luck! I love heirloom pieces like this.

 

[surfgirl]

Viny, looks like abrasion to me too. You can clean it up, take better photos of it and contact Ari and Single Stone. He has guys that can re polish it and retain the antique cut, usually with minimal carat loss.