Hi everyone,
This is my first post, so I thank you in advance for your thoughts.
OK! I got engaged a week ago and my fiance gave me a beautiful antique ring that had belonged to his great-grandmother. His grandmother just passed away last summer at age 92, so the ring is obviously very old given that it was her mother''s. I love antiques, so I''m very curious about the history of the ring. The interesting part is that the ring has been appraised a couple of times in the past few years and there are huge discrepancies.
The first appraisal, which was done in 2003, does not provide much info, but this is what it does say:
Cut: European standard
Color: M/N
Clarity: SI1
Approximate Carat Weight: 1.28 cts
Replacement value: $9,150
The second appraisal, which I just received yesterday says:
"Edwardian ring prong set in platinum with fancy cut synthetic sapphire baguette highlights, circa 1925. The center of the ring is an old mine cut weighing approximately 1.13 carats, color grade X-Y and clarity grade SI1. The girdle of the diamond has numerous nicks. The oval shaped setting is bead set with 12 single cut diamonds weighing approximately .12 carat total weight. Value: $3,600"
So my questions are numerous. The most striking discrepancy between the two appraisals, but which is actually the least important to me as I have no intention of ever selling the ring, is the value. Frankly, I''m inclined to think that the lower value is closer to reality due to the nicks, but I''m no expert.
What I''m most fascinated by is that each appraiser came up with different cuts and colors for the same rock! The ring is round, but definitely an old cut. I asked the appraiser yesterday about the c. 1925 date because I did not think old mine cuts were still being cut that late. He responded that there was a window of cutting old mines that went into the 1920s and that he thinks this ring is from the later part of that window. He also said that the ring exhibits many of the traits of both old european and old mine cuts, but that in the end he felt that it had more old mine charateristics and thus called it old mine in the appraisal.
Regarding color, is there really that much of a difference between M-N and X-Y? X-Y seems fancier to me, but the appraiser yesterday said that there is little difference between and O and a Y. Really??
What about the carat weight? There is no mention in the first appraisal of total carat weight, so I assumed that 1.28 cts just referred to the center stone. However, the second appraiser indicated that the center stone is 1.13 plus 12 single cut diamonds.
Finally, if the Edwardian period ended around 1918 (or 1914) isn''t c.1925 (as stated in the second appraisal) late? Why not Art Deco instead of Edwardian? The appraiser said that he though it was circa WWI, but 1925 doesn''t fit that either. Am I missing something?
Many thanks for your patience in reading this super long post. I really get the feeling that if I gave the ring to 10 appraisers that they would all come back with a different idea about what the it is. Your opinions are highly valued.
Best wishes,
Kathleen
This is my first post, so I thank you in advance for your thoughts.
OK! I got engaged a week ago and my fiance gave me a beautiful antique ring that had belonged to his great-grandmother. His grandmother just passed away last summer at age 92, so the ring is obviously very old given that it was her mother''s. I love antiques, so I''m very curious about the history of the ring. The interesting part is that the ring has been appraised a couple of times in the past few years and there are huge discrepancies.
The first appraisal, which was done in 2003, does not provide much info, but this is what it does say:
Cut: European standard
Color: M/N
Clarity: SI1
Approximate Carat Weight: 1.28 cts
Replacement value: $9,150
The second appraisal, which I just received yesterday says:
"Edwardian ring prong set in platinum with fancy cut synthetic sapphire baguette highlights, circa 1925. The center of the ring is an old mine cut weighing approximately 1.13 carats, color grade X-Y and clarity grade SI1. The girdle of the diamond has numerous nicks. The oval shaped setting is bead set with 12 single cut diamonds weighing approximately .12 carat total weight. Value: $3,600"
So my questions are numerous. The most striking discrepancy between the two appraisals, but which is actually the least important to me as I have no intention of ever selling the ring, is the value. Frankly, I''m inclined to think that the lower value is closer to reality due to the nicks, but I''m no expert.
What I''m most fascinated by is that each appraiser came up with different cuts and colors for the same rock! The ring is round, but definitely an old cut. I asked the appraiser yesterday about the c. 1925 date because I did not think old mine cuts were still being cut that late. He responded that there was a window of cutting old mines that went into the 1920s and that he thinks this ring is from the later part of that window. He also said that the ring exhibits many of the traits of both old european and old mine cuts, but that in the end he felt that it had more old mine charateristics and thus called it old mine in the appraisal.
Regarding color, is there really that much of a difference between M-N and X-Y? X-Y seems fancier to me, but the appraiser yesterday said that there is little difference between and O and a Y. Really??
What about the carat weight? There is no mention in the first appraisal of total carat weight, so I assumed that 1.28 cts just referred to the center stone. However, the second appraiser indicated that the center stone is 1.13 plus 12 single cut diamonds.
Finally, if the Edwardian period ended around 1918 (or 1914) isn''t c.1925 (as stated in the second appraisal) late? Why not Art Deco instead of Edwardian? The appraiser said that he though it was circa WWI, but 1925 doesn''t fit that either. Am I missing something?
Many thanks for your patience in reading this super long post. I really get the feeling that if I gave the ring to 10 appraisers that they would all come back with a different idea about what the it is. Your opinions are highly valued.
Best wishes,
Kathleen