Tiger's Eye Ring?

[HyZer1]

Before he passed, my uncle gave me a ring he had. He said he found it when he was a young man (1940s). My wife says the ring is a Tiger's Eye stone. I think it looks too light in color for Tiger's Eye but I cannot find any other stone that looks like this. Any ideas?

I remember seeing men wear rings that looked like this one when I was a kid in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

On the inner band I can make out JOHN ALDEN and a worn number with a "K" after it so, 10, 12 or 14K I assume.

Would JOHN ALDEN be the former owner or was that a jewelry maker?

I doubt it's worth more than it's gold value. Any Ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Austina]

Found this information on the John Alden trademark. https://trademarks.justia.com/714/63/john-alden-71463481.html


I must admit, that doesn’t look like Tiger’s eye to me, but I’m certainly no expert.

 

[HyZer1]

Thanks. Very interesting.

 

[Rfisher]

Looked like a polished seashell because of the spiral?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Its a pretty cool looking ring, seashell, tigers eye or whatever
(I do wonder if your wife ment cat's eye not tiger eye ?)

 

[HyZer1]

Sea shell is a good suggestion. I see what you mean, Rfisher.

Thanks, Daisys and Diamonds, I agree, it is a cool looking ring. (I did look up cat's eye and saw nothing resembling whatever it is that's in this ring.)

 

[partgypsy]

It looks like some kind of organic gem like a non nacreous pearl, but I'm glitching on what it is called. Really neat ring!

 

[MelMc]

Maybe an operculum shell, sometimes called an eye of Shiva. That spiral makes me think so.

 

[stracci2000]

Yes, it's operculum shell. Like @MelMc says.
Not tiger eye at all.

A really nice ring!

 

[HyZer1]

Operculum shell (Eye of Shiva) is correct! I knew I came to the right place! Thanks "MelMc" and "stracci2000".

I am not sure if values can be suggested here at PriceScope but if they can, does anyone have an idea on this ring's worth? In my original post I thought it was maybe worth whatever the gold content is but with all the comments here as to what a nice ring this is, I am thinking it's worth more than just its gold value.

Thanks again for the help and for any suggestions on worth.

 

[partgypsy]

Melmc! Yes you nailed it on the head! here is an article about it. they were used by the Victorians as well as later jewelry. http://danielleoliviatefftwrites.com/found-in-the-jewelry-box-blog/jewelry-oddities-operculum

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Melmc! Yes you nailed it on the head! here is an article about it. they were used by the Victorians as well as later jewelry. http://danielleoliviatefftwrites.com/found-in-the-jewelry-box-blog/jewelry-oddities-operculum

Ive seen those on the beach
im pretty sure we called them cats eyes

the Victorian 's were so innovative with their jewlery