✅ SOLVED Gold whatsit with diamonds, HELP with ID please

tnt-hunter

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Apr 20, 2018
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Mountain Maryland
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Detector(s) used
Fisher CZ-21, Minelab Equinix 800, ,Garret AT Pro,
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All Treasure Hunting
I was metal detecting a park swimming area. It has been thoroughly detected every year for the past 15 years so this is a new loss not something that has been hiding for a long time. There is only about a 3 inch layer of sand above a hard clay and rock underlayer. This item was found in the sand. At first I thought it was junk, but I tested the stones and they are diamonds. What a shock. I couldn’t find any marks on it so I tested it and it is 12k gold. It looks like it is the top of something, but I have no idea what it is and how it got in the water.

AA188EEC-2A3E-43A6-8CC8-833999E04958.jpeg347B439C-DCFA-41B0-9AF0-D6E23D6E81B1.jpeg33AFDC4A-861D-494E-BB83-C96A56A02BBA.jpeg

It was posted with the rest of my finds from the day and it has been suggested that it is a Victorian style scarf clip. But it doesn’t quite look right for that. Any help would be appreciated.
 

TNT,
Do the ends on the 'prong' portions looks to be broken-off or are they smooth with a finished edge? I have an idea, but need to know about the ends. They look like nice diamonds too; I'd suggest taking it to a reputable dealer to have the stones inspected.
Neat find :)
BreezieHair Brooches.png
 

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This is an interesting piece for a number of reasons. :thumbsup:

1/ This is not a new loss, I think it's an old loss as evident by the verdigris in the metal. (Copper is leaching through the gold)

2/ The mounting design in the back is an old type of setting, made this way to back-light the diamonds.

3/ This piece appears to date from the late-Victorian - early Edwardian Period.

As to what it's original design was... Breezie may be on the right track with a hair clip, but it could have come from anything really. :icon_scratch:

Dave
 

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TNT,
Do the ends on the 'prong' portions looks to be broken-off or are they smooth with a finished edge? I have an idea, but need to know about the ends. They look like nice diamonds too; I'd suggest taking it to a reputable dealer to have the stones inspected.
Neat find :)
BreezieView attachment 1756823

The ends appear to be molded the way they are, not broken off. Also the edges of the cap portion with the diamonds is sharp not smooth and rounded like most jewelry normally is.
 

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This is an interesting piece for a number of reasons. :thumbsup:

1/ This is not a new loss, I think it's an old loss as evident by the verdigris in the metal. (Copper is leaching through the gold)

2/ The mounting design in the back is an old type of setting, made this way to back-light the diamonds.

3/ This piece appears to date from the late-Victorian - early Edwardian Period.

As to what it's original design was... Breezie may be on the right track with a hair clip, but it could have come from anything really. :icon_scratch:

Dave

You have given me some very good info on the piece, but I can assure you that this is a new loss. It may be an old piece, but has not been at this location long. This is a well defined roped off swimming area in a state park. I grid the area and detect it thoroughly every year and recover everything from tiny bits of foil to earring backs and 1/8 inch brass beads. I have been doing this area for over 15 years and I could not have missed this. It was close to the top of the 3 inch sand layer and gave a strong signal.

Thanks for your input and valuable knowledge.
 

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Awesome find. Maybe a damaged bar pin ??
 

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It is off of a Rolex style men's ring. The piece was welded/soldered to the ring.

Amazing I.D. Kray! :notworthy:
What I'm more amazed about is that it may only be 12k gold, that is if tnt-hunter's gold test is correct.

Product description...
"Mens or Womens Presidential Rolex Cluster Ring - 14k Solid Yellow Gold ring - Setting only -
Gift for him, husband, fiance, anniversary, birthday, pinky ring, thumb ring, statement ring, wedding band"
 

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It is off of a Rolex style men's ring. The piece was welded/soldered to the ring. View attachment 1756901

BINGO! That is an exact match. Thanks for the great ID. Also thanks to everyone for their input.

I looked it up and it is 14k not 12k. When I tested the gold for 14k. It held for a while then faded so I thought it was 12k. I guess I was wrong, but I would rather be conservative when it comes to that sort of thing. My ring part looks like an antiqued style of the one you found, but it is definitely an exact design match. Those rings are very pricey so the piece I originally thought was junk turns out to be a real winner.

Thanks again and keep swingin. Mark this one solved.
 

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