✅ SOLVED Help with two rings, please!

[lenmac65]

I found these two rings on a beach earlier this week.

The first ring I believe is gold and is missing its stone. I don’t see any markings indicating the karat value, though I see fancy engraving of partial initials stating “O to P.” I also see this curious marking of 17 or 7 (see enlargement). Could this be a maker’s mark or perhaps a year? Is this some sort of indication of gold status? This ring looks old to me, but I am not very knowledgeable in this regard.

As for the second ring, I am actually seeking opinions whether it is indeed a ring. It looks like a ring and has what appear to be black stones around the entire edge. The only marking on the inside is the number 7, which I have no idea what that indicates. The outside is dull gray, while the inside is shinier and looks almost like some sort of silver plating. What do you think? Is this some sort of ring, or is it something altogether different?

Thanks for your comments and insights.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Diving for Pleasure and Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[xr7ator]

Both look like inexpensive, costume jewelry, plated rings. Keep at it and good luck! You'll score, just wait and see.

 

[lenmac65]

Both look like inexpensive, costume jewelry, plated rings. Keep at it and good luck! You'll score, just wait and see.

Thanks for your opinions. I can definitely agree with the silver one, and was not even sure it was jewelry at all. I am less certain about the gold. Maybe it is wishful thinking, but I did not think they would go thru the trouble of engraving costume jewelry. But, I am admittedly not knowledgeable and may have to get a test kit. I guess I found that mark curious. I will try to post another picture as an edit showing the initials. Thanks again.

 

[xr7ator]

For some reason I missed the engrave pics. I HOPE I'M WRONG and it IS gold!

 

[lenmac65]

For some reason I messed the engrave pics. I HOPE I'M WRONG and it IS gold!

You did not miss them, as I added them after reading your post. Thanks for the insights and encouragement.

 

[insontis]

I'm not sure about these in particular, but modern rings often have the ring size stamped inside. Any chance you have a ring mandrel and it's a size 7?

 

[Red-Coat]

I think you're reading what is probably just a manufacturer mark upside down. I see it like this, as a stylised 'LKY' (with perhaps another letter preceding the 'L'), although it's not a mark I recognise:

 

[lenmac65]

I'm not sure about these in particular, but modern rings often have the ring size stamped inside. Any chance you have a ring mandrel and it's a size 7?

Good point. I don't have a ring mandrel, but perhaps a local jeweler can help once open for business. Thanks!

 

[lenmac65]

I think you're reading what is probably just a manufacturer mark upside down. I see it like this, as a stylised 'LKY' (with perhaps another letter preceding the 'L'), although it's not a mark I recognise:

View attachment 1840447 View attachment 1840448

Brilliant! Very keen eye and a great possibility. Would such a mark be more common for real gold, particularly if old, or is that also common for cheap costume jewelry? Thanks for the idea and post!

 

[Red-Coat]

No, the presence of a maker/manufactuerer/distributor/retailer mark isn't an indication that a piece is precious metal. It's common for costume jewellery, but usually as part of the casting rather than stamped on afterwards.

I would agree that custom engraving of personal messages is an unusual thing on items that aren't precious metal... unless heavily plated, but stranger things are known. A jeweller would certainly do it if you paid, but would probably warn you about its quality and longevity if the item was thinly plated.

 

[insontis]

After looking at the photos somewhat from my phone, the first ring looks to be either gold or maybe gold filled. The second, costume. Pretty sure the 7 is ring size for sure on the second. Red-coat may be right on the sideways Y, or perhaps it's an arrow. Either way safe to assume it's part of the hallmark. The stamp is also pretty solid, deep. I'm also 100% with you on the engraving, but it doesn't necessarily rule out gold fill. Gold fill would also be marked, so the absence of a mark altogether honestly pushes me toward gold. The only foundation for that theory is that a gold mark could be worn off, or the ring could be resized and remove it in the process. You don't resize costume rings, either.

*test it.. test it..* /chant

 

[ARC]

Plated... both.

 

[lenmac65]

No, the presence of a maker/manufactuerer/distributor/retailer mark isn't an indication that a piece is precious metal. It's common for costume jewellery, but usually as part of the casting rather than stamped on afterwards.

I would agree that custom engraving of personal messages is an unusual thing on items that aren't precious metal... unless heavily plated, but stranger things are known. A jeweller would certainly do it if you paid, but would probably warn you about its quality and longevity if the item was thinly plated.

After looking at the photos somewhat from my phone, the first ring looks to be either gold or maybe gold filled. The second, costume. Pretty sure the 7 is ring size for sure on the second. Red-coat may be right on the sideways Y, or perhaps it's an arrow. Either way safe to assume it's part of the hallmark. The stamp is also pretty solid, deep. I'm also 100% with you on the engraving, but it doesn't necessarily rule out gold fill. Gold fill would also be marked, so the absence of a mark altogether honestly pushes me toward gold. The only foundation for that theory is that a gold mark could be worn off, or the ring could be resized and remove it in the process. You don't resize costume rings, either.

*test it.. test it..* /chant

Plated... both.

Thanks for the thoughts. I definitely agree the gray one is costume, probably plated, and that the 7 is likely a ring size. I am still thinking the other one is gold, as I have the benefit of having it in my hand and just have a gut feeling looking at the engraved message. Still, I am biased and no expert, so I am going to have to get a test kit to be sure. I have been reluctant to buy one so far, but I have been finding gold, or seemingly gold, items lately at the beach, so it might be the time. I am going to mark this solved, as I got an answer on the gray ring and some good insights on the "gold" ring. Thank you all.

 

[ARC]

Well... if the one is gold... I wouldn't be surprised if been in salt for eons... I have seen gold look like that before... low Karat gold that is.

The ring could even be 8-9 K... which would definitely look like that.... personally though... I would bet... plated brass / copper...

DUE to only being able to see it VIA a picture only.

IF... I were holding it... then my opinion might be very different.

OH... PS...

Note the heavy greening.

 

[lenmac65]

Well... if the one is gold... I wouldn't be surprised if been in salt for eons... I have seen gold look like that before... low Karat gold that is.

The ring could even be 8-9 K... which would definitely look like that.... personally though... I would bet... plated brass / copper...

DUE to only being able to see it VIA a picture only.

IF... I were holding it... then my opinion might be very different.

OH... PS...

Note the heavy greening.

Thanks for the insights. My camera kind of stinks and my photo skills are not great. Seeing the ring in person, it is tarnished around the mount, but I don't think it is green - more grayish blue, I suppose. I got to make the effort to get a test kit. Thanks for taking the time to comment. ... I do see the green right next to the L. That was actually something stuck to the surface of the ring, which I have since scraped right off...sorry.

 

[ARC]

With all that... I would bet it may be 10k.

 

[randazzo1]

I agree with what’s said above. Engraved ring is either gold filled (my instinct) or low karat gold.

 

[lenmac65]

With all that... I would bet it may be 10k.

I agree with what’s said above. Engraved ring is either gold filled (my instinct) or low karat gold.

Thank you both. Here is an updated photo slightly cleaned. If you have any tips to remove tarnish or a good link, I am open to it. Thanks!

 

[CASPER-2]

I believe the one missing the stone is gold - darker color is due to silver being the added alloy to it
which they did in 100+ yrs ago with 10K

 

[CASPER-2]

if silver is the added alloy - you can clean it but it will keep turning dark again - the silver will keep tarnishing slowly again and again
probably one of the reasons they went to other alloys - I hit mainly old beaches in the water and large % of my rings are old or very old gold