Tidal Silver and old Gold

[bonepicker]

So I’m not much of a beach hunter, but I think that is about to change. Always been a inland coin, relic, token hunter.
My beaches are typically littered with modern trash. Most people that can afford nice jewelry do not come to Mississippi for the beaches.
Yesterday I took my 3 year old daughter with me for a short hunt to look for treasure.
To my surprise we dug a nice sterling claddagh ring that was most likely a recent drop.

So decided to go back this morning for a couple hours and bring the big Nuttal Scoop I never use. Was able to work the Low tide range and it wasn’t long that I pulled a large ring with a red stone that has a 10K mark.

Not long after this I dug another 10K ring that says 1922.
I believe this is a 100 year old class ring.



Hunted for a while longer and found a thin damaged band with clear stone that I think is plated. Looks like I see some brass shining through.



Probably spent less than 4 hours digging and ended up with 4 rings. I think I’m gona have to spend a little more time on the beach..
So how do people clean old saltwater tarnished gold.?
Thanks for looking

 

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[CASPER-2]

baking soda and water rub may give them a little shine
old 10k will turn black when they have silver added to the alloy
to get them show room gold again - may take electrolysis

 

[GoDeep]

The beaches there may have more gold in them then most since others were thinking as you previously did.

 

[Blak bart]

Nice work bonepicker !! I really like that red stone !! Beautiful collection of rings...congrats !!

 

[cudamark]

Vinegar soak and then a baking soda rub, electrolysis, or some JewelLuster/EZest type jewelry cleaner. Sometimes I use a combination of them to get the desired end result.

 

[bonepicker]

Vinegar soak and then a baking soda rub, electrolysis, or some JewelLuster/EZest type jewelry cleaner. Sometimes I use a combination of them to get the desired end result.

Tried a little soak and a light polish.
I was skeptical about the ring with the red stone, because it was so tarnished.
Looks pretty good now, but unfortunately too small for me.
Any ideas on the stone?
Bling bling.!

 

[Blak bart]

Beautiful

 

[crashbandicoot]

Looks like you may have discovered a fine place to hunt. Never say never until you,ve tried.God luck on more great finds.

 

[OBN]

Those are some great looking golds! For sure a old class ring too and a real Beauty!!!

I dig a lot older stained gold.. ..I would recommend Mothers Mag wheel polish. Takes less then a few minutes to clean.

 

[bonepicker]

Those are some great looking golds! For sure a old class ring too and a real Beauty!!!

I dig a lot older stained gold.. ..I would recommend Mothers Mag wheel polish. Takes less then a few minutes to clean.

Nice ring and clean-up.
So it this what you are referring to as Mother’s wheel polish?

 

[CASPER-2]

Id get out farther there when water temps rise
if youre getting finds like that in close - probably a gold mine little farther out
many spots ive hit over the yrs have proven that
continued good luck

 

[OBN]

5 oz size Mothers , a good towel and couple med tooth brush. Tooth brush is good for polishing in the crevice's, then a second is good for cleaning out the polish, which is white and get stuck in the crevice's like the class rings. Looking thru my pictures I think the tooth brushes really helped. I got better at cleaning.

If you have a bad stone, dull.. chipped...you can use clear finger nail polish to make it look new also. third picture..

 

[ARC]

baking soda and water rub may give them a little shine
old 10k will turn black when they have silver added to the alloy
to get them show room gold again - may take electrolysis

Tarnex soak for 30 seconds... may need second dip... rub with soft cloth.

Will be brand new.

WARNING - Never use Tarnex on pearls...opal... turquoise malachite... and a few others.

Primarily use on just all metal items and stuff with glass or hard stones that have no polishes,

 

[ARC]

Tarnex soak for 30 seconds... may need second dip... rub with soft cloth.

Will be brand new.

WARNING - Never use Tarnex on pearls...opal... turquoise malachite... and a few others.

Primarily use on just all metal items and stuff with glass or hard stones that have no polishes,

Edited.

 

[cudamark]

Tried a little soak and a light polish.
I was skeptical about the ring with the red stone, because it was so tarnished.
Looks pretty good now, but unfortunately too small for me.
Any ideas on the stone?
Bling bling.!
View attachment 1998582View attachment 1998583

Garnet?

 

[RichsEquinox]

Really nice hunt getting those 4 rings in 4 hours, congratulations! Bet you’ll be a beach hunter more now that you had such a rewarding one.

 

[saltednuts]

There is a coin cleaner known as MS-70 fantastic on silver and gold just follow instructions! You can use it on copper, brass and bronze but I don't RECOMMEND it. Why, I practically ruined an 1864 L on head band MS-65 Indian Head Penny by soaking to long because I forgot and left it in solution for 2 hours, won't do that again. With that said it is great on gold and silver. The trouble with tarnex is it removes a layer of metal, trust me been doing this for 50 years coin collecting and metal detecting, tried all kinds of gimmicks these are what works for me. Ask any coin dealer or jeweler if they can tell if a coin or jewelry piece has been cleaned with tarnex . It's ok if you don't care because they may be common date stuff, me personally try not to ruin anything.