Featured To polish or not to polish antique garnet?

Wore this ring the other day and I thought about how much better it would be if the garnet was polished to its original shine. It's so dull and boring as is and isn't fun to wear. I however am almost always against polishing antique jewelry as I like patina and character. In this case though I think it may be acceptable to polish the stone? I'd keep the gold the same maybe a light buff and clean... what do you all think?

 

I think bringing the stone back, if you can, would be a good idea. Gold with wear is nice but a dull stone is a shame.

 

What do you consider jeweler's paste?

 

Clean it ! I know I buck the tide on the conventional wisdom of original finish ,etc, but i just cant stand a dirty looking piece . I still loathe the distressed finish.

 

Agreed on getting it polished. It's a rock that you wear for the play of light. In this case it makes sense.

 

Red rouge would polish the metal,but it won't do anything to the garnet.The garnet would need to be sanded smooth with silicon carbide sanding paper and then use cerium oxide solution/paste on a piece of leather or a lapidary polishing wheel.

 

Thanks all! What would be a fair price ro pay for a stone polishing? Is this ring victorian or more 1910s?

I'm hoping for it to look like this!

 

I hope so too..

 

Odd (wo)man out, I'd leave it be. The matte finish tells me it's an old piece and gives an indication of the lift it led.

 

It is yours to do with as you please.
I would have the stone polished, but not over-polished so it looks new. It has to have a slightly antique look. Like obb I would leave the gold as is.

 

be careful what you use, this type bar is made with DE(diatomaceous earth) a fossilized ameba often used is most abrasives, including tooth paste . It is great to remove tarnish from silver as well as oxidation from gold and other precious metals.

you need a stone polish similar to this one depending where you are buying from.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/VOPPV-St...d_id=612734&campaign_id=9383&sharedid=6080654

or possibly something just a bit stronger in your case. I am sure you should be able to search something online. Else bring it to a jewelry to be sure. IMO