Featured My Mom's Engagement Ring

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by Deb D., Feb 28, 2026 at 3:35 PM.

  1. Deb D.

    Deb D. Well-Known Member

    Has to be from the early 1950s (mom & dad were married in September 1951). My aunt is drooling to get it from me, but it is very sentimental and in a safety deposit box. I have no idea what was originally paid for it (obviously purchased before I was born and it was never discussed). The inscription indicates to me it's 14 carat gold.

    A few years ago I took it to a local jeweler for appraisal. Instead of telling me the value, he just said, "I'll give ya five bucks for it." I said the red stones were rubies. He said they were garnets and virtually worthless. I read somewhere that real rubies glow under UV light (photo included, but I'm still unsure).

    Needless to say I did not accept the offer. He probably just saw it for a melt value. He's gone OOB now.

    Any comments welcome.

    ring2.jpg ring2a.jpg ring2c.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2026 at 4:15 PM
  2. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    A number of garnet types will glow under a UV light.
    Any comments welcome.
     
  3. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    I think it's lovely and $5 for a 14k ring is absurd!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Deb, look for a private conversation from me.
     
  4. NanaB

    NanaB Well-Known Member

    I agree it is lovely
     
    wlwhittier and Deb D. like this.
  5. Deb D.

    Deb D. Well-Known Member

    Jewelers seem worse than used car dealers. ;)
     
    NanaB, Any Jewelry, Misfit38 and 2 others like this.
  6. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    Very interesting discussion.

    I was recently thinking of taking some of my family jewelry to a jeweler to get an appraisal. So that I could potentially sell it. I don't have photos here, but one piece is a 14K gold bracelet (marked on the clasp as such) and it has charms on it. The charms as far as I can see are not marked. I know nothing about jewelry.

    I weighed it and it was about 3.4 ounces.

    I have had it for over 30 years.

    Any advice would be helpful. Thank you
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  7. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    96 grams. Times .585. Times $168.
    Yeah, as a bracelet it will never be worth that.
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2026 at 4:58 PM
  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    u want to sell the metal at the best price.....find a refiner.

    other wise I' don't know of a jeweller who'll give you fair price, or an auction where u could achieve anywhere near market value...

    :(:(:(
     
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  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    gold , has now become outlandishly expensive................
     
  10. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    Thanks Komo. I have to google it and see where a refiner might be.

    The place near me that I wanted to go to just closed its doors after decades They only bought like estate jewelry. I never went to them.

    I need to figure this out somehow. I would love to be able to pay off some medical and car bills.
     
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  11. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Mom had one of those...........I loved playing with it as a kid...

    one day, she gave it to my young daughter......I railed against that....

    My daughter does not remember receiving it................ aww well....:oops:
     
    Any Jewelry and pearlsnblume like this.
  12. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    I feel you !!!
    Do your research........... do it well....and good luck !!!
     
    Any Jewelry and pearlsnblume like this.
  13. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    Thanks Komo.
    I appreciate your input.
     
    Any Jewelry and komokwa like this.
  14. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    I have seen tourmaline this color, but never garnet. They look like rubies to me. Small lab grown rubies have been produced for more than 100 years, so there's that possibility.

    Maybe offer your aunt some other keepsake.
     
  15. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    My aunt is drooling to get it from me, but it is very sentimental and in a safety deposit box.

    So , do u like your aunt ?
    offer it to her at a fair price........

    if it's so special to you , then why isn't it where you can see it and enjoy it ???
     
  16. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Lovely ring, Deb.:)
    Criminal. The stones are indeed rubies, but even if they were garnets, the ring would still be worth something.
    Both natural and synthetic rubies glow under UV light. Synthetic rubies glow more orangey. To me these look like natural rubies.
     
    komokwa likes this.
  17. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Afaik most garnets don't react to UV light, only some grossular garnets glow a little. Grossular garnets don't look like the stones in the ring.
     
  18. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    :arghh:
     
    komokwa and pearlsnblume like this.
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