Featured Artisan brutalist gold ring

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by verybrad, May 27, 2024.

  1. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Picked this up a little over a week ago from a thrift store along with the things posted on my last finds post. Thrift didn't think it was complete junk as it was priced $20.00. I was able to get it for $15.00. Totally unmarked. Waited to get some good pictures so I could post here.

    Seems to be a combination of both yellow and white gold. Maybe yellow gold plated that is worn, though the patterning is not totally consistent with natural wear. The yellow vs. white areas show up much better in the photos than when directly viewed. I have streak tested this in a few places and acid tested directly on the band as well. Tests 14K. Think this is likely bench made. Note the difference in prong size. Two are large, one is medium, and one is small in size.

    Would the stone be a blue topaz? Either high quality or lab created, as I see little in the way of inclusions. Suppose it could be glass. The bottom of the stone has some mottling that shows well in the one photo from above. I had not noticed this until I saw the photo. Thoughts on the stone? Thought about the ring in general are appreciated.

    ring.jpg
    ring2.jpg
    ring3.jpg
    ring4.jpg
    ring5.jpg
     
  2. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    It's cool!
    I don't see any silk or zoning in it, so maybe lab sapphire.
    I think late 70s-mid 80s. Nugget style jewelry was all the rage then.
     
  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    very sweet Brad !!!!!
    so you're getting into jewelry now......:playful::playful:
     
  4. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    I worked part time for a jewelry store many years ago and have always bought gold and silver jewelry when I find it. Unfortunately, my sister claims most of my finds ..... including this ring.
     
  5. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Lab sapphire or kyanite would be my guesses. It's not the blue of blue topaz or blue tourmaline. The cut of the stone is unusual.
     
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  6. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    The cut of the stone doesn't look unusual,looks like thousands of others cut in India,Ceylon,etc. They were cut for weight and not regular facet angles.
     
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  7. johnnycb09

    johnnycb09 Well-Known Member

    2nd pic down,is that writing I see or just scratches ?
     
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  8. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Hope that thing pans out! When I see a squared-off shank I automatically think gold-filled, or vermeil on the high end. The discolorations can happen when gold is exposed to something like onions, even to the solid stuff. The stone looks synthetic from here, which means little.
     
  9. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    Intriguing ring! Definitely looks artisan.

    Question about the view from the 2nd photo. It almost looks like the "Brutalist" part is sticking out inside of the ring -- am I seeing that right? Does it fit smoothly?

    If it's gold, this was a killer deal.
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2024
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  10. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    It looks like an emerald cut to me.

    (In this case 'emerald' refers to the shape, not the type of stone.)
     
  11. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Have been back over this with a loupe and there is no writing or marks. The inside of the ring is textured from the design features but is not rough. All the little cubes of gold are flattened inside.

    Appreciate the comments. I am 99% sure this is gold. I made pretty good streaks from 3 different places on my test stone. The 10 and 14K acid had no reaction. The 18K acid lifted and desolved the streaks. The 14K acid applied directly on the band did not react. The band turned slightly brown but it wiped right off. I did not try the stronger acid on it. Short of making some very deep scratches in it, I am not sure how I can be more sure. I did apply the 14K acid to the same spot on the band where I rubbed the stone to make a streak.
     
  12. Desertau

    Desertau Well-Known Member

    Nice find, if you have one near by, pawn shops can be a good resource. Most have some way to XRF the metal and they may also have expertise or at least equipment to refractive test stones.
     
  13. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Looks like a blue spinel... :cyclops:
    Of course there are synthetic ones;)
    Good news with jour testing!
     
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