Comments for Date of ring 1855 or 1931? H.A query on gold ring

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Thank You Jan!
by: Anonymous

Hi Jan thank you for your in depth comments. In many cases, (not always ;-) an appraiser is able to provide more information, on the basis of being able see and feel the piece in their hand.

Unfortunately, not everyone can arrange to do this.

Jan, it appears you have gained valuable knowledge of Antique jewelry over the years yourself. Your knowledge and experience is so much appreciated by Antique Jewelry Investor.

Just tick the "volunteer" box and register as a volunteer. Help Central is a Free Service.

The expert appraisal service is separate.

At the Jewelry Help Forums we are trying to help each other, gratis pooling our collective knowledge for the love of antique jewelry, so to speak, and we appreciate your input.

Best Wishes,

Yvonne

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followup comment re hallmarks and duty stamps
by: Jan Noack

Duty Marks: Between 1784 and 1890 an excise on gold and silver articles was collected by the Assay Offices and a mark depicting the Sovereign’s head was struck to show that it had been paid. For the years 1849 and 1855 the head was the "Young Victoria".
I knew this from silver spoon collecting, but I had read that it didn't always get stamped on gold rings?

Size of hallmarls smaller in earlier period?

The other comment the valuer made which I wasn’t sure if was correct was that the hallmarks could not be from the 1850s and had to be from the 1930’s or later as they used smaller hallmarks in the 1850’s? I would have thought there was a range of hallmarks to fit the various size rings? – not smaller hallmarks in an earlier period?
Does anyoe know if the assay office I Birmingham would have a range of sizes of hallmarks-which was always my assumption?

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1931 or 1855 are hallmarks fake on both rings?
by: Jan Noack

I took the rings in the photo to an expert in antique jewellery to get a verbal valuation and to check whether she thought the wedding ring was 1855 or 1931.

She said it looked like a 1931 ring and it didn't matter that the G was close to the 1855 G and not the 1931 G in style or background shape. It was a G and the style of the ring was that of 1931.

She said it couldn't be 1855 as the ring lacked the Young Victoria head. (see following c)

If not, maybe I had 2 rings purchased from 2 different good friendly sellers in the UK which both had fake hallmarks? Or both had not paid duty?

As this ring has identical shaped crown, anchor, and background to year stamp and sizing of hallmarks, I showed the 1849 hallmarked opal ring (in photo middle finger, and also see separate photo with hallmarks) to the valuer. She said it was not 1849 as it did not look like a 1849 ring, both the style and the opals did not look 1849, more like 1996. She would not believe anything before 1945. The hallmarks also did not contain a duty head stamp.

I agree that the opals do look more like 1990's as they do not have the colour of my other opal ring. (also in photo 4th finger bottom ring- it was my great Aunt's ring ca 1908 - her engagement ring with Australian opals). It was purchased in Manchester I think as that is where she lived at the time. The opals have a lot more colour/fire.

I was wondering
1. Did they make rings without paying duty and getting the duty stamp. Maybe the duty stamp was added later when the ring was purchased and duty paid?, so there may be some rings mad that missed out on duty stamps but got the other hallmarks?

2. I noticed since that many items are stating the hallmarks on 19th century rings and note stating a sovereigns head stamp- are there a LOT of fakes out there now , or a lot of rings didn't pay the duty? There are fakes in other areas, like fakes 19th century furniture which are exact replicas even with the wood used and with the added aging marks- So is this happening with rings?

It appears I have to be expert enough to KNOW the correct style of ring for the period as well as have all the hallmarks (including the duty stamp) correct to know it isn’t a replica , aged appropriately for wear?

Re the 1931 wedding ring : she also agreed with me that if the ring was 1931, the H.A stamp was not Atkin Bros and her books (with a quick glance) she could also not find any matching maker for the makers mark.

Re The 1849 opal ring-all the hallmarks match for 1849, the makers mark, the 1849 stamp and background etc- it just doesn't look like a 1849 ring to her and the opals do look more the lower quality used in the 1990's jewellery in Australia (I agree with that)

I don't really want to just accept the expert's opinion, as she only gave the rings a cursory glance (as I could not afford to pay for more time)

Does anyone have any thicker gold rings around 1850 ? Any thoughts from your own rings around the 1850 mark anyone?

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colour of gold in 22ct gold wedding ring
by: Jan Noack

I waited for a qualified expert in antique jewellery valuation to return from holidays and went into her store. The colour of the 22ct wedding ring matched that of a 1907 sovereign that was in the store perfectly, so Now I know it is 22ct gold and the composition of the gold is .916 gold, rest copper as in crownn gold.(the gold used in British sovereigns).

The description said rose gold, and also in a different place yellow gold. I know now it is crown gold. I'm unsure but I wouldn't think that crown gold would be called rose gold? (I purchased the ring it from a photo only unfortunately). Anyway different gold colour now explained fully.

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thanks Brenda
by: Anonymous

yes, the ring is 22 ct gold. I was wondering if same colour as a sovereign, that would be 22ct gold and the rest copper?

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Colour of Gold
by: Brenda

The photo with the single ring looks like high karat so assuming this is the 22kt ring.

the others both look like rose gold so they would have more copper in the casting mix to give it that rose colour.

when looking at gold you have to remember that every company has a different 'recipe' so to speak for their gold casting so each company's finished colour would vary. whatever the karat stamp is should be what gold content it is (especially British stamps), but colour can and does vary depending on the manufacturer due to the recipe of alloys they are mixing in with the karat gold.

hope that helps at least on the colour...rings look pretty! enjoy them.

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