Question
mayan ring
I have a ring with the history it was given to an American missionary serving the Mayan people (said to have been hand crafted) in appreciation for her undying work and dedication.
The ring has been jeweler tested and is thought to be pure gold.g The weight is 11.09 grams. I understand it would have been around 1930 that the ring was presented to her.
I would appreciate if I could be directed to a source that would be able to assist with history and value.
Thank you
AnswerHello Gail and thank you for your inquiry. Your ring is very pretty. Most items referred to as "pure gold" are actually 18K or below. 24K pure gold is too soft to be suitable for most jewelry items and other metals must be added to make the gold harder. The percentage of the other metals determine the karat of the gold. A jeweler can determine the karat by using an acid test which, if done properly, will not harm the item. Most Myan jewelry centered around their deities and royalty including their unique calendar system. Your ring design probably also fits into one of those categories. There are many sites online that you can research for a similar design. Just search for "Myan jewelry designs". Below is one I found particularly interesting:
http://www.mayancraftsyucatan.com/
Just copy and paste the above url into your browser address field and hit enter.
As far as value is concerned - gold value would depend on gold prices which fluctuate daily and is figured by the gram. In order to get an appraisal value, you would need to have it done by a professional estate jewelry appraiser or jeweler. Market value would also reflect the rarity and demand for a particular item. Since you already have some provenance, that would also add to the item's appeal.
Hope this helps and enjoy your ring !
Sally
jarrettsjade.com
