QuestionQUESTION: hi i found this ring when digging my garden i can make out one of the markings on it which read 18k (presuming that means 18carret) but cant figure out the others i have enclosed a photo of it just wondering if you could help get a clear idea of where it may be from or any other info would be a great help thank you in advance
P.S not sure if it bronze or gold
ANSWER: Dear Martin, I did not get the photo. Please try to attach it again. If the page does not have the "attach an image" link, please send the question on letting me know and ask from a fresh page. Thanks!
When I see it I will give it a shot. Maker's marks are about impossible pin down but metal quality is easier if the marks show.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
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ring
QUESTION: hi i found this ring when digging my garden i can make out one of the markings on it which read 18k (presuming that means 18carret) but cant figure out the others i have enclosed a photo of it just wondering if you could help get a clear idea of where it may be from or any other info would be a great help thank you in advance
unfortunately i am unable to get a decent picture of the markings as it just gets distorted but i have enclosed a pic of the ring ,, i believe the first 3 are TJR then 18k (TJR is a rough guess as i stated it was dug up from the garden i have cleaned it as best as i can but its not very clean
AnswerMartin, I would dearly love to tell you all about this found ring but simply cannot considering what there is to work.
If of precious metal and manufactured in the UK, the typical markings and ornate hallmarks of one of the assay offices would be present. These are struck deep enough that I suppose the marks would have survived at least enough to show a presence. If the marks are not there, then we have a ring from somewhere else or one not made of precious metals.
The TJR means nothing to me, unfortunately.
The ring appears to have been made by lost wax casting and very unlikely is hand fabrication considering the thickness of the material. The view also appears possibly to be a brass type of metal, not at all uncommon as a base for gold plated costume jewelry.
Ok, then what of the 18k mark? This is not the method of marking in the UK. For you what we in the USA call and spell karat is carat. (Yes, carat is also a weight of gemstones.) The ring has an 18k and the k is significant in this regard. The ring could be of American origin and the mark could be fully 18k HGE, which means a Heavy Gold Electroplate of 18 karat gold was applied over a base metal body. But you apparently see no evidence of that HGE mark.
Martin, I see no real option at this point but to take the ring to a jewellers (Yes, I can concede spelling once in a while). Call first to be certain the establishment will test metals. If so, take the ring and have the metal tested. It will only take a blink of an eye to know if this is base metal such as brass. And, if not that, a double check may show this ring to actually be made of 18k gold, an alloy which is 75 pure gold and typically the highest quality used in normal jewelry. That would be a fine result.
From this seat,I simply cannot tell more about your find. Please have the metal checked and know once and for all. Best wishes in this.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
