QuestionHi - I recently bought a ring at a antiques fair. The woman said it was silver with a gold overlay. Did not specify HGE or rhodium plate. It appears gold in color, like the color of 10K or 14K. Also, it has stones in it, they are all open in the back, but the largest has a gold "film" over it. Is there a way to test it at home to determine what it is made of or do I need to take it to a jeweler? Also, how do I tell if the stones are real - any test I can do for that? (The ring does resemble a ring I bought years ago from Shop NBC that was silver with a gold overlay, and also looks like a ring I saw recently in a store where the seller told me it was rhodium plated.) Thanks for any info you can provide. You can use this on your site. regards, Donna
AnswerDonna, if the ring has a sterling quality mark somewhere and is gold plated, you have vermeil. That is sterling with a breath of gold on it. Otherwise, with no real markings, it would need to be tested and that would mean a jeweler who does basic metal testing.
The center stone with the gold film is likely a glass rhinestone, the sort called a foil back. These have a mirror foil on the back of the stone to make it look brighter from the front. This stone would make me think the item is costume, gold plated but who knows what metal is beneath. Stone testing is too involved try without lots of experience and knowledge and equipment. Do check to see how the stone are set into the ring. If stones are cemented in(look closely at the edges and look for prongs which actually hold the stones in place) then the item is certainly costume.
Best wishes on it being silver..when the gold wears away you would then have a silver ring, rhinestone center or not.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
