Identifying a Historic Ring: Analysis of 'Mary Hooper' and Date

Question
I was given a ring that is gold and silver (or plantinum) that has a small heart-shaped diamond in the center and around the back there are some swags with the words "Mary Hooper," the next says "OB:22," the next says "Nov," then "1748," and finally "AE 56." What can you tell me about this ring? I love it since it came from a friend.

Thanks.

Answer
Hello Joanna and thank you for your inquiry. Your ring sounds lovely. The letters with the numbers sound like possibly a dedication or memorial and the 1748 as a date would be a fantastic find ! Since there are no metal markings i.e. karat gold, you should take it to an estate jewelry appraiser for research. They can perform a metal test to determine the carat gold or platinum content and also the quality and size of the diamond. Can your friend give you any information as to where the ring originally came from or if it was a family heirloom. You can check with your local museum for a referral to an appraiser and I think it would be well worth the cost (probably minimal for 1 item) for any solid information you could receive. Sorry I couldn't be of more help to you on this, but good luck !