I inherited a ring. How can I tell what the stone is?

[PlaymobilPirate]

It was my grandmother's - she'll have got engaged 1940s I think but I've no idea whether it's as old as that or whether she replaced her original.

I think it's cubic or glass but it glowed blue under uv lights today when I got my nails done and heard that might mean it's real?

It's hugely sentimental so I'm only bothered in case I need to insure it. Would glass still be very shiny after all these years?

@TougheningUp
CZs only reflect white light; diamonds sparkle all colours.

Not true, CZ's sparkle all colours of the rainbow. They are literally man-made diamonds. A very quick "by eye" test is that because real diamonds come in many grades for clarity and brilliance, the real thing can sometimes look a little bit grey tones when placed next to a cz stone.

OP, that is a beautiful ring, I'd love to have one like it.
It's very likely a real diamond.

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned the natural gemstone stone Zircon. It's clear and also when cut reflects all colours of the rainbow like a diamond.

www.ajsgem.com/gemstone-information/white-zircon-56.html

I'm lying in bed trying to get to sleep by playing on MN (!) but if I think of it I'll post a pic in the morning

Old brilliant cut diamonds sparkle differently to modern cuts.

I'll bet you a fiver it's worth £3k to replace, easily. That's about 3/4 of a carat central stone (hard to tell from pic!) Plus edging stones.

Looks real to me based on the setting and style.

It's really pretty.

Hard to say what it's worth though.

It's a good size stone but a lot depends on the 3 C's (cut, clarity, colour) when it comes to value.

Also be mindful of insurance valuation vs sale value.

I inherited a ring with a stone a bigger than yours (but not massively so) from my great aunt. The diamond was flawless. Insurance value was £18k but if I'd wanted to sell it, realistically I'd probably get about £7/8k for it. In the end I had it remodelled into a necklace (given I had my own ring thanks to DH).

Similar situation here, but ours was a totally different coloured stone.

The guess for ours was an Edwardian ring, platinum setting with 18 carat gold band, blue zircon for the main stone and diamond chips surrounding it.

Very pretty, but sadly I hardly wear it.

To find out more about it, I popped into a local jewellers who have me more information. I have never had it valued though.

Beautiful regardless of stone :)

Ps - yours is a truly stunning ring OP.

Take it to a jeweller with FGA after their name.

Your ring is very similar to mine. It’s gold and platinum. And my stone is a full carot. Mines an old antique ring. I think yours is gold platinum and a real diamond. It’s stunning 😍

Looks like a very real diamond to me or potentially a white sapphire. Get it checked out!

Thank you. My DGF obviously had good taste!

My dh was a jeweller for many years and people would take their jewellery (not just rings) in all the time to find out what they really are, not knowing what is in your ring is nothing to be embarrassed about, especially as it was inherited.

A good independent jeweller is good for this or the better chains. Personally I would avoid the chains which sell the lower quality jewellery. If you are in the north, Northern Goldsmiths are reliable (or at least used to be and we still know some people who work in some of the Newcastle/Metro Centre shops.)

My engagement ring cost £3700 14 years ago so i wondered if i ought to add it as separate item on house insurance. I popped into Goldsmiths to ask their opinion. They looked at it through that glass thing and told me it would be worth in region of £10k now. They could tell it was diamond and size and had v small inclusion. Take yours in verbal valuation was free and took about 15 mins. Yours is pretty ring they cleaned mine for free too and checked setti g was not loose.

A pawnbroker will know if it's a diamond.

I'm sorry to go against the grain but that second picture didn't look right to me - a very high table. I'm no jeweller though.

OP, it's really worth finding an independent jeweller. They know their stuff and if you go on for just a bit of help, they won't charge you. They will just tell you if it's real or not. Can you google places in other towns or even small places near you?

We have one about 6 miles from us, the guy has been in diamonds and jewellery all his life, does a lot of repairs etc, and from the window outside you can watch him working on jewellery. He would love to hear your story and help for nothing!

Also really important. You need the setting checked. I have a ring that I wear on my little finger, it is over 100 years old. I had it checked out when my Gran died a long time ago. But then left it for decades.
The tiny flawless diamond dropped out. It's a long really amazing story, I don't want to hijack your thread, but this tiny diamond was found 6 days later and I had to have it reset.

The setting on your ring might well be very weak. If it's diamonds it's well worth having it checked and a reputable jeweller making sure you aren't going to lose any of the stones.

I know this is a sideline but how often should we get settings checked? On newer jewellery I mean? (Just thinking on my own engagement ring now)

Don't be sorry Widgeon, I really don't mind either way. Slightly better daylight pic - it sparkles a bluey colour here

Someone told me that if you breathe on diamonds there should be no condensation. It worked on the rings I tried it on.

Gold with a platinum setting (or shank) was very common in the forties

I inherited my grandmother's engagement ring from the early 40s and my mother told me it wasn't worth much as it was only gold plated - it was stamped PLAT inside - plus no way would my grandad have been able to spent much on a ring during the war. I loved it anyway for sentimental reasons.

Well, my mother was rather wrong as I found out recently when I lost one of the tiny 'diamonds' in it and took it to be replaced. PLAT does not mean gold plated, but platinum, and the 'diamonds' are def real - and it is now insured for almost £3K! I wouldn't have worn it daily if I'd know how much it was worth. Also wondering how on earth my grandad afforded it back then.

really pretty. yes a pawnbroker would know but whether they would tell you if you're not pawning it or selling it I don't know.

I think it’s set in platinum- similar to my engagement ring I inherited from my grandma. Don’t think they would bother setting glass in 18ct gold and platinum...