Are 1940s diamond rings worth anything?

[Stupidstupidcow]

I urgently need to scrape some money together after seriously damaging my car today. DH is furious. The only thing I have that’s of any possible value is my Nan’s engagement ring. It’s a diamond ring from the 1940s and is of incomparable sentimental value to me but I think I’m going to have to accept that I need to let it go. Are standard diamond engagement rings from that era worth anything much? The replacement value when I had it adjusted (I wear it myself) was £1000 but I realise that’s likely to be a lot more than what I’d get if I sold it.

Sympathy OP. I had some very expensive damage too recently after meeting a bus on a bend. It’s an intimidating situation and easy to get into difficulties. In my case, I’d have readjusted if the bus hadn’t kept inching forward, leaving me no room and I panicked. But the liability is all mine.

I still think your dh is being a dick, but if he’s under that much pressure and stress it might be a kindness to ring the insurance yourself and take this one off his plate.

Don’t sell anything until you’ve figured out what kind of costs you’re actually looking at.

Regarding the ring,

1. the value depends on the nature of the stone and the intrinsic aesthetic value. Some 1940s rings have significant intrinsic value but many will be as worthless as modern rings.
2. sell it retail as high street jewellers won't pay fair value.
3. insurance values are a fiction. I've had to smile when colleagues have shown me their £5000/£10,000 'designer brand name' ring then commiserated a couple of years later when the true value is known after the end of a relationship is and it is what I knew, a few £100. There have been occasions when the insurance value is helpful after they reread the household policy then 'lose' the ring.
4. if you can afford to buy it later, possibly pawn it rather than sell it - pawn brokers at least offer a somewhat discounted but truer valuer if they want to make the loan.

As PPs have said about car insurance and DPs.

Dh is motor trade, one customer drove a 4wd over his motorised parking-bollards as he was being careless and they went into the engine. It was £40k for a new engine with labour and the insurance paid out.

Accidents happen! I had quite a bad accident last year and was in a mess about it. My bf was nothing but supportive. I sorted out things out with the insurance company. Your insurance should cover most of this surely?

You will get very little for the ring.

Thanks so much to everyone who replied. I was in too much of a state the other day to properly acknowledge all the advice and kind words but it was all very much appreciated 💐 By some miracle, it’s turned out to be only minor damage and the car is not completely fucked. Huge relief 🙏🏻

All's well that ends well. Would love to see a picture of the ring op, if thats not too cheeky.

Happy for you op. I too want to see the ring!

Oh, I'm so glad for you OP!

👏🏻