Ring but no hallmark? Help

[rosierose12]

I've been gifted a ring, relatively modern with a small diamond, but apparently it doesn't have a hallmark. It previously needed sizing as it was tiny, and I mean tiny. The jeweller said it was very small for a ring, however they were able to read the hallmark then and gave a rough value for insurance at the time.

I've been looking at getting it revalued and I've been to 2 different jewellers who said they couldn't identify the metal and without a hallmark they couldn't quote but said it may be that the hallmark has been plated over when it was resized, which the gifter arranged. It doesn't and the jeweller I spoke to suggested ebay if I considered selling 😅

Just wondered if anyone has experienced similar and may be able to suggest what I can do? I have thought of asking the gifter for a certificate but we don't have the easiest of relationships, I'm just not sure what other options I have.

If the first jeweller found a hallmark and gave you a valuation, can you not just use that for the insurance? Do you really need more than one quote?

I'm looking at selling. They wouldn't offer as it's too modern but also difficult for them without a hallmark or being certain of metals.

A 'tiny ring with a small diamond' would have a retail value in the hundreds or very low thousands. Is that what the first jeweller told you? Not worth a lot of effort chasing it down. A competent jeweller can check the stone by size and clarity. Only the metal needs a hallmark. Without one, gold can be acid tested. If you can find one with a PMI or XRF tester, a 'we buy gold' outfit will tell you on the spot what metal mixture it is and the scrap (not replacement) value.

Are you near a jewellery quarter like Birmingham's or Hatton Garden? Plenty of shops there to help.

Yes, they said that, likely upper hundreds. I just want to sell it but the second wouldn't touch it as they didn't know the metal and there wasn't a hallmark. The first said they thought they could see something but it wasn't clear. If I go 'we buy gold', will they be able to issue something I could then take to other jewellers? I can't sell scrap as it has a diamond in and understand it's worth more as a whole piece. It is if I can get proof.

You could potentially get it acid tested to ascertain the metal.
The sale value will be very different to the insurance value though.
As a rough guide 18ct gold scraps at £56 ish/gram and 9ct gold is 28ish/gram (and a potentially a small amount for a diamond)

Unfortunately not although I could make a special trip. Would be wary they might offer less given the number of jewellers there/pick of the best but maybe I'd be wrong?

The value I was given was sale value today but they wouldn't take it. Just want something I could take with it to 'prove' its value so to speak.

A very small ring could be as little as 1 gram. 9 carat gold (9ct, 9K or 375/1000) is the most common purity. Scrap value is £30 per gram, and you'd only get a percentage of that. The stone is unlikely to be worth much more. If you sell it as pre-owned jewellery, eg on eBay, you have to be able to describe it. A local auction house would do all that for you, but check what their premium is for a big surprise.

They will actually pay better, as they work on high-volumes low-margins. However expect closer to scrap than resale value, which probably wouldn't cover the train fare.

If the ring likely has a good value, just have it re-hallmarked. I was going to say you'll need your own sponsor's mark which complicates matters, but then I spotted that Edinburgh Assay Office say this on their website:

Members of the public may have up to 5 items hallmarked under our Sponsor’s Mark (EAO) on a one-off basis. If you require further, regular hallmarking, you must register yourself.

I imagine all 4 Assay Offices will offer the no-registration service above. Hallmarking will be about £30-£40. You'll find an Assay Office in Birmingham, London, Sheffield and London. They will all handle this by post, you don't have to visit.

Without seeing it, I think you have little to make on this, sorry. It is tiny and the stone is small. The style is niche. If they filled the hallmark while resizing it, they did a bad job. You need to find someone equipped to test the metal and assess the stone. Or just go by that first valuation. At your nearest medium-sized town, take it into any jewellers with a pre-owned section in the window until one shows interest.

Jewellery is worth a fraction of the insurance value of you sell op.

As an example I had a diamond-set wedding ring, 8 tiny diamonds. I bought it for £600 but was offered only £60 resale. My engagement ring was designed by us together, worked with a trusted jeweller and cost nearly £3k, insured as much with an independent valuer, I was offered £400 WITH all the right hallmarks and quality stones.

eBay is hugely risky as a buyer without a Hallmark, or independent insurance valuation stating the metal or quality of the stone.