topic Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ? in Jewelry

What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

depglass — Sun, 23 May 2021 13:55:12 GMT

I need a jewelry historian here. My friend inherited an 18K white gold ring from her grandmother, who was born in 1893. The setting is about as high as an old Tiffany setting, but more of a basket design, not just straight prongs. There are 6 prongs and I'm guessing the stone is about a half carat. The only yellow stones I can think of are heliodor and sapphire. The stone is slightly included so I'm thinking its not a synthetic. The yellow is a medium shade. Unfortunately DD did my photo work when I sold on Ebay so I never bothered learning.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

LindaSal — Sun, 23 May 2021 14:04:14 GMT

I am not by far a jewelry historian but it could be anything at all. Maybe a yellow sapphire, diamond, or a citrine???? So many possibilities. Does she still have the ring?

I would take it to a jeweler to have it appraised and identified. It is intrigueing isn't it?

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Carmie — Sun, 23 May 2021 14:37:32 GMT

Before the mid 1800's diamonds were almost unheard of. The de Beers mining company pushed diamonds and created a market for them.

Engagment rings were made with many different types or colored stones and even glass. I inherited my maternal grandmother's engagement ring. It is 18k rose gold with small seed pearls and what I assumed a emerald...found out the emerald was glass. She was born in 1886.

If I had to guess, site unseen, I would say it is a yellow sapphire or citrine. It could as well be glass. Only a jewelry appraiser would know for sure by testing it.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Shanus — Sun, 23 May 2021 14:42:46 GMT

@depglass wrote:
I need a jewelry historian here. My friend inherited an 18K white gold ring from her grandmother, who was born in 1893. The setting is about as high as an old Tiffany setting, but more of a basket design, not just straight prongs. There are 6 prongs and I'm guessing the stone is about a half carat. The only yellow stones I can think of are heliodor and sapphire. The stone is slightly included so I'm thinking its not a synthetic. The yellow is a medium shade. Unfortunately DD did my photo work when I sold on Ebay so I never bothered learning.

@ I inherited gold earrings, stud style, from my grandmother. They had a cloudy yellow stone set in prongs in the middle. I took them to my jeweler who had no idea what the stones were. I enjoy them as is and don't worry, in this case. what they are or their worth.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Luvsmyfam — Sun, 23 May 2021 14:46:50 GMT

could be citrine depglass

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Janey2 — Sun, 23 May 2021 14:52:27 GMT

The only way to find out is to take the ring to a jeweler that knows gemstones. Could be glass or amber.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Pearlee — Sun, 23 May 2021 14:54:06 GMT

It could be many things, including a pale spessartite garnet. It needs to be tested by a gemologist, no sense guessing.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Kachina624 — Sun, 23 May 2021 15:31:47 GMT

@depglass Google has been great improved to the point where you can ask anything and get a decent answer. Take your title and post it in Google. I don't know that you'll get a specific yellow gemstone but there's some interesting info about vintage engagement rings. Yellow diamonds seemed to have been popular.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Still Raining — Sun, 23 May 2021 15:38:56 GMT

The best way is to take in to be evaluated. I did this with many pieces and sometimes I was actually given a offer and sometimes it was just good to know. It will also help when she passes it on.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

depglass — Sun, 23 May 2021 15:38:57 GMT

I knew I could get some good answers here. I never thought of a citrine because they always seem to have more gold than this stone. I will Google search and find a qualified gemologist, no one in our town has had true GIA training, it seems they all learned on the job.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Pearlee — Sun, 23 May 2021 15:54:33 GMT

@depglass My guess: yellow/golden. topaz

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Kachina624 — Sun, 23 May 2021 16:19:23 GMT

@depglass My guess is Helidore.

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/heliodor-golden-beryl-jewelry-gemstone-information/

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

decaf — Sun, 23 May 2021 16:38:46 GMT

Maybe Imperial topaz?

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

depglass — Sun, 23 May 2021 17:05:22 GMT

It doesn't have the gold that these suggestions show. This was a poor family, I'm told, so I'm wondering if there were any synthetics back then besides glass. Glass would be clear, this has slight cloudiness

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Desertdi — Sun, 23 May 2021 17:12:30 GMT

Off-color diamonds (lower price). GIA didn't start color grading them until the 1950's.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

SilleeMee — Sun, 23 May 2021 17:21:35 GMT

You can guess all you want but the only way to find out what kind of yellow stone you have is to take it to a jeweler.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

ECBG — Sun, 23 May 2021 17:24:54 GMT

I'm thinking yellow citrine. Yellow diamonds weren't sold then.

Tell you friend any semiprecious stone will become cloudy with exposure to soap.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

Pearlee — Sun, 23 May 2021 17:26:09 GMT

@SilleeMee Yes, several of us have posted that above, and I also guessed. No big deal.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

SilleeMee — Mon, 24 May 2021 12:04:32 GMT

@depglass wrote:
I need a jewelry historian here. My friend inherited an 18K white gold ring from her grandmother, who was born in 1893. The setting is about as high as an old Tiffany setting, but more of a basket design, not just straight prongs. There are 6 prongs and I'm guessing the stone is about a half carat. The only yellow stones I can think of are heliodor and sapphire. The stone is slightly included so I'm thinking its not a synthetic. The yellow is a medium shade. Unfortunately DD did my photo work when I sold on Ebay so I never bothered learning.

Okay so since this is a guessing game, I would have to guess it's a yellow sapphire simply based on "slightly Included" and probably not a citrine which is not commonly included, mostly free of inclusions. Topaz is usually free of inclusions as well, found clear. Citrine is also a relatively soft stone and can scratch or chip easily compared to a sapphire which, even today, is used in many engagement rings because of it's durability. If the ring is that old then a citrine would show a lot of wear and tear whereas a sapphire can stand the test of time.

Some sapphires, and certain topaz, fluoresce under UV light (a black light). Citrines do not at all.

Re: What yellow gem was used in engagement rings in the '1920s ?

KKWA — Sun, 23 May 2021 22:20:21 GMT

@depglass @I have one from that era, and was told it was a zircon. A jeweler told me it was a very common stone at that time. Mine actually sparkles more than a diamond.