Jewelry

[depglass]

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.  

[LindaSal]

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?

[Carmie]

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.

[Shanus]

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@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.  

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@ 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. 

[Luvsmyfam]

could be citrine depglass

[Janey2]

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

[Pearlee]

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

[Kachina624]

@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. 

[Still Raining]

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.

[depglass]

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.