Ask Your Goldsmith:
Grampa's Ring

"Dear Hartmut,

My grampa left a ring to me. He said that it was passed down to him. I would like to find out how old it is. Can you tell me?

The ring is made of a piece of metal wrapped around onto itself. It's maybe 3-4 mm thick. It tarnishes easily and leaves a green mark like brass. It has markings: there is a detailed mark at the beginning but I can't figure out what it is (maybe a flower, a leaf and a cat tail?) 14k written above Krostfrei (the k is much bigger than the rest of the letters) a circle with a triangle and maybe a "g" inside it two flags with the sticks crossed inside the left flag is a three pointed mark and in the right flag is 14k.

I am interested in any thing you can tell me about this ring.
Thank you for your time and attention,

Laura


Hi Laura!

Thank you for you inquiry!

But without seeing the item, I can not tell anything, even with your detailed description! If it turns green, it's brass core, maybe hard gold plated. Stamps have little meaning without a registered trademark.

Krostfrei probably is K-rostfrei - Rostfrei means in German "stainless" - or will not rust Brass does not rust either ;-)

For more information, please read my other articles about Buying and Selling Jewellery, About Old Gold and Taking Care of Your Jewellery.

Have a Question? Get the Answer! info@westyorkjewellers.com

Sincerely,

Hartmut Reinsch
President
West York Jewellers
September 2005