Jump to content

Mystery Ring ID Help


Recommended Posts

I was detecting on the beach today and found a large men's ring. VDI rings up low at a consistent 10 on the Equinox 800. The color outside is silvery, the inside golden. No markings, size 10.25, heavy at 5.34 grams. At first glance it appeared to be tungsten. When I got home I checked the VDI of my 4 tungstens and they were all 17-20 for similarly sized rings.

Next the acid test, drops are from left to right, 14k passed, 18k passed, 22k fail, platinum fail, silver fail. Scratch test scratch was vigorous to get to the base metal. Could this really be a 18k ring, being silvery colored on the outside and golden on the inside? Has anyone seen a gold ring like this?

5ab82baea7a42__DSC4761copy.thumb.jpg.d2e1f10e5a0f59e37361b696a466d6e9.jpg

Thanks in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I would say thats wishful thinking...something I have been guilty of many times...gold is gold colored usually unless you get white gold. Most will be stamped....(only have a couple that are not) Acid tests on stainless, tungenston, silver etc are unreliable from my experience. Does it have a stamp? Also the VDI on the machine can mean nothing as well....dug a lot of junk that rings that come up as low conductors. If in doubt I guess you can take it to a jeweler. 

strick    

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, strick said:

I would say thats wishful thinking...something I have been guilty of many times...gold is gold colored usually unless you get white gold. Most will be stamped....(only have a couple that are not) Acid tests on stainless, tungenston, silver etc are unreliable from my experience. Does it have a stamp? Also the VDI on the machine can mean nothing as well....dug a lot of junk that rings that come up as low conductors. If in doubt I guess you can take it to a jeweler. 

strick    

Unfortunately no stamp. I have two other stamped rings that I've been meaning to cash in, I'll bring this one along to my jeweler and see what he can find.

Thanks for the response.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm getting tired of doing scratch tests myself and might get one of those electronic gold testers...

strick 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

It is possible that what you have found is "white" gold. Often, even gold alloyed with nickel will still not be truly white so it is plated with rhodium. The rhodium plating is thin and often wears off leaving the goldish color underneath. This may be why it is silvery on the outside but gold on the inside due to constant rubbing against the finger and the resulting wear and thinning of the rhodium coating. Just a guess. Good luck!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...