Photo Credit: CJ-Antiques-Ltd
1930s British 18K Gold & Natural Red Spinel Ring
Buy It Now Price: $495 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This natural, cherry-red spinel ring is surrounded by a halo of 14 single-cut diamonds that sit in a solid 18 karat gold Art Deco setting from the 1930s.
-This red spinel ring weighs 3.5 grams, which is fairly substantial. After deducting the weight of the stones, we can infer that there is about $95 worth of gold in the ring (with the spot price of gold hovering around $1,200 an ounce).
-Spinel is a gorgeous, but poorly understood gemstone that is tremendously undervalued in today's gem marketplace. Spinel is a close cousin to ruby and sapphire, sharing a very similar chemical composition and physical properties with these better-known gems.
-18 karat gold is a superlative jewelry metal. It preserves the rich yellow hue and superior chemical resistance of pure gold, while also possessing a degree of added strength and hardness that makes it perfect for use in jewelry.
-I estimate that the natural red spinel set in this ring is at least 1 carat in weight - and perhaps as much as 1.25 carats - making it a substantial stone. Its color and clarity are both very good as well. In my opinion, this red spinel is worth at least $100 to $200 per carat (and possibly more).
-I conservatively estimate the intrinsic value of this British red spinel ring at around $250 ($150 for the spinel, $95 for the gold and $5 for the melee diamonds). This is actually a very good result - fully half of the purchase price is attributable to tangible materials. It also means that you are only paying around $245 for the expert craftsmanship, transcendent beauty and vivid history captured in this remarkable piece of vintage jewelry.
-The 1930s Art Deco aesthetic of this natural red spinel ring gives it a classic, timeless look that would complement a woman wearing nearly any style of clothing. I think it is safe to say that this ring will never go out of fashion.
-It is gratifying to be able to find a beautiful piece of antique jewelry that is set with a large precious stone selling for such a reasonable price. I've written before about how difficult it has become to find fine vintage jewelry for less than $1,000. But I am under no illusions that bargains like this will persist forever; affordable fine vintage jewelry is going extinct.
-With a buy-it-now price of only $495, this vintage red spinel ring is laughably cheap. In fact, I am absolutely shocked that no one has picked up this steal yet! The fact that it is still sitting with a "for sale" sign on it is probably at least partially attributable to the fact that spinel has such little name recognition.
Fine Vintage Spinel Rings For Sale
Cons:
-I've got nothing bad to say here. Nada, zip, zero. This natural red spinel ring is a gorgeous all-original piece from the 1930s - over 80 years ago. In addition, it is in great condition, with no evidence of any repairs whatsoever. This ring is a no-brainer investment for less than $500.
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