Is It Antique? A Closer Look at Hallmarks and Construction
When you're trying to determine the age of a piece, hallmarks are a fantastic clue, but they don't always tell the full story. Take this stunning ring, for example. It features five old-cut diamonds, identifiable by their unique characteristics: a slightly "wonky" but rounded shape, a higher crown, and an open culet (a flat facet at the bottom of the stone). The setting, known as a coronet setting, is very typical of the late Victorian or early Edwardian eras. The piece is beautifully made, with intentional design details like the gallery holes and extra gold for integrity.
However, a look at the hallmarks tells a different tale. We see full British hallmarks for 18-karat gold, a maker's mark (WEG), the anchor for Birmingham, and a distinctive "V" for the year 1970. So, why is a 1970s hallmark on a ring that looks a century older?
The answer lies in the ring's construction. On close inspection, you can see a slight ridge where the shoulders meet the band on both sides. This indicates that the ring's head, which is genuinely antique, was re-shanked with a new 18-karat gold band in 1970. This makes for a fantastic piece: a beautiful antique head with a sturdy, vintage shank that has plenty of life left.
