1938 Granat Brothers Jade & Diamond Ring
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GUEST:
This is a family piece. The stone was originally purchased at the World's Fair in San Francisco Bay at Treasure Island. And then it was set as a ring by Granat Brothers in San Francisco.
APPRAISER:
Well, it's a really beautiful piece, and it's interesting that the stone was purchased separately from the setting. And that's what makes it a little bit more interesting than just the average jade stone. It's been set by Granat Brothers, who was a really reputable jeweler.
GUEST:
That was the jeweler, quite frankly.
APPRAISER:
Yes, exactly. The setting is beautiful. It's a platinum and diamond setting, and the jade stone you had brought in and you picked the setting, you said. How did you pick it?
GUEST:
Oh, my parents were advised by their designer and they wanted something complementary, and I guess in those days, Art Deco was what was new.
APPRAISER:
That's beautiful. Well, in today's market, what's difficult is to find an antique setting that would complement a stone of this nature. And what's nice is we can date the stone to at least, you said 1938, correct?
GUEST:
Exactly.
APPRAISER:
Which means that more likely than not, there's no treatment to the stone whatsoever. It's usually an impregnation of color, or it's been dyed. It's normally just an enhancement of a green that's already there. And there are a few folks in the U.S. who are able to determine whether or not a jade stone has been treated. But we normally say prior to the 1950s, 1960s, there really isn't much of a chance that it's had those treatments done and it's probably all natural. It's a nice large piece, it's nice and flat. Really the only thing the ring needs is just a quick buff to the top of it. Do you wear it much right now?
GUEST:
Not at all.
APPRAISER:
Oh, you should. I like that you also have the original box. While it doesn't add a lot of value, it's a fun thing to have. I also love, and you have right here, a picture of you as a child at the World's Fair in San Francisco. So sweet.
GUEST:
Oh, thank you.
APPRAISER:
Nice little thing to add to the provenance. Do you have any idea how much your parents might have paid for it?
GUEST:
Not a clue. I know a journeyman carpenter was working for 35 cents an hour in those days, so...
APPRAISER:
Okay. Jade is very, very popular right now. And the greener it is, the more value it has. At auction today, and auction is a fair market value, we would probably use an estimate of about $4,000 to $6,000.
GUEST:
Oh, my.
Appraisal Details
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