lost victorian diamond and platinum ring

by Molly

I've lost my great grandmother's engagement ring and do not have an appraisal for it. It was passed down from mother to daughter or daughter in law and I cannot locate any information in my late mothers paperwork as to the value and my insurance company needs something to show the value.

All I know is it was slightly over a carat set in platinum with diamond baguettes and round diamonds around it. the ring measured about 1/2 inch in width. All I can say is everytime we were in any jewerly store the jeweler would comment on the beautiful diamond in my mother's ring. One time a jeweler even asked if she would like to trade it in for a new cut diamond because it would look so much bigger... she laughed and said obviously you must think I'm a fool.

I later asked her what she mean't and she replied that "he" would take her stone for himself and replace it for a stone of a new cut so it would have a larger face but the quality would never compaire because her diamond was practicually flawless.

She never had her ring off her finger and never had it appraised because she feared something would happen to it. In the end they had to cut the ring from my mother's finger when she passed.

I am not sure what I can do at this point for the insurance company. They need a replacment value for such a ring and I don't know where to start. All I know is that my Great Grandfather gave the ring to my Great Grandmother in 1890. I found a picture of a ring that closly resembled it valued at $9200.00. Can you give me any suggestions what I might be able to do? Thank You!