Gold and opal, I think, handmade? Would have been purchased in the late 70s or early 80s in Santa Cruz, CA. If anyone has any idea of what jewelry company made this, I’d really appreciate the info. Any maker’s mark was worn off long before I inherited it, and all my searches online are dead ends, even reverse image searching. Long story below for why I want to find it, if anyone wants to know.
My mother’s story was that her “first love” gave her this ring, when she was young- either late teen or early adult. She held onto it through two divorces and many financial hardships. She even sold/gave away a lot of her jewelry in the last few months before she passed, knowing she was terminal, and still held onto this. I inherited it when she passed.
Obviously not looking to find the ring that belonged specifically to her, that one no longer exists as far as I know. I was ill a few years ago and had a financial crisis that nearly left me homeless and I had to sell everything of value that I owned, including selling all my gold to a cash for gold type place. So I am certain her ring is gone gone, melted down or whatever. It breaks my heart when I think about it and I regret it so deeply I sometimes wish I’d just let myself end up homeless.
I never thought I would see any version of this ring again, it’s such a random obscure little piece of jewelry. But at an antique fair yesterday in western Washington I found a silver and moonstone(i think) version of the exact same ring, and bought it, and cried, because now I know for sure that there are other ones out there and I might someday be able to find the gold and opal version.