Huh.

[eurydicebound]

So today, I sent the boys outside to play for a while. I summoned Will back in to help with dinner, as it was his choice to cook tonight. A couple of minutes later, Al said, "So not now because you're busy, but I found a ring and I'm going to give it to you in a few minutes." I said okay, being up to my wrists in stripping the skin off a piece of salmon, and let it go. He took it in the bathroom and spent a while cleaning it up, and when he gave it to me after food was cooking I thanked him and didn't think too much more of it.

We went on and worked on their room and made some progress and got it all lined out, mostly, and things were good. After the boys went to bed and I had my bath, I finally got a look at the ring Al brought me. At first glance, I figured it was just a vending machine ring or something, but it had some weight to it. I went and got out a jewelry polishing cloth a friend had given to me then and went to work on it.

As it turns out, it's a ladies high school class ring from 1959. I believe the high school in question is Wilson High School, wherever that may be (the writing is tiny and I don't have a jeweler's loupe). There's more writing below the crest, but I can't make it out. On the inside are the initials F. D. L., and the mark J10K -- at least I'm pretty sure that's what it is.

So it looks like what I've got here is a 10k gold ring with a red stone (probably glass), inset with a gold high-school crest, lost along the way between 1959 and now. I'm going to ask Al a bit more carefully in the morning where he found it, but I have to say for now at least that it's kinda nifty. I don't often have rings drop into my lap. I'll have to enjoy it before the novelty wears off. :)

Comments

[ineti.livejournal.com]

Random related story--my dad lost his high school ring while swimming in a pond as a kid, and didn't expect to ever find it again. Some 40 years later, he reads the online newspaper from his hometown and discovers that someone had found the ring while scuba diving in the pond, and wanted to track down the ring's owner. My dad got his ring back and was thrilled.

[brannonb.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, there's a bazillion Woodrow Wilson High Schools.

[winterhawk.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the J stands for "Josten's"--they made tons of school rings when I was in school and apparently they've been around since the 1890s.

Irrelevant, I know, but just a thought.

[ms-monkey.livejournal.com]

Very interesting find!

[wilthoughts.livejournal.com]

I think the best way to enjoy it would be to track down the owner. Chronicle your adventures and then turn it into a book. :)