Help deciphering Chinese? characters / marks inside gold ring

[diceccole]

I believe this is a 24k ring or band. I am hoping to find out what the inscription - characters - on the inside of it might mean. Very much appreciate any help!

[thirry]

I can't help with the characters (which look Japanese to me), but you should know something about the gold in the ring. 24k gold is not used for jewelry because it's too soft for ordinary wear. If it's a solid gold ring it's most likely 18k or 14k or 10k (unless it came from the UK where some items are still available in 9k).  There's also the possibility of gold plating.

There are acid test kits available if you want to do it yourself. The other alternative would be to take the ring to your friendly local jeweler, or to a pawn shop or gold buyer's establishment. Any of these can tell you quickly how pure the gold is, or whether it's plated. If they offer to buy it, I'd say not to sell on the spot.

Interesting ring! Whereever did you get it?

[diceccole]

I know 24k not usually used but the Chinese have in the past. And it tests at least 20k.

[thirry]

Ok, that's great. I wasn't being argumentative. I think it's a really cool reing and I hope you find out what the charaters mean!

[diceccole]

Thanks for your help. I hope we find out too!

[old.crows.nest]

I also think the mark may be Japanese.

Arlene's husband looked at a mark on an cloisonné enamel box I have that had a similar mark. I think it turned out the mark was for 999 Silver.

[old.crows.nest]

Even though these are for Silver there might be something useful?

Japanese Mark:

http://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks3.html

Chinese Marks:

http://www.925-1000.com/chinex_marks.html

Korean Marks:

http://www.925-1000.com/Fkorea_01.html

[ms.sellainy]

The mark is Chinese. Your ring appears to be made of high karat gold.

Going from the bottom of photo upward, the second recessed area from the last one contains the symbols 足赤 which mean "solid gold". I feel pretty sure that if you show the ring to someone more fluent in Chinese, they will find a high karat fineness mark. The sold gold mark usually goes with it. I can't say with certainty, but your mark may have symbols for 99%. I'm only guessing at this because I think I see a couple of symbols for the number 9. I'm totally confident that 足赤 that's on your ring, means solid gold. 

There are different marks for high karatt gold in Chinese. This is one of them. Other Chinese marks can look like these examples: 千足, 足金, 万足 because literal translations differ and sometimes include reference to purity in percentages. I.e., 千足, literally means "thousand exact" in reference to fineness.

The other marks on your ring may be maker's marks and location. I think it would be best to have someone fluent in Chinese look at it.  Do you know of any good Chinese restaurants? Just a thought.

[diceccole]

Thanks much for this info. I do know some good Chinese restaurants...guess it wouldn't offend them if I ate a meal and then asked them to take a look. 

Luca

[ms.sellainy]

LOL. You're welcome. I was only kidding about the restaurant - I just can't resist the urge to provoke a little humor whenever I can . Since the ring does have a solid gold mark that can be mentioned in a description, I would just acid test the metal to confirm its fineness and be set to go! Best of luck with it.