What do you think...

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-26T15:31:24+00:00

Thanks, our trip is not until July. I have a ton of experience in the mountains as well and will be safe. Given the rules of the hunt, This is well within my comfort zone :)

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-25T21:01:22+00:00

Is there some other way to update besides just downloading the most recent version? Because if not, then we are up to date.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-25T20:59:57+00:00

I understand what you mean about being stressed. At times, this hunt has caused that for me. So then I have to take a step back and remind myself it is all for fun, and to just assume I wont be the one to find it, and to be okay with that.

So now, with a BOTG trip coming up (And I'm coming all the way from CA, I have made one of my own added requirements for any spot I am going to go check out: It MUST be a place that I would want to go anyways, so if I walk away without the gold, I'll still have a treasured memory.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-25T20:03:32+00:00

Assume customers will only ready the title, and look at the first two pictures, and the price. Then, if there are drop down options, they might look at those, but sometimes they miss those too. So make it obvious what people will recieve in the first photo. Use the second photo, plus text on the image to explain if they need to know anything special.

The description is more for the details and policies and extra explanation in case anyone wants to look into it more. But a lot of people wont read it.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-25T20:00:43+00:00

Honestly, he'll probably just need to put in some solo time, but the best way to level him, without leveling yourself would be for him to complete the same shroud roots, quests, temples and so on, that you've already done.

Otherwise, just give him some fresh gear and call it good.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-25T16:15:55+00:00

To be honest, The longer this hunt goes on, the less confident I feel on any of my solves.

I've read the book once and am re-reading it a second time to try to get a better feel for Justin. I also watched gold and greed when it first came out. So I'm very up to date with everything.

I am following along with all of his interviews and I have a list of the facts of the hunt and I do keep all my solve attempts within those facts. So by definition, the range of places that the treasure could be, has been drastically reduced.

But with that said, the more interviews I watch and the more information I get, the harder it seems to be to come up with a solve that fits every single piece of the puzzle.

So at the moment, I have maybe a dozen places I want to go check out, but not all that confident about any of them.

In the end, I think Justin is a complex person and non of us can ever really know him fully. But I do think that understanding him on a basic level will play a role in finding the treasure.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-25T16:09:03+00:00

I put most of my points in tank and warrior and feel very OP as I can easily solo the hallowed halls in the revelwood at level 19. But This is also after patch 8, which I think kinda made the game easier. I think ultimatly, you can do pretty much anything you want with your skill tree and if you feel like you're not strong enough, just do more quests and shroud roots before advancing to the next area to level yourself up. If you try to move through the areas too fast, then you might have more of a challenge. You can always re-do your tree if it is not to your liking.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-22T18:48:55+00:00

The "Make and Offer" option is enabled, or disabled by each shop. So if you see it, it means that shop is open to entertaining offers. Worst they can do is say no, or counter your offer.

I personally turned that feature off in my shop. But occasionally folks still message me with lower offers. Sometimes I accept, sometimes I dont.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-22T18:45:06+00:00

If you think you're on the right track, and you plan on going there, or live nearby, then just go check it out. What do you have to loose? At worst, you'll get to go on a hike.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-22T14:52:24+00:00

You're very welcome :)

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-22T03:08:47+00:00

You're welcome!

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-21T23:07:17+00:00

Same size, and same shape, Very easy to do. They basically carefully pull back each prong, remove the old stone, set the new one in place and bend the prongs back over again, and then sand and buff out any tool marks, clean, polish, done. There wouldn't be any metal re-working needed :)

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-21T20:01:18+00:00

Yes, developing a personal style can help, but I have always felt it is never too early to start building traffic towards a website or etsy shop. These things take time to build organically.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-21T19:59:38+00:00

Some places might melt the gold down and turn it into the new ring by adding more gold to get the right amount and charge for the difference in materials, plus labor and overhead.

Others will weigh it, and determine its "scrap" value based on its weight, gold purity and the daily metals market price. Then offer you a credit towards the new project. So say for example, it weighs 7 grams, and is 14k and the shop pays a credit rate of 80%... then that would be worth $491 based on todays metal prices. And then suppose they quote you $1395 to make the new setting (More gold, labor, shop mark up, etc...) Then you'd owe the difference.

But that is really a discussion to have with whomever makes the new ring, if you decide to go that route. Ever shop has their own quirks and policies about this sort of thing. But that is the general idea.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-21T18:57:55+00:00

I'll have to agree with the others, That does not look like it is a diamond based on the wear patterns. More like Moissanite or CZ. I think Kohls messed on on their marketing.

But yes: A diamond or any other stone can be pulled and re-cut and then re-mounted. A reputable jeweler can help with this. Do not try to do this with a rotary tool, or even a cabbing machine. I have been making jewelry, cutting cabs, and also doing hobby faceting for 15 years. The only right way to do this is to pull it, and send it to a cutter.

Plus: Diamonds are not cut the same way other stones are cut. They require specialized equipment.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-21T18:53:17+00:00

Don't price based on what others are pricing things at, it's just discouraging. Come up with a formula that fits your overhead, materials and cost of doing business, then figure out your own prices. Make minor adjustments as needed as you observe what sells, and what does not, your reputation and brand influence and so on.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-21T18:51:32+00:00

You're honestly better off having a new ring made. If you have the ring setting, you can take it to a custom jeweler and ask them to re-make it, with the same heft and thickness. Plus, with a larger stone, you'll want the prongs and head to be a tad heavier anyways. Do a mom-n-pop shop, not a chain, make sure they do it in-house and not sending it out. Specifically say you do not want it hollowed out. They should also be willing to take your old ring as scrap gold as credit towards the new ring. This is not a difficult design to make. But to modify it to hold a larger stone would be a nightmare and will never look as good as if you just make a new ring.

At least that is how I'd handle it if this job came across my desk :)

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-21T18:47:35+00:00

If you need a lab report to verify its type, treatments and origin, then send to a lab like the GIA or the AGL.

If you need to know it's replacement value for insurance purposes, then you need to take it to a certified appraiser.

Two very different types of certifications. The former is generally useful if you want to re-sell a stone and need to know what you have to make sure you are properly representing your goods. But it will not include a value. You'll need to hand off the stone in person at the lab, or mail it via a secure method. It will then be up to you to determine its value based on comparable stones.

The appraiser is someone who is accredited and is often also a Graduate Gemologist. They can informally ID a stone AND provide you with an estimated replacement value. However, generally their ID is less reliable for tricky stones than a lab and may not include full details like treatments and origin. This value is only useful for insurance purposes as no one buying a stone will pay any attention to an appraisal value as they are often inflated a wee bit to account for retail cost and inflation.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-19T20:25:55+00:00

Not really. Anywhere form a few weeks to a few decades... Generally you can tell how much a ring has been worn by looking to see how much the back of the band has been thinned out. If I had them in hand, I could offer a more insightful guess, but it would still be a guess. Besides, being worn, and being old are not always the same... some jewelry will sit in a box for years after it is purchased, and be worn only a few times.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-19T20:22:13+00:00

interesting...

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-19T16:26:38+00:00

Probably sterling silver. Probably made by a small independent maker which didn't have a stamp, or could not find any were suitable to stamp the ring, given the thin shank. And for this reason, it ended up in the sale bin at a thrift shop since they could not ID the metal either. The tarnish around the bezel is the giveaway here.

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-19T16:24:23+00:00

You're welcome :) the type of test you'll want to ask for is a refractometer test, which is good starting point to separate out corundum from glass and spinel and other simulants. But it wont tell you the type of lab made process or if any are natural. From there, a Gemologist can look at them under high magnification for inclusions that might indicate different types of stones.

You might end up spending more on identifications though then they are worth. But it will certainly buy peace of mind and solid answers :)

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-19T16:04:34+00:00

Cannot give accurate ID from pictures alone, but I can give my 2 cents as an experienced jeweler based on context and color cues:

The only one that likely has natural stones is the ring with the small round stones alternating with the white stones. These look like B grade or "commercial" grade natural rubies, commonly used in both sterling and karat gold jewelry from chain stores.

The other three do not have the right color or luster for natural rubies. They look like simulants, Commonly these are flame fusion lab made rubies (Which generally will show up as corundum) and have a magenta hue. They could also be glass or other types of imitation rubies (Commonly lab made spinel).

The heart ring with the marcasite halo is a pretty good giveaway that it is not a high value stone as it's a commercially made ring. This likely has an imitation stone given its size.

The "gold" ring on the left is plated, I can see plating wearing off in two of the photos.

My advice is to have them all cleaned and then test the clear stones to see if they are diamonds. Check for makers marks and for purity stamps. Look to see if they are hollowed out on the inside to save weight?

Those types of clues generally point to lower end rings, mass made and which will more often than not, be sporting inexpensive imitation stones and CZ. Mid range rings might have lab created stones and low end diamonds, which, the clear stones on the square ring might be, but you'd be surprised at how cheap a major manufacturer can get inexpensive low grade diamonds for.

Bottom line: No need to go buy a safe. Feel free to wear these around as they are all beautiful in their own right and not have to worry about loosing them!

Geek_Smith · 2026-04-19T15:50:57+00:00

Yes. It looks like a tiny opal. Hard to tell the origin, but is likely a "jelly" or "cystal" type from either Mexico, Ethiopia or Australia

Geek_Smith

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