I have a ring that I found 2006 with a small ruby in it.. its black but its 10k, I would leave the old ring alone... it gives it character... this tiny ring is still black... its a babies ring from long ago... sure I could polish it bring up color but I won't bother... I like it this way...I’ve found plenty of tarnished silver to know, it would have rang up as a high tone. This one range up a low tone 25 (nickel) signal on the NOX 900. Inside of ring is stained can’t see anything…it’s either gold or junk metal. Sounds like gold when I set it on the table.