I found (what I hope is) a diamond ring on the ground right outside my apartment building's basement door.
I put up some signs in my building to call me if someone lost a ring. If I get no legit responses (they would have to describe it) how do I profit off this?
Can I just go to a respectable jewelry store and get it appraised? Then try to sell it? Do I have to show some kind of proof of ownership? I feel like I'll look like a goober who just robbed a diamond ring and is trying to fence it. Do I turn it into the police for a certain time before claiming ownership? 
There are a million legitimate reasons to be selling a diamond ring, including the one that actually happened to you. You can have it appraised and sell it through a number of avenues, none of which will you get close to what it is appraised for, even if it is valuable.
It's not yours; not yet at least. Not sure f the laws where you live, but I think in California it's 60 days. Turn it in to the police and if nobody claims it in that time; the give you the ring. Some old lady lost her ring and posted on our neighborhood watch page...month later checking pawn shops someone had found it and pawned it. She had to buy back her own ring and I think she she lost it and it was not stolen the guy who pawned it was Scott free. Legally you might be fine, but morally you are preparing for bad karma. 
kennyfrommd -Thanks for the info. It looks to be roughly a carat. Google told me a 1 carat diamond could be worth $4,700 - $9,300, depending on cut and quality. If it's real, of course.
There are a million legitimate reasons to be selling a diamond ring, including the one that actually happened to you. You can have it appraised and sell it through a number of avenues, none of which will you get close to what it is appraised for, even if it is valuable.
I'm sure I couldn't sell it for appraised value. But let's say the stone and setting are appraised for $5k. How much of that you think I could sell it for?
Tru - It's not yours; not yet at least. Not sure f the laws where you live, but I think in California it's 60 days. Turn it in to the police and if nobody claims it in that time; the give you the ring. Some old lady lost her ring and posted on our neighborhood watch page...month later checking pawn shops someone had found it and pawned it. She had to buy back her own ring and I think she she lost it and it was not stolen the guy who pawned it was Scott free. Legally you might be fine, but morally you are preparing for bad karma.Excellent. That is the exact kind of info I wanted. Trust me, I don't want any bad karma. My wife (then fiance) lost her engagement ring. I know how it feels. That's why I put signs all over my building.
What do you think about having it appraised before I turn it into the NYPD? Not that I don't trust them, but I don't trust them to not switch out the stone or something while they have it for a few months.
Will it scratch glass?
Dodge135 - Will it scratch glass?Haven't tried to yet.
I bid tree fiddy
Dodge135 - Will it scratch glass?Glass will cut glass. Go to a jeweler
Dodge135 - Will it scratch glass?Glass will cut glass. Go to a jeweler.
Dodge135 - Will it scratch glass?Yes, yes it does. Now I have a scratched drinking glass though.
Definitely hide it in your ass.
If you decide to sell it to a jeweler, go to multiple places and make them bid over each other.
groinkick - Definitely hide it in your ass.I keep trying to keister it but for some reason it always falls out. Maybe the ring is too small?
Hit it with a hammer and see if it makes an imprint.
Fuck giving that shit to the police.
NY State law seems to say that I have to turn it in to the police and they have to hold it for 90 days. It also looks like it's a misdemeanor if I fail to do that within 90 days.
I'll give it a couple days to see if anyone responds to my sign.
checkuroil - Fuck giving that shit to the police.Should I ask angryinch if he thinks it's a good idea to trust the police with a diamond ring with no distinct markings for 3 months?
oldnslow -kennyfrommd -Thanks for the info. It looks to be roughly a carat. Google told me a 1 carat diamond could be worth $4,700 - $9,300, depending on cut and quality. If it's real, of course.
There are a million legitimate reasons to be selling a diamond ring, including the one that actually happened to you. You can have it appraised and sell it through a number of avenues, none of which will you get close to what it is appraised for, even if it is valuable.
I'm sure I couldn't sell it for appraised value. But let's say the stone and setting are appraised for $5k. How much of that you think I could sell it for?
I've spent years reselling and flipping, but I never really touched jewlery except for Swatches and the occasional brand name watch (gucci, etc) that has fallen into my lap through picking, but it will be an absolute fraction of the actual value. Just be prepared to be disappointed, sorry to tell you.
Like I said, I'm not into selling jewlery and I'm sure there are specific forums nd avenues for selling that stuff, but if I were you, I'd just adopt a take what I get mentality, find someone reputable that can get top dollar for it through a shop or private sale, let them take their cut, and be stoked on the come up.
Give it away by proposing to some girl.
Get engagement sex.
Run away and consider it a net gain.