Help in identifying stones in vintage brooch!!

[LemonMoonLex]

Hello!

Ive had this vintage/antique looking brooch for quite a while.
I believe that it belonged to my grandmother that passed when i was 13 but I'm not sure, it also could have come from her sister or my great aunt.
I always assumed the stones werent real but after cleaning the metal up with a polishing cloth I'm actually totally unsure.

Also my diamond tester happened to break two days ago so theres that :/

Heres some details about the piece:
-The metal is unmarked and unknown
-It does not look like sterling to me but the weight for sterling feels about right
-It oxidized not a dark oxidation that you see on old sterling pieces but it oxidized to a complete matte gray...it was very odd. It was the color of a darker concrete before I polished the metal
-The stones are all cut very oddly and much differently from one to the next.
-Very wonky
-Theres damage on some of the stones facets and others none
-Most of the stones look dark or dirty and unfortunately they are too small to tell if its just dirt between the stone and setting or if theres inclusions in the stones
-some are brighter and more sparkly
-theyre set at different heights or theyre all different sizes
-I included two pictures of the piece up close from the side in hopes that you can see the odd cuts of each stone
-if not I drew a picture of the cuts of the stones.
-tapping them on my tooth...they are not resiney or plastic but feel like a stone or glass.
-there's no yellow in the stones in person just dirty gems and a few brighter nicer ones.

Please give me your opinion as i really have no clue!
Thanks

Also approximates of the age of the piece is also welcomed!

Thanks everyone!

 

[stracci2000]

I think they are paste.
I have a few similar pieces, and they are set the same way, and look just like yours.

 

[LemonMoonLex]

Ahhh and that last one..the color of the metal...thats EXACTLY the color that it was before I shined it up!

I actually dont know much about paste stones. Would they feel like glass or a stone?
Or would they feel plastic-y?

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Yup I was thinking paste before I saw Stracci's response. Cool looking brooch.

 

[LemonMoonLex]

I did some research into paste stones and it definetely fits my piece!

Thanks ladies!