Show me a piece (or pieces) that you wonder about

[CaseyLouLou]

Gorgeous!
I think 1950's-60's. I'd call it a Victorian revival piece.
If it really was Victorian era, the clasp would be different.

Thanks. What do you think the chances are it’s a real amethyst? They aren’t that pricey and it’s pale so I’m guessing it’s real.

 

[stracci2000]

Thanks. What do you think the chances are it’s a real amethyst? They aren’t that pricey and it’s pale so I’m guessing it’s real.

Yeah, I'm sure it's a pale amethyst, the color looks right. It would be stunning on a heavy gold chain!

 

[MMtwo]

Vendor photo from ebay. Unmarked metal, so unknown content per vendor.
The dark finish has rubbed off of one of the flower centers. I am wondering if it is real gold or plat of some sort.

 

[stracci2000]

Vendor photo from ebay. Unmarked metal, so unknown content per vendor.
The dark finish has rubbed off of one of the flower centers. I am wondering if it is real gold or plat of some sort.

Oooh! Nice!
They could be gold filled. I think I see some loss on one ear wire, too. Unless it's just a reflection.
However, I think the the tag is correct for 1874!
They are still worth having, if the price is right!

 

[MMtwo]

Oooh! Nice!
They could be gold filled. I think I see some loss on one ear wire, too. Unless it's just a reflection.
However, I think the the tag is correct for 1874!
They are still worth having, if the price is right!

I thought so (worth having) they were quite reasonable, so on the way. I'll know soon.

 

[stracci2000]

I thought so (worth having) they were quite reasonable, so on the way. I'll know soon.

Earrings like that are so amazing, just from a historical point of view! I'm glad you snapped them up!
If they are plated, the base metal would be brass. You could rub them lightly with a jewelry cloth, and brighten those dark areas.
They might even be pinchbeck, a gold-like alloy.

 

[MMtwo]

Earrings like that are so amazing, just from a historical point of view! I'm glad you snapped them up!
If they are plated, the base metal would be brass. You could rub them lightly with a jewelry cloth, and brighten those dark areas.
They might even be pinchbeck, a gold-like alloy.

I agree very much. That is why I liked them so much. A time capsule. My family was in Missouri at that time, so I like the thought it could have been from near their home, or maybe a jeweler in their town. I have gold testing kit and a loupe, so should be able to figure it out once it gets here.

 

[Bogart317]

Yeah, I'm sure it's a pale amethyst, the color looks right. It would be stunning on a heavy gold chain!

 

[Bogart317]

Hello, I bought this at an estate sale, and when I started to research it, I came across one of your post of your collection of Thai Princess Rings. Would you be so kind as to tell me anything about my ring? I would greatly appreciate it, and if you are interested, feel free to reach out to me. They are beautiful rings, I don't care what your friends say.

 

[stracci2000]

Hello, I bought this at an estate sale, and when I started to research it, I came across one of your post of your collection of Thai Princess Rings. Would you be so kind as to tell me anything about my ring? I would greatly appreciate it, and if you are interested, feel free to reach out to me. They are beautiful rings, I don't care what your friends say.

It's pretty! Like the majority of them, the stones should be genuine.
And although yours says 14k, it could be a lower karat. You could have a jeweler test it to be sure.

There are a lot of these rings out there. They were commonly brought back by servicemen for their sweethearts or other family members, 1940s-1970s.
The construction is cool, with that tiny nut inside holding the ring together.
It was a good find!

 

[Bogart317]

It's pretty! Like the majority of them, the stones should be genuine.
And although yours says 14k, it could be a lower karat. You could have a jeweler test it to be sure.

There are a lot of these rings out there. They were commonly brought back by servicemen for their sweethearts or other family members, 1940s-1970s.
The construction is cool, with that tiny nut inside holding the ring together.
It was a good find!

You are right on the money Ma'am. It tested 8kt! I bought it to resell; would I be reasonable to accept four or five hundred, or am I undervaluing it? Thank you very much, I love looking at, appreciating, and learning about all the beautiful things ppl have made over the ages!

 

[stracci2000]

You can look at similar items on Ebay or Ruby Lane to get pricing ideas. Since it tests 8kt, you may have to keep the price a bit lower.

 

[RRfromR]

This one. It's 18k gold and silver, natural emerald and diamonds. The seller (jeweler) got it from an estate sale and doesn't know the history or age, all he can guarantee are the stones and metal.

 

[CaseyLouLou]

I have actually been wondering about this ring for a long time. It’s 18k rose gold and had a crappy emerald in it that I replaced with a spinel. The diamonds are small but sparkly.

Any idea as to age?

 

[Rfisher]

I wonder just how these earrings fit on someone’s lobes. They must be tailor fit to the original owners lobes? Not all lobes are the same and it can’t fit every different shape lobe “right” - can it?!!?

Or am I not seeing correctly how these earrings are constructed and supposed to be?

 

[stracci2000]

I wonder just how these earrings fit on someone’s lobes. They must be tailor fit to the original owners lobes? Not all lobes are the same and it can’t fit every different shape lobe “right” - can it?!!?

Or am I not seeing correctly how these earrings are constructed and supposed to be?

I like how the Mont Blanc pen wears them......

 

[stracci2000]

I agree very much. That is why I liked them so much. A time capsule. My family was in Missouri at that time, so I like the thought it could have been from near their home, or maybe a jeweler in their town. I have gold testing kit and a loupe, so should be able to figure it out once it gets here.

@MMtwo
I just thought of these earrings again.
Did you receive them yet?

 

[MMtwo]

@MMtwo
I just thought of these earrings again.
Did you receive them yet?

I did. They are costume, possibly pinchbeck? Non magnetic. Definately not gold.

 

[stracci2000]

I did. They are costume, possibly pinchbeck? Non magnetic. Definately not gold.

Beautiful!
Gold or not, they are still wonderful.
I love the black enamel detail!

 

[MMtwo]

Thankyou. I was happy with them too.

 

[stracci2000]

Thankyou. I was happy with them too.

I like to wonder about the lady who wore them. Were they a gift from a suitor? Or from a husband? A wedding gift from a fiance?
I'm so glad they are giving joy again!

 

[Bron357]

Is it Faberge?

 

[stracci2000]

Is it Faberge?

Maybe so!
Here's a similar mark, a pearl stickpin

FABERGE Antique Natural Pearl Diamond Gold Stickpin Ref: 611840

by Faberge, made in St. Petersburg between 1882 and 1898. This rare antique Russian 14K gold stickpin features a large drop shaped natural saltwater pearl (approximately […]

romanovrussia.com

 

[CaseyLouLou]

This one. It's 18k gold and silver, natural emerald and diamonds. The seller (jeweler) got it from an estate sale and doesn't know the history or age, all he can guarantee are the stones and metal.

I love this. It looks Belle Epoque to me which is my favorite. I would guess 1910 or so unless it’s a slightly later reproduction but I doubt it.

 

[Triplelock]

I wondered so much about this one I decided to look for some place that discussed jewelry so I could try to ID it, hopefully you can help! I've just started to get into collecting jewelry (prompted by my 3 year old daughter grabbing what turned out to be a gold necklace for a quarter at a garage sale). I'm super hooked.

This one was one of those "what on earth is that?" ebay purchases (in a pile of other pins). I figured it was rolled gold, or gold fill, but I just...wanted it in my hands:



That's the front of the pin. Appears to be cast and then the edges and back are polished:



The only marking on it is that Y that appears to have been put on there with a punch?

The clasp may date it, as far as my meager knowledge goes, to sometime between 1890-1920? It appears to be one of the early hand made safety clasps.

A big part of my education and fun with jewelry has been a local pawn shop that has an XRF machine. We tested the piece on there and it consistently came up at just under 12k, and solid (weighs in at 10.75 grams). After close inspection with a loupe I can't find any indication that it is rolled/fill, which does sometimes fool that machine.

I'm able to figure out most of the pieces I find, but this one is driving me nuts, hopefully someone has some ideas!

 

[CaseyLouLou]

I wondered so much about this one I decided to look for some place that discussed jewelry so I could try to ID it, hopefully you can help! I've just started to get into collecting jewelry (prompted by my 3 year old daughter grabbing what turned out to be a gold necklace for a quarter at a garage sale). I'm super hooked.

This one was one of those "what on earth is that?" ebay purchases (in a pile of other pins). I figured it was rolled gold, or gold fill, but I just...wanted it in my hands:



That's the front of the pin. Appears to be cast and then the edges and back are polished:



The only marking on it is that Y that appears to have been put on there with a punch?

The clasp may date it, as far as my meager knowledge goes, to sometime between 1890-1920? It appears to be one of the early hand made safety clasps.

A big part of my education and fun with jewelry has been a local pawn shop that has an XRF machine. We tested the piece on there and it consistently came up at just under 12k, and solid (weighs in at 10.75 grams). After close inspection with a loupe I can't find any indication that it is rolled/fill, which does sometimes fool that machine.

I'm able to figure out most of the pieces I find, but this one is driving me nuts, hopefully someone has some ideas!

I did a reverse image search and found a few similar brooches although most are silver or gold filled. They seem to be called ‘target’ or ‘bullseye’ brooches.

I’m guessing you are dating it correctly.

Found this article

Antique Target Brooches

Brooches take many forms but a common shape is the disk or circle. It is actually one of the oldest shapes and was worn by Romans in the 1st to 4th centuries, and by the Franks and the early Anglo …

navettejewellery.org

 

[Triplelock]

Thank you! That's a direction to look. I guess the reason this piece fascinates me so much is because it's so weirdly un-refined for being made of solid gold. All the other gold jewelry I have found has been... I'm not sure how to say it exactly? Carefully? Skillfully? built.

So far in the couple years I have been grabbing gold at thrift shops and garage sales I can usually spot it due to the quality of the craftsmanship even more than the gold itself.

And this piece, well I was looking at it last night and noticed something;



See that little white dot at 10 O'Clock? That's a hole that goes straight through!

You can see it on the back here too:



In any case I hope I'm not overstepping with the questions. Based on my poking around your forum here I feel like you folks may be "my people". Since I discovered the joys of hunting precious metals (treasure!) I've gone slightly nuts.

 

[stracci2000]

Here's a ring I've wondered about.
It is 14k rose gold.
This ring belonged to a friend's grandmother.
I believe it is blue zircon, based on the color and the double refraction in the center. The stone is very abraded.
But what are the white stones?
They look glassy to me.
They don't have the blurry look of zircon, but maybe because they are so small?

 

[YadaYadaYada]

@stracci2000, oh pretty, love a zircon cluster, maybe they are white sapphires?

 

[junebug17]

Here's a ring I've wondered about.
It is 14k rose gold.
This ring belonged to a friend's grandmother.
I believe it is blue zircon, based on the color and the double refraction in the center. The stone is very abraded.
But what are the white stones?
They look glassy to me.
They don't have the blurry look of zircon, but maybe because they are so small?

Oh this is a really pretty ring, love the setting! Those claw prongs are beautiful and I love the pretty detailing around the smaller stones. I'm thinking white topaz as a possibility?