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Antique & Collectible
Jewelery
Don't Sell Grandma's Jewelry at a Yard
Sale - What's It Worth?
by
JoAnna Gilford
IDENTIFICATION
Before you can find out what a
piece of jewelry is worth, you need to find out what it is.
This can be as simple as turning it over and finding a maker's
mark or complicated as in "hours of research". First thing
first: Examine your jewelry for a maker's mark. Look on the
back or on the clasp. Thoroughly examine every inch of the
piece. If you see a maker's mark, start your research! Not
finding a maker's mark doesn't mean it's not valuable, on the
contrary; many fine pieces of jewelry were never marked. It
does mean you will need to put in a little more effort in
research.
If you received your jewelry from
a family member, ask them about it's history. Did your
grandfather give it to your grandmother right before he went
off to war? Was it handed down from her mother? Answers to
these questions will give you a general idea of how old it
is.
Look at the style of the piece.
Although many styles come back into fashion after a time, it is
still possible to ID an older piece by the style and
material.
Does it appear to have gemstones?
Determine it they are real gemstones. You will need some sort
of strong magnifying glass or ideally, a jeweler's loupe. A
loupe is a small magnifying glass in various degrees of
magnification. A 10X loupe should be all you need and they are
relatively inexpensive. Craft and hobby stores usually sell
them. Go to a well lighted place and look at the stone through
the loupe. Do you see tiny bubbles in the stone? Tiny air
bubbles mean it is made from glass or plastic. It's not a real
gemstone. Is it open backed? Can you see the back of the stone
when you turn the piece over? Does the back of the stone look
shiny as in gold or silver colored foil? These are foil back
rhinestones and not real gems. Foil was often added to reflect
the light and create a better sparkle. Most real gems contain
some type of natural inclusion. Unless you are familiar with
gems and diamonds, your best bet is to take it to a jeweler or
appraiser if you think it is real.
Look at the construction of the
piece. This can be extremely helpful in dating a piece! Look at
the clasp or pin. Are the stones individually riveted on? Is
the clasp rather ornate? Does it have a layered look? What type
of style is it? Does it remind you of old black and white
movies? Perhaps Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn? Does it look
Victorian?
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