Don't Sell Grandma's Jewelry at a Yard Sale - What's It Worth?
05/20/12
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?
By now, you should have a general idea of age and you are ready to start your
research in earnest!
RESEARCH
Head for your local library or heat up an Internet search engine! I can spend
hours in my local library poring over books and books and more books. There
are plenty of good jewelry reference books. Stop by your library or bookstore
and check them out before buying. No sense in buying a book you will hardly
use! If you choose the library, bring your jewelry with you. You can also make
copies of any pages you wish to take or check out the book and bring it home.
As with other research, libraries are extremely helpful. Searching on the Internet
is also a quick and easy way to get fast information. Some search terms to try
are:
maker's mark
vintage jewelry
the name of the maker's mark you found on your piece
the decade i.e. "1930's jewelry"
antique jewelry
collectible costume jewelry
This will give you hours of research and hundreds of pages to sort. Look at
anything relevant, look for similar pieces or styles. Visit online vintage jewelry
shops. Look for forums where you may be able to post a picture and ask for identification
help.
If you love to research like I do, this is right up your alley! It can take
hours, days sometimes weeks to find out about a certain piece. As you go, you
will gain more knowledge about old jewelry and hopefully you will be as enchanted
as many other collectors and dealers. It's a fascinating world of "junky
jewelry"!
We are always here to help you with your pieces, so feel free to send us an
email if you have questions.
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