Don't Assume Anything When Evaluating Jewelry

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Even the experts have to look closely when examining jewelry. They look to see if there are markings of any kind stamped usually out of sight. The mark can tell a lot about the item. Sometimes the metal content will be revealed, the maker, where it was made and sometimes when it was made.

Wait just a minute. Don't assume just because you can't find any visible marks that it is not valuable. I myself have found a solid gold piece that was not marked, in a thrift store.

I have also found items that were marked gold but were not. Crooks will not stop at anything to get your money. Be aware. Don't assume. Don't invest any money that you can't afford to lose. That would take all the fun out of it. Use common sense. I promise you will come across a treasure of your own some time if you havn't already.

There can be significant value in a well made piece of costume jewelry by the right maker with or without marks also. That is why it is so important to do your research.

I've put together a list of some tips that will be useful on your hunt for treasure.

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• Take your tools like a magnifier or magnet with you when shopping second hand.
• Waiting for a sale can be profitable on silver and gold pieces of jewelry at the thrift store. D.A.V. thrift stores in my area have 1/2 price sales.
• Make yourself familiar with the different markings for gold and silver. There are many to consider. Sterling, plated, HGE, 10 K, Plat, Vermeil, etc. 
• Glass is cold to the touch at first but will warm in your hand as you hold it. 
• A semi-precious stone will stay cold to the touch.
• If an opal looks too perfect it is faked. Same size, shape and color in the flecks is a dead give away it's faked. If there are gaps evenly spaced, more than likely fake.  
• Opals come from Australia. A country of origin mark is a clue for dating purposes.
• Knowing laws and when they were implemented helps to date items. 
• Learning when a certain technique for jewelry making was invented will help date an item.
• Aurora Borealis aka AB was invented by Swarovski and Christian Dior in the 1950's.
• Russia and Hong Kong create a large amount of synthetic stones.
• You never want a cloudy gemstone. The richer the color the better.
• Look at the metal setting around your gemstone. If it is super fancy and outshines your gemstone, it could be over compensating for some where it is lacking. Might be a fake stone. 
• A real diamond does not fog but fake will.
• Check weight. A heavy solid construction usually indicates an older more valuable item. But not always.
• When you look at the back of a piece of jewelry, is it many settings or one solid setting. Separate settings is what you want. If you can look at the back and see that it is just as beautiful as the front you know you have got a really nice piece very well made. 
• Gold and silver are never magnetic and do not turn skin green.
• Look for any worn spots that show a different color metal underneath.
• Learn what tarnished silver smells like. Seriously.
• The facets will be cut sharp when the stone is authentic. If facets are rounded not so much.
• The corners or edges of gold jewelry are never sharp. Gold is too soft to form a sharp edge.
• Mystic topaz and Rainbow topaz are the stone. Vacuum disposition is the treatment used to enhance a clear topaz that is an actual semi-precious stone. 
• Lots of gemstones are "treated" "enhanced" "heated" or what-not.  

Some of these tips I was aware of already but I have been watching a very informative Dr. Lori on you tube lately. You should check her out. She is smart about all antiques. She educates as she appraises and spices it up with a unique sense of humor that's down to earth. She also has a website packed with tips. https://www.drloriv.com/

I guess my final tip for this post would be to keep educating yourself. Don't be afraid to make a mistake because that is how we learn. Happy hunting! 

This Type Of Stoned Has Always Been Legal

Gemstoned 

Diamonds          *          Emeralds          *          Rubies          *          Sapphires

Diamonds were originally found in India but now they can be found in South Africa, Brazil and many other places. Speaking of other places, I can't wait to find my way to the Crater of Diamonds in Murfreesboro,  Arkansas. Approximately 300 miles away, taking less than 6 hours to get there, doesn't seem too far for a road trip. I'm going to do my research and be prepared.

Guide for recognizing a diamond in the rough. (*Sniff*) That's what us experts call a gemstone when found in their natural state in the ground. You know, before they are all polished up and stuff, they are in the "rough."

I can hear a diamond calling my name. Hold on my precious, I'm coming!

Diamonds possess qualities that other stones don't and can be found in a lot of different colors. Other than the traditional "white" they can be found in black, brown, yellow, blue, green and many other shades too. Diamonds are found in deposits of gravel, sand or clay and even in river beds.

Look at those eyes. Precious!

Emeralds are the rarest of the precious stones and are considered to be more valuable than even the diamond. Skillful marketing early on probably played a part in the diamonds social status today. Unlike diamonds, emeralds are found in the rock in which it was formed, it never occurs in deposits of gravel or sand. The best stones are known to come from Columbia, South America. But the United States have unearthed some beauties themselves. A rich and dark color is mostly seen and even given the title "emerald green." It's often used to describe the green color of other items. But an intense fresh (lighter) green shade is more highly valued in the market.

 Image courtesy: Gemstone Universe and shared on Quora

Rubies can be dated back in early history before all of the other precious stones. Burma is known to produce the best of the best. The rubies from Burma are a shade of red slightly inclined to the purple and often referred to as "Pigeon Blood Ruby." Rubies can also be found in Ceylon, Siam and Australia among other locations but they do not compare to the deep, rich color produced by Burma.

Corundum is the mineral where genuine rubies containing irregularly shaped bubbles can be obtained. Imitation rubies contain perfectly round bubbles. All genuine stones contain flaws. The fewer the flaws, the rarer the gem. A manufacturer, being more careful than nature, can produce an imitation stone with imperfections that are much less noticeable. A trained gemologist will be able to tell the difference.

I just had to share the awesome picture above of an untreated ruby from Burma. Isn't it gorgeous! Do you see the rose that appears naturally in the center. It's no wonder these are the most desired rubies.

Sapphire reminds me of the color cobalt.
Am I the only one?

Sapphires can be found in the same local as the ruby and many parts of the world. The largest number and best quality are known to come from Siam. Close to the diamond in hardness and like the ruby, its value is measured by its color and quality. The most desired and valuable are a deep blue but other colors have been discovered including red, green, yellow and pink.

Popular semi-precious stones used in jewelry

Alexandrite - grass green/combined red color

Amethyst - pale purple

Aquamarine - sea green

Chrysoberyl - yellow - pale green

Lapis Lazuli - deep blue

Moonstone - pearly - opaline lustre

Opal - opalescent - fire redness

Peridot - deep yellow/green

Topaz - transparent - pale yellow

Tourmaline - transparent - pink or green

Tuquoise - blue

Zircon - blue/green

Coral - red

Carnelian - deep red, flesh red or reddish white

Garnet - red

Jade - green - white, yellow, black, pink, gray

Malachite - green

Agate - reddish - yellow red

Azurite - blue

Bloodstone - green with red

Chrysoprase - translucent green