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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?
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"!
http://www.antiqueweb.com/articles/vintage_costume_antique_jewelry.html
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