IDENTIFICATION

Before you might find out what a piece of jewelry is assessment of value, you absolutely need to find out what it is. This might be as simple as turning it over and finding a makers mark or complicated as in "hours of research". First thing first: Examine your jewelry for a makers mark. Look on the back or on the clasp. Thoroughly examine every inch of the piece. If you see a makers mark, start your research! Not finding a makers mark doesnt mean its not valuable, on the contrary; many fine pieces of jewelry we are never marked. It does mean you will absolutely need to put in a little more effort in research.

If you received your jewelry from a family member, inquire of them about its 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 jewelers 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. Its 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 almost always 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 may 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 beginning your research in earnest!

RESEARCH

Head for your local library or heat up an Internet search engine! I may spend hours in my local library poring over books and books and more books. There are plenty of successful jewelry reference books. Stop by your library or bookstore and check them out before buying. No sense in buying a book you will hardly make use of ! If you choose the library, bring your jewelry with you. You may also generate 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 brain friendly way to get fast data . Some search terms to try are:

makers mark

vintage jewelry

the name of the makers mark you found on your piece

the decade i.e. "1930s 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 could 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 information about old jewelry and hopefully you will be as enchanted as many other collectors and dealers. Its a fascinating world of "junky jewelry"!

We are always here to help you with your pieces, so feel costless to send us an electronic mail if you have questions.

Junky Jewelry buys, sells and offers consignment options for vintage, antique and collectible costume jewelry. All their licenses are current in the state of FL. Receive Junky Jewelry updates and articles in their free of price newsletter by going to www.junkyjewelry.com.

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