The great thread on little antique/ vintage jewelry
- Thread starter Monica
- Start date
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round here, true pawn shops are usually not in very good areas and even the vintage, antique dealers don't get anything as nice as yours.
In my area - the pawn shops are rather sad - a lot more guns and televisions than jewelry.
The problem is, I don't think we have an indy-jeweler who doesn't purchase estate pieces, and have an estate section in the shop.
I've found fabulous jewelry at consignment shops, estate sales, thrift shops, and especially jewelry stores. Last time I went to a pawn shop in this area, I found... a bench press.
I love Vegas, and really any pawn shop near a casino tends to have some very good stuff. I also love dead-pawn at the reservations. It's been far too long since I was last there.
The problem is, I don't think we have an indy-jeweler who doesn't purchase estate pieces, and have an estate section in the shop.
I've found fabulous jewelry at consignment shops, estate sales, thrift shops, and especially jewelry stores. Last time I went to a pawn shop in this area, I found... a bench press.
I love Vegas, and really any pawn shop near a casino tends to have some very good stuff. I also love dead-pawn at the reservations. It's been far too long since I was last there.
Whoo hoo indeed!!! How exciting! I love art deco. Looking forward to be able to admire your ring.
Can't wait to see the art deco ring as well! I don't usually post here, but have certainly been enjoying this thread! LOVE vintage!
I recently purchased this bracelet, and am just wondering, ladies, if anyone might be able to point me in the right direction to research it. It looks sort of "art deco" to me, but I'm no expert. Maybe it's just costume, but I don't think so. It's unmarked, but looks like a lot of work has gone into it. It is very white metal with 26 blue stones with lots of "granulation" around them. The funny thing is that there are 3 teeny-tiny white stones (diamonds? or white sapphire?) that seem to be hidden spontaneously among the "granulated dots" They are so tiny that I wouldn't have even seen them if I hadn't been looking at it through a loupe. Strange!
So what do you think ladies? - Art Deco? - Victorian? - Costume or not?
Thanks for any info you can help me with!
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if it's not marked, I would tend to think it's costume. it's very beautiful. looks like around turn of the century to me...I guess it would be the transition period between victorian & deco.
you can take it to a jeweler & have them test the clear stones to see if they're diamonds. it's just a little tool that they press to the stone...takes seconds. then you'll know.
where you bought it & the price you paid would also be indicators of whether it is costume or not. I would think that the seller would for sure have checked to see if it's genuine or costume.
either way, it's a beautiful piece. enjoy wearing it!
you can take it to a jeweler & have them test the clear stones to see if they're diamonds. it's just a little tool that they press to the stone...takes seconds. then you'll know.
where you bought it & the price you paid would also be indicators of whether it is costume or not. I would think that the seller would for sure have checked to see if it's genuine or costume.
either way, it's a beautiful piece. enjoy wearing it!
f&f, thanks for responding. Have you ever heard of these tiny "hidden" stones before? Seems strange to me. I didn't pay alot for it, but then there is a local thrift shop that I frequent where I have gotten some incredibly silly deals. (eg diamond necklace, authentic Chanel & LV bags, Hermes scarves, to mention a few, for very little $$'s.)
I think you're right that I should take it to a jeweler. Oh, one more question, - do you think that "granulation" would have been done on costume jewelry?
Thanks again!
^yes, I've seen granulation on high-end costume...mostly on "paste" costume (which is also from this era). honestly, if you paid very little, you got a very good deal if it's costume...and a STEAL AND A HALF if it's genuine!
I think I know what you're talking about with the "hidden" stones. when I have seen that, the designer/manufacturer is trying to make the stones look like there are more there than what there really is. they set a stone, & fill in with the beading. I've seen it most often with the tiny mille stones. I've seen jewelry with "hidden" stones, but they are most often on the underside of the piece & have a specific or secret meaning.
I think I know what you're talking about with the "hidden" stones. when I have seen that, the designer/manufacturer is trying to make the stones look like there are more there than what there really is. they set a stone, & fill in with the beading. I've seen it most often with the tiny mille stones. I've seen jewelry with "hidden" stones, but they are most often on the underside of the piece & have a specific or secret meaning.
Thanks so much for the info! I think I paid about $5.00 or so, which I can't complain about in either case! I am enjoying wearing it and it just seems to go so well with my right hand diamond ring. It seems to be one of those pieces that "just feels right".
you are DEFINITELY one lucky girl!!! it's a stunner! I'd be thrilled to have that bracelet myself...
Thanks so much f&f and Monica, for your kind comments.
I managed to get a pic showing one of the tiny clear "stones(?)" (Right in the middle of the photo.)
(There is one tiny clear "stone" 2 spaces from the clasp, one 10 spaces from the clasp, and one 18 spaces from the clasp). Weird huh? Could that perhaps signify a date of feb 10, 1918? (Just a thought.)
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Today I upgraded my top wesselton princess studs (1.65 ctw) for studs with old cut diamonds (2 ctw). My new studs looks about the same size as my princess cut. I fell in love immediately with the warm diamonds. I paid an amount today and get them later. I will post when I have received them.