| IDENTIFICATIONBefore you can find out what a | | | | real.Look at the construction of the piece. |
| piece of jewelry is worth, you need to find | | | | This can be extremely helpful in dating a |
| out what it is. This can be as simple as | | | | piece! Look at the clasp or pin. Are the |
| turning it over and finding a maker's mark or | | | | stones individually riveted on? Is the |
| complicated as in "hours of research". First | | | | clasp rather ornate? Does it have a layered |
| thing first: Examine your jewelry for a | | | | look? What type of style is it? Does it |
| maker's mark. Look on the back or on the | | | | remind you of old black and white movies? |
| clasp. Thoroughly examine every inch of the | | | | Perhaps Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn? |
| piece. If you see a maker's mark, start your | | | | Does it look Victorian?By now, you should |
| research! Not finding a maker's mark doesn't | | | | have a general idea of age and you are ready |
| mean it's not valuable, on the contrary; | | | | to start your research in |
| many fine pieces of jewelry were never | | | | earnest!RESEARCHHead for your local library |
| marked. It does mean you will need to put in | | | | or heat up an Internet search engine! I can |
| a little more effort in research.If you | | | | spend hours in my local library poring over |
| received your jewelry from a family member, | | | | books and books and more books. There are |
| ask them about it's history. Did your | | | | plenty of good jewelry reference books. Stop |
| grandfather give it to your grandmother right | | | | by your library or bookstore and check them |
| before he went off to war? Was it handed | | | | out before buying. No sense in buying a book |
| down from her mother? Answers to these | | | | you will hardly use! If you choose the |
| questions will give you a general idea of how | | | | library, bring your jewelry with you. You |
| old it is.Look at the style of the piece. | | | | can also make copies of any pages you wish to |
| Although many styles come back into fashion | | | | take or check out the book and bring it home. |
| after a time, it is still possible to ID an | | | | As with other research, libraries are |
| older piece by the style and material.Does it | | | | extremely helpful. Searching on the Internet |
| appear to have gemstones? Determine it they | | | | is also a quick and easy way to get fast |
| are real gemstones. You will need some sort | | | | information. Some search terms to try |
| of strong magnifying glass or ideally, a | | | | are:maker's markvintage jewelrythe name of |
| jeweler's loupe. A loupe is a small | | | | the maker's mark you found on your piecethe |
| magnifying glass in various degrees of | | | | decade i.e. "1930's jewelry"antique |
| magnification. A 10X loupe should be all you | | | | jewelrycollectible costume jewelryThis will |
| need and they are relatively inexpensive. | | | | give you hours of research and hundreds of |
| Craft and hobby stores usually sell them. Go | | | | pages to sort. Look at anything relevant, |
| to a well lighted place and look at the stone | | | | look for similar pieces or styles. Visit |
| through the loupe. Do you see tiny bubbles | | | | online vintage jewelry shops. Look for |
| in the stone? Tiny air bubbles mean it is | | | | forums where you may be able to post a |
| made from glass or plastic. It's not a real | | | | picture and ask for identification help.If |
| gemstone. Is it open backed? Can you see | | | | you love to research like I do, this is right |
| the back of the stone when you turn the piece | | | | up your alley! It can take hours, days |
| over? Does the back of the stone look shiny | | | | sometimes weeks to find out about a certain |
| as in gold or silver colored foil? These are | | | | piece. As you go, you will gain more |
| foil back rhinestones and not real gems. | | | | knowledge about old jewelry and hopefully you |
| Foil was often added to reflect the light and | | | | will be as enchanted as many other collectors |
| create a better sparkle. Most real gems | | | | and dealers. It's a fascinating world of |
| contain some type of natural inclusion. | | | | "junky jewelry"!We are always here to help |
| Unless you are familiar with gems and | | | | you with your pieces, so feel free to send us |
| diamonds, your best bet is to take it to a | | | | an email if you have questions. |
| jeweler or appraiser if you think it is | | | | |