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