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