New here, Georgian pendant?

I have even seen LaValiere, in an American wholesale catalogue of that period.

 

@bluumz -- thanks for your post. I had thought the same as you. Very interesting and good to know!

 

Most antique jewelry dealers here on the West Coast have been calling this style a lavaliere for as long as I can remember. Which is all the way back to the 60s.
I wanted one and finally found one I could afford when I was in high school.

 

Thank you for all your replies.
I've realized that collecting antique jewelry is especially difficult in finding a trustworthy source. I've found some very interesting pieces but as a novice this isn't the first time I've discovered I bought something completely different than what I was told I was buying. Some sellers genuinely don't know what they have and are making an honest mistake. Others outright deceive. I'm also really concerned about reproductions. I've heard there are a lot of them on the market and it can be very difficult to tell the difference from an authentic piece. Does anyone have any good recommendations for sellers? Sellers on Ebay? or online stores?

 

Nalfie on Ebay (aka CJ Antiques Ltd Ebay store, CJAntiquesLtd on Etsy) has genuine pieces and a huge stock

 

If you're in the UK, then a site called jewelscollectingdust - she isn't cheap, but her stuff is wonderful.

 

I've wanted one for years and finally found one I could afford (14K and under $100!) just recently. I've worn it several times already.

 

A beauty! The pearl is a river pearl (not the Chinese fresh water sort!)

 

Yes probably but very carefully

 

@mekanah18 Are you particularly interested in Georgian jewellery or any antique jewellery, you just want to know what you're getting when you buy?

I'll have to let them know they got a disinterested & respected endorsement from you. These are all eBay names of sellers with whom I have done business &, in some cases, developed a personal relationship that started from a sale or an inquiry. They are trustworthy & responsive. In addition to nalfie, other IDs on my seller list are:

• grekkothis, like most, is more likely to have Victorian onward, but is careful about researching her pieces & has been selling for a number of years.
• martil3, pretty exclusively antique pieces, accurately described to the extent I can tell. Prices not bargains, not outrageous either.
• pinklady.x, has variable inventory, often interesting things, affordable prices
• tjrranch, range of items & prices
• victoriousantiquejewellery, used to work with nalfie, similar items & prices, less deep inventory
• brendaginsberg, specializes in Georgian jewellery. Beautiful things; steep prices. But browsing listings a kind of education in learning the look of that period.

If you are interested in gorgeous, expensive cameos, I can give you a few names for that.

 

Bronwen,
I've been browsing Nalfies sight today. Beautiful pieces but pricey as they should be. I live in the US and am nervous about having something shipped so far away. I'm particularly interested in Georgian and early Victorian romantic. The hand cut stones and hand stamped/formed metals and meticulous details. I just think they are so beautiful. But really I'm also open to anything that catches my eye. I have a good selection of edwardian and art deco and up to the 1960's of which I inherited from my late grandmother. That inheritance is what really sparked my interest in older jewelry. The more I read about it the more interested I am. Aside from the pleasure of wearing and collecting jewelry I also believe it to be a good investment (if you know what you are buying) Would love some recommendations on Cameos as well. I see a lot for sale out there but hardly know a thing about them. Thank you for the recommendations I'll start taking a look.

 

@mekanah18
Before you spend any more money, I would like to suggest that you go to the library and check out some books on antique jewelry.

Familiarize yourself with the different styles, materials and stones used during different time periods.

Also visit your local mall with large stores and some of the discount stores, look at the costume jewelry. Look at the construction of better costume jewelry as opposed to cheap costume jewelry. Also check out the fine jewelry departments.

Then start looking in the antique stores. Hopefully you will be better able to see the differences in the older and newer pieces.

Bottom line, you buy what you like at a price you are willing to pay.
It doesn't all have to be old. I wear combinations of old and new all the time. I base what I'm wearing on color more than style.

 

I regularly pick out clothes based on the jewellery I feel like wearing that day.

 

I regularly pick out clothes based on what's clean and on top of the pile!

 

Hey everyone. Yea i'm putting a halt to anymore collecting for now. I have so much to learn and I'm so glad I found this place to help me. I just received another piece I ordered online before I found this site. I was told it's 'Victorian'. LOL
Tell me if I'm on the right track after my research. This piece is not victorian but again likely 1910-30's at earliest. The stone is not garnet as I was told but red glass. It was glued in. Glue is my first clue. Second is it has a 'locking c clasp' which I believe wasn't widely used until the 1910's. There is a tiny levy you pull down to to release the c clasp and push up to lock it. Am I on the right track?

 

Yes, you're coming along nicely. Those fiddly little safety catches are A) unreliable, wear it as a necklace, & B) from perhaps the first third of the 20th.

 

This is part of an old piece of jewelry. See where the arrow is? Something else hung from there.
I believe the clasp is typical for the time.
I would say late 1880s/90s
Possibly 9 or 10K Not always marked. Or rolled gold. Which is a different type of plating than done today.
Agree the stone has been replaced with glass.

You are on the right track. You just have to look closer at the details.

 

Absolutely HILARIOUS! ! !

 

I really like this brooch even if it’s more modern than you expected.
I know I’ve made mistakes buying things that weren’t what I expected.
I’m a cheapskate though and very much limit myself to buying what I find interesting and learn from it (often by presenting my finds to the assembled wise ones on this forum!).
Sometimes I’ve got lucky and found a gem that’s been missed by someone else. I’ve also asked opinions of those on the forum before buying a few pieces and had brilliant advice.
This is the most fantastic forum with the most generous knowledgeable people.

 

Wow I'm in awe how you pick these little clues out. That is so cool. Yes it looks like something must have been attached inside those holes. The glass stone was kind of crudely glued in a little crookedly. No marks or stamps. At least its a fun piece that I'll wear. Are older repaired pieces that have missing parts basically worthless investment wise?