Featured Please help me identify what this is, age and who made it?

No way to be sure from here.

 

can you take the chain off the pendant.?
if not i see no reason it's not original to the work.....and it's one of the nicer chains i've seen.
please find a loop and go over ever surface with a fine tooth comb...or loop !!!
There seems to be too may marks to leave out a gold purity stamp.....

I wear an 18 K chain,,, with a 14 K clasp ...that I changed out for better strength .

 

I took a 2 photos one of the chain, it looks that is a sealed loop that can't be separated from pendant. The second photo is the second mark on the bottom of the pendant.

 

The second mark also says ER

 

It doesn't appear to be as nice a piece as some say.Even with the out of focus photos there is lead solder repairs,missing stones,broken/missing enamel,broken/bent area on the metal.

 

The design and stones are lovely..... are you sure the letters aren't EtR?

 

Hi thanks. It is stamped E.R
I should have put the period when I described it earlier may have been important.

 

So...just for shits & giggles lets say the piece is maybe older than we think...or had a hard life and was touched up by someone less qualified than the original maker....whom I think was a master jeweler ....does that make it any less nice than I've said it is....? ... I think not !

You can disagree.....but the nit picky items you've pointed out did not escape my glance from the get go......& I still stand by my thoughts that this is a superior work of craftsmanship.....even with it's flaws......which all came later than it's origin.

......

 

Well said!!!

 

I had another question. I have never had an appraisal on jewelry before, if someone could share their experience. I was curious if they do the appraisal in front of you? We do not want to leave it with them. What is customary? Thanks

 

THAT is a WOWZER!!! of a piece!!! To me it looks pure Victorian, and the jewels look beautiful in it. Take all advice above and get an appraisal from a professional jeweler!!! And GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

It varies.....ASK them to appraise it in front of you.....if they won't.....find another appraiser!!!!!! I had a valuable ring appraised.....one said "leave it", and I said, "no, I'll leave!!"and that was a WELL respected jewelry house where I live!!! .....the appraiser I used said "no problem....of course I will!!" AND it sold for a bit OVER what he appraised it, at auction at Christies!!!!!

 

Thank you so much for the kind advice. I'm going to see if I can arrange an appraisal this coming weekend I will keep everyone posted.

 

Wow that gave me chills, congrats on the sale. I'm going to call around today and see how they react to being asked to do the appraisal in front of me. Thanks again

 

It's all about trust and your comfort level.
A professional jeweler is not going to switch out the stones , or give you back a gum ball pendant. He's going to charge you for his time and give you signed paperwork detailing his findings on the item along with a replacement value.

If you don't want to leave the piece with him for that level of work, a face to face hands on discussion of the item is always possible, at little or no cost, but don't expect a signed authorized document to come with that .

You'll have to do some research to see who's out there near you that you feel you can trust.

Good luck !!!!

 

That's fantastic advise thank you. I'm searching now lol

 

I was able to find a estate jeweler that has a GIA certified woman come in and do appraisals, so I'm taking it next Tuesday @ 1pm to have her evaluate in with me present. The first place wanted me to leave it with them for a week and they had no apt just leave it. I'm sure they are trust worthy I just didn't feel good about that. So yay I'm excited to see what it is. Thanks for all your input.

 

If she is an estate jeweler, she should not have to test the gold content.
Old jewelry was not always marked with content.
The reason I harp on not allowing people to test the gold content, is that they often do it in a way that ruins the item.

If it is indeed an old Victorian piece, the value of the item will be more than the cost of the gold weight. If those are indeed amethyst from the Victorian period, they won't have been altered for deeper color. Being the deeper color makes them more desirable. And as already mentioned, those may be little rubies. Also good.

 

I'm very greatful for you sharing your knowledge with me. I won't let them test it. Up to this point I only have had recent experience with vintage costume jewelry so this is wonderful insite. I spent a lot of time in a rock shop and crystal diamond mine when I was a child my parents both worked there for 20yrs, I wish I had paid more attention to what they were doing. Thank you

 

They have to test it, to determine gold content. Victorian pieces were often made of rather heavy gold-filled. Just don't let them file test it; file testing digs a hole in the piece. That's fine if it's modern mass-production and bound for the scrap pile. It's not so good for a true antique.