Featured Auction Night!

There was one box lot of jewelry tonight and I settled in and started digging. A little 10k here, 14k there…. More 14, more 14, MORE 14

GF, sterling

and junk

A few notables (maybe some help with marks?)



Marks are really tough on these. They test good for 14k and appear to be cast. Pearls are real, assuming the small blue stones are sapphires

 

Next up: unfortunately damaged, they were a nice set at one time. Probably would have been the best of the lot if they were not damaged

 

A 9k Celtic Cross and a tested 14k cross with (not real, unfortunately) diamonds

 

A Wachenheimer Sterling & Lapis bracelet

 

Das nice......the mark sez 14....it's upsidedown.... imo

 

Looks like you hit a lick! Not sure what the blue stone in the bracelet is.

 

ya, looks dark for lapis..

 

Great auction lot! They are stunning

 

Cross is relatively modern, that’s a British common control gold hallmark.

nice finds.

 

I adore these, much too dramatic for my lifestyle (not many evening galas in our farming village haha), but I would still have them in a heart beat. Great find!

 

Luv the earrings.

 

Hmmm…. I do kinda see that now

It definitely looks darker in the photos. I think the white background and bright lights throws off the white balance on my phone camera.

I’m a bit puzzled by the assay mark though, it doesn’t match any UK assay offices, especially Dublin which would be a natural fit. The mark is extremely tiny and I used a digital microscope to photograph it. I’m not finding a good collection of CCM signatory country Assay marks to compare to.

Makers mark: SD
Assay: ?
Fineness: 375
Common Control (scales): 375

I’m hoping for a little input from the great minds here. These lavalier earrings… are they more reflective of a revival movement, or are they possibly correct? There were a few Victorian and Deco pieces in the lot, so the presence of true Edwardian isn’t completely out of the question. They just don’t seem delicate enough to be correct

Regarding the small 14k earrings in the second post…. The damaged ones. Initially, under less than ideal lighting at the auction house, I was seeing the French 18k eagle….but clearly that’s not the case. They will be scrapped so the identification isn’t critical, but I enjoy learning foreign marks for future reference. Any thoughts?

 

Hm. I see what you mean, you’ve two illegible marks. That’s a rather Scottish cross. Let me brood.

 

What section of the 2nd pair of earrings is damaged? Thinking better than scrap for those if possibly repairable.

I would think the first pair is older. I see several of our great jewelry people already here, but around for @Dessert58 @Any Jewelry and @kyratango

Fabulous lot!

 

Gorgeous! Vienna, 1872-1922 mark for .580 gold.
They are Austro-Hungarian, a magic name. The tear is minor damage, so I would try to sell them. As long as you mention the damage.

The scales mark is the Hallmarking Convention mark or Vienna Convention mark. 21 Countries are member of the Convention, including the UK and Ireland. The other members are mainly on the European Continent, where Celtic crosses are also made.
But I think yours is Irish, it has that Irish look. In many other member countries .375 is not legally accepted as gold.

Dublin is not in the UK, btw, it is the capital of Ireland.

 

Ahhh, a defunct mark from a defunct empire, no wonder I had troubles finding it. I certainly won’t scrap now The tear is at the bottom, but the back is dented as a result. I will clearly note the damage.

thank you so much for this info!! It was driving me nuts searching for that mark

I should have been more specific in my wording. The assay mark does not resemble the UK assay offices, OR the Dublin mark which would be what I’d expect since it’s a traditional Irish cross. Ireland has continued using the a variation of the British hallmarking system since their independence, although only the Convention markings are required. The Dublin Assay mark is still in use today. But it does not resemble this mark. Shown below before the CCM

 

I have 20th century Irish silver that isn't fully marked, maybe it is the same for some Irish gold.

 

Absolutely possible

 

it has a tear at the bottom and dent in the back, but now considering the origin, I think they will be spared the smelting pot

definitely hoping for lots of people saying they are older rather than revival.

 

I would even buy those myself for scrap and I am a cheapskate. Nice finds!