Featured Georgian (?) BLING

Interesting tidbit about the gold plating to protect clothing. Thanks for sharing.

 

Before...

 

My my Kyra thats as good as new! Lovely job, and looks to be a beautiful piece.

Interesting thanks for the info! It'll be treasured just the same, I'm a sucker for age.
Oh now that is interesting, I don't see any wear/silver coming through, but that doesn't mean anything! Thank you

 

RachelW: The cluster brooch is staying firmly in my grubby paws, but I'm always curious as to the value of these things. I know we don't do values here, but I'm getting two very different reports. I know its very collectable, but 1stDibs has pieces in the 1000s and then ebay's recent sold items don't break 100. That's a rather wide margin I'm not looking for a specific value on this brooch, since I won't be selling, but what is georgian jewelry going for these days?

Is 1stDibs a site to be trusted, or is it another RubyLane

1stdibs generally has a huge markup compared to ebay prices. The quality of items start at the high end, no junk per se because dealers pay a lot to use the venue. Yet, things sell there. I do know a few friends who actually buy high end jewelry on 1stdibs, but namely couture designer's retired items. 1stdibs, also has the option to make an offer, so you never know the actually selling price. I looked at selling there at one time, but passed, if I had enough super high end jewelry I would consider it.

 

I missed the question!

The first one, why is it older? The hinge for one thing is early. But the whole thing smells Georgian. It’s very finely made, if you look at it and compare with the two later pieces. That back is crafted properly and it was made as effectively a precious jewel to show off the black dot. Said stone was, of course, meant to be seen under candlelight. The look and cut of the stones is early too. And it’s silver.

that’s not to denigrate the second brooch or the buckle, but they were made when jewellery was being sold more to the masses, as it were. Rhinestones were more available and way cheaper. They’re brighter and mass cut too, not hand. It’s a partly stamped out brass back and the hinge is late nineteenth at the very earliest. I’ve seen a great many of these and own a few, likewise the buckles.

 

Sorry for the delay in responding, and thank you for your reply! What I meant was the difference between the second brooch and the brooch from a previous thread which I linked. To me, those two look very similar, but the date ranges seem large between the two, so I was wondering if there was anything specific that had gone unnoticed by me. I do see what you're saying about the second and the buckle though, that's very helpful information when I need go on the hunt, now I can be more picky!

 

Ah gotcha. I'll go back and have a look.

 

Upon further inspection in the sunlight and some critical thinking, I can see the difference in the two hinges, while the pin is wrapped around in both, the older brooch has an older hinge. The pin itself is much longer, though the clasp is the same. The older one has a different cut of stones, and a more substanial frame. The newer brooch's stones look a lot more like plain glass, and don't sparkle as much.