Lots and Lots...In These Lots (Pt 1)

I must say the beginner's luck is strong with my first few purchases off of ebay. I'll break it into two parts as there's quite a few niceties out of the 100+ pieces I bought.

Starting off with this rather lovely bronze cross. Not sure what kind of age if any it has, its smaller than I thought it'd be but I'm happy! The enamel seems to either have been worn away or not done properly. They do fairly well online so I'm hopeful it'll pay for the entire lot lol





There was a fair bit of silver, varying from 800 to 925. The chains are both 925 which is great fun when you think about that great big one.


I'm always after the age of things...any ideas as to that brooch?



Is the pendant acrylic/plastic, or perhaps coral in resin? I think I saw one online that was that, but not sure that's a common procedure.


This ring excited me greatly when I saw the 4 stamps, but it tests as silver. The stone sometimes looks like it wants to be more than a rhinestone, and at other times looks like a badly made stone. It just has such an empty, grey look to it inside, that is different to the rhinestone/cz stuff you see.




Now for the real fun bits! I've tested these about 4 times, the chain has marks but aren't readable (I've not tried very hard). It tests as 14k. The bracelet is completely unmarked, perhaps missing a tag, because it tests somewhere between 18-22k. I did try to make a thorough scratching in an inconspicuous place and its not plated. The brooch is fickle, some days its 9k, some days its not. It's also marked but they're a right mess.


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But THESE are my pride and joys, I picked these out myself and it paid off.

The brooch was in a lot I was following but the seller took it down. I messaged her and I managed to buy the brooch for 8 euros on its own, which is what I wanted the lot for. I've been snooping on catawiki at fine jewelry and I remembered the advice from this forum to look for a fine construction, but still sturdy, particularly on the back. This ticked all the boxes for me and lo and behold....tests as 9k!! I loved it anyway but its nice to see a hunch turn out correct.

After the test I wondered about it being a diamond, but I believe there's a chip in it. I'm second guessing myself now looking at the photos but if its there that means no diamond. I'm rather cross because I asked specifically if it was damaged and she said it was 'impeccable'. Not. But for 8e I suppose I have no right to complain.



And my piece de resistance, I bought a whole lot mainly for this necklace. It was love at first sight for my own use, and thought it was quality. I really hope its AD but its probably not. The chain tests very adamently for 14k. I assume its gold, silver, and copper for the moth/butterfly/dragonfly (still haven't decided what it is, I think moth?), but the actual frame of the 'pendant' isn't gold at all. It emphatically tests negative for any gold, and its full of greenies.

BUT LOOK AT HER



The other pieces should pay me back for what I spent on both lots + the brooch, so these items are pure profit. What a way to expand my gold stash! I've only had one brooch and some 12k button thingys.

Very happy with my purchases..not such a good thing for my bank!​

 

Congratulations on your haul! I like the acanthus leaf silver brooch and gold swirl brooch best. The leaf brooch looks like it may be a monogram? Maybe an L? The gold brooch could also be white Sapphire as it was a common substitute. There were lots of Starbursts and swirl brooch circa about 1900. The rollover may be a later replacement catch, but I can't tell for sure. The hook is usually for a watch.

 

A diamond can be chipped, it's rare but it happens. It's a nice piece either way for what you paid, and I'm sure the chip can't be noticed with the naked eye. Score! As for the necklace, I would guess a previous owner liked it as much as you do and replaced a damaged chain with a nicer sturdier one in gold. She will have a whole new life now with you!

You've done so well.

 

Thank you!! Do you mean this brooch @mirana? If so, I quite see your point! I'll look at it tomorrow in different directions haha.

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Interesting on the sapphire, I'll look into it. I was honestly surprised with the back, I figured it'd be older than when the rollover put it but there doesn't seem to be any signs of a replacement. I'll check again in the sunlight! Would the watch hook date it? I thought it was for a necklace, did they used to put it on the watch chain then?
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Thanks so much! I'm super chuffed. No the chip isn't really noticable at all, I just happened to see a darker spot on it and thought it was a bit of fluff, until I ran my fingernail over it. I'll check again though. Good to know on the diamond possibility. Oh dear, does this mean I now need to add a gem tester to my tools?

I hadn't thought of the chain being a replacement, since I thought they suited each other so well. It must have been a loving owner to pair them so nicely you're quite right! Well the necklace has a long term home with me that's for sure, I can't wait to wear it over a dark turtleneck this winter!
Is the actual insect not likely to be silver/gold/copper then? The 'gold' bit has a different look to the frame, and in better condition..

 

Is the pendant acrylic/plastic, or perhaps coral in resin?

maybe enamel ....

 

All of these are listed as antique with no mention of replaced backs...

https://theloveliejewels.com/products/unlisted-antique14k-diamond-brooch-pendant
https://hpsjewelers.com/antique-diamond-swirl-pendant-brooch-7329ak500/
https://www.rubylane.com/item/953559-AR8C3926/White-Sapphire-Filigree-Brooch-Pendant

 

oh yes of course enamel exists! Good point.

 

Apple coral is a good bet.

The necklace could easily be all original. The greenies are all on the back, and jewelers often used copper SOLDER for bits like this. I've seen that time and again. Unless you see brass peeping through the edges, I'd be thinking copper solder.

 

Good point! It could even be a one off artisan piece, they often have an eclectic mix of materials all used on one piece. Whatever gets the desired colors and effect.

 

Apple coral does look similar...

I'll check for brass tomorrow!

I've looked at the swirl brooch again, and I'm 99% sure its original.

 

Random, sometimes redundant remarks.

Being a diamond & having a chip are not mutually exclusive states. 'Hardness' is rated by what can scratch what, so all relative & nothing much to do with ability to withstand a blow. Diamond can scratch anything but chips relatively easily because it has 'good cleavage', the same quality that allows it to be faceted so elaborately. Diamonds in rings that are worn steadily accrue many tiny chips over time from being knocked around.

Agree the pinky-red layers of the pendant are coral, perhaps coated in acrylic, & perhaps the 'apple' type.

The scroll-y piece that does look to be an initial letter is right side up when the back is in this orientation:



The clasp looks very interesting on this.

The cross is probably brass rather than bronze.

Quite a haul.

 

Seconded on the brass cross. It looks like it was meant to be screwed down to something else with screws going in through the back. Just don't ask me what.

 

The last one you posted has a lever locking clasp, which is appropriate to the period. I've bought so many antique brooches with replacement rollovers that were never mentioned as replacements because it was popular to do with fine jewelry. Usually they have a little base on them, or some obvious solder, but a good jeweler could make them look seamless. The style is very of 1900, but there's always a possibility it could be "newer" by a couple decades.

Morning Glory Antiques maintains a great research site with scanned catalogs of the period. It is USA-centric, but gives you a general idea. If you scroll down a little on this catalog from 1901, you'll see the wide variety of similar starburst and scroll brooches this one seller carried.

Agreeing with others that diamonds absolutely chip. I have one in my grandmother's engagement ring, and it's been tested a few times to verify the diamonds. Diamond testers can be cheap, stone testers more expensive. I just made friends with a local jeweler who was excited to see my hauls and test my stones for free. Maybe that's an option for you? Take something in to be worked on and start chatting.

I think I heard an appraiser on a uk antiques roadshow say that these clasps with guards over the needle were made in one particular European country and now I can't remember which (if that's even true).

 

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Here's a Morning Glory Antiques page on watch jewelry that shows watch pins (with hooks on back) and a photo of a woman wearing one over her right breast. Wrist watches became the thing in the 20/30s so yes a watch pin would usually be earlier I would think. Bronwen has taught me they also could hook into removable bails that were separate pieces. Convertible jewelry.

I had a cameo with a hook at the top and no bail. I ended up using half of a lavalier that was missing it's bottom part. It had a ring at the bottom, so I put the hook through it, then a rubber ear back on the hook to keep it from sliding off. It's worked perfectly. A jeweler might be able to make you a bail with a tiny ring soldered to the bottom for similar purpose if you wanted it as a pendant.

 

The cross may have been on a missal.

 

Here's the chip in the stone, the dark spot on the front. It's quite a dink for the size of the whole thing. (




Upon further inspection, I do believe the clasp is replaced! Under white light its a different color to the brooch, and there might be the slightest hint of solder. The hinge looks original.

 

Oh yes @mirana there's quite a few of them haha. What a great idea to use brooches to hold your watches, that's fun. What a great resource! Thanks for sharing. I'm not sure about jewelers around here, as I'm quite rural. Chatting can be difficult anyway since its a different language, but it'd be fun to strike up a conversation and a relationship with someone local!

Wait its supposed to look like that? I have/seen a few of those kind and I always thought someone had bashed it in I'll look into it!

 

Is this a J perhaps?