Cameo Necklace - Advice needed :)

I messaged you.

 

The thing with cameos is that the real value lies in the quality of the carving, the setting is secondary. Take for instance this beautiful cameo. No frame except a low carat gold (probably 9-10k) and highlighted with tiny seed pearls. The carving is very good quality and it's a nice size. Good price too, I'm tempted to make an offer...lol.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Car...486832?hash=item1c7ba4def0:g:WboAAOSw44BYiRHi

 

Good carving in basic 14k gold frame, early 20th century.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-14K...6a08dd3&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=122333486832

 

That first one is really nice.

 

Nice size 14k ring. Unusual to find such a detailed carving in a ring.
Anyway...you get the idea.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/245678...ch_query=antique gold cameo&ref=sr_gallery_46

 

Hi @Bronwen, and anyone else who can help!!!! Can you give me an opinion on what you think of this cameo?? Still looking for something I like!! I would want to have it reset as I'm not fond of its current setting and it's missing a piece of metal in the upper right.....is there somewhere to find empty settings or do they all need to be custom made? Thanks SO much any and ALL for your help and input!!! Sue

EDIT: If you Enlarge the screen (CTRL + Scroll FWD) are there cracks above AND to the left of Zeus' wings????

"This is a NICE CAMEO OF HEBE AND THE EAGLE. She was cupbearer to the Gods and Zeus is the eagle. The setting is Pinchbeck. There is one small leaf missing from the top but looks okay. You could probably glue something on there. Has the c and t pin and safety chain. Very large at 2 1/4 by 2 1/2. There is a tiny loop top center for a chain. From around 1860.The cameo has soem natural lines but only seen when held to light."

 

Generally, I think it would be best if you could find one that is already in a setting that you like. Having it put into a different setting could be expensive, and might devalue it (perhaps, but that is just my opinion). Oh! Just noticed the messages from Calico. Never mind about the devaluation idea! (And by the way, this thread is from a year ago... we haven't seen @Calico in a while!)

I think the cameo itself is beautiful.

 

Hi Fig, yes, I love the cameo itself....just not crazy about the setting it's in!!

 

She needs a bra, that right breast is wandering. I had been going to say she was nice, just how nice depending on the price, until I noticed that detail. Don't much like her left hand either. The eagle's wings are the best part (& he's clutching thunderbolts). The more I look, the less I like the quality of the carving.

Seller mentions that there are some hairlines, & there are, mostly visible from the back only & mostly very shallow except for that one you can see on the front, which is more pronounced. Better not to have them of course, but generally considered 'commensurate with age' & not a serious flaw. Does not look like they destabilize the piece in any way.

I do now & then see for sale empty settings that once held a cameo or other oval thing. Chances of finding one that is perfect for you are slimmer than the hairlines. A jeweller should be able to grind a shell cameo to size & shape if a little too large for a bezel setting, but yours does not have much edge to lose. A prong setting has a little more wiggle room. Still... And having one custom built is going to cost more than the cameo.

Damaged pinchbeck setting, so-so carving, unless she is very cheap & you like the way she presents if not examined too closely, recommend against this one. Hebe was a very popular subject & comes along all the time. Think you can do better, eventually.

 

A few empty settings are being offered for scrap. 14K & 9ct. You would have to ask about dimensions as they're more concerned with weight.

I use Ctrl together with the + on the number pad to do this, although in jumps, not continuous.

 

I'm only seeing this now because wasn't a member when the post was new, but Aquitane has directed me here to look at piece she has added to thread, so took a look all through. You got lots of good tips from others. Dying to know what you ultimately bought, if you did end up buying a cameo. Of the ones you showed, only the Antinous had any real value as a cameo itself, independently from the setting. The hairlines are common in older cameos & did not see any that would really be considered flaws. Going by the findings, more like 20s-30s than 50s. Pretty ladies wearing flowers can be very pretty, but are also very common, a 30s look. The Terpsichore is her sister Erato, rarer than pretty ladies; common in comparison with Antinous, who was the young 'companion' of the Emperor Hadrian & drowned in the Nile under mysterious circumstances.

So whadja buy?

 

Cheez.....that works too.....learned something new!!!

 

Haven't bought anything - YET!!!! AND I can't TELL you HOW MANY I've looked at...Way too many.....but if it doesn't hit me just right, I'm not buying!! The one above was just $225.00 But I agree, the figure carving wasn't thrilling me.....I did like the carving of the eagle though!!!! But to have to then change the setting.....just wasn't going to work for me. NOT in a rush.....something will eventually hit my eye just right!!!!!

 

Just way too much for this one. Will try to keep an eye out for a good specimen at or below your price.

 

@Bronwen

I wanted to be sure my wife would like/want a Cameo so I somehow worked it into a conversation (ie: Wow look at these, arent they cool etc etc) then she mentioned she had a Cameo pin and earrings that she got from her mother. She proceeded to show me and she likes them but she isnt blown away by them. So, I decided to put that gift idea on the back burner for the time being.

Long story short: Didnt buy one

 

You did the right thing, for sure, although sometimes when people have only seen pretty lady cameos, they don't realize how beautiful & interesting they can be & just think of them as hopelessly outdated. Thanks for not leaving me in suspense!