Bracelet: Age, Origin and Possible Maker?

Unmarked. The large (1 x 1/2 in.) center stone I believe is moonstone(?), with a number of purple rhinestones(?) set in copper or brass ???

Any thoughts on the possible age, origin and maker?

Thank you!

 

It looks more goldy than copper or brassy, and the quality looks better than a real cheapo costume piece. The safety chain with bolt ring looks like someone really wanted not to lose it.

The style looks late 19th C, but of course that has been copied often over the years as the 'look' passed in and out of favour.

I'd not imagine you haven't already tested it for gold.

 

Unless you can see that there's foiling on the back of the purple stones, they might be amethyst.

 

Thanks AF & Pat.

No, we haven't had it tested for gold. I "assumed" since it wasn't marked, it's probably copper or brass. I'll have it tested on Monday to make sure.

There doesn't appear to be any foil on the backings.

 

Just some info. for future jewelry found

"Foiling is a way of using tinted and silvered copper sheets to enhance the back of gemstones. The gemstone jewelry of the early Georgian era prior to 1800, was typified by it’s use of foiling. "
http://pippatreevintage.com/2013/02/12/foiled-gemstones/



Hair Ornament/Brooch
Enameled Gold, Garnets, Foiled Rock Crystals, Pearls
1840-1850
The Victoria & Albert Museum

 

Very interesting... learned something new!

I knew glass rhinestones are foiled, but had no idea real gems ever were.

 

Look closely at the corners for wear to the rolled plate

 

Is the safety chain an add on? or does it appear to be part of the original making?

If an add on, then an older piece someone was afraid of loosing.
Where the chain is clasped on, if that is a small piece of the original bracelet bent in a triangular bend, then a later piece 1950s onward.

Probably glass and not a moonstone as the back of the "stone" is not clear. A real stone would have the back open.

I'm guessing newer, meant to be part of the antique jewelry look.

 

It's not old; it looks like a piece of Padiddly Links or similar. There are modern companies making pieces to look like the old ones, and they all have that "antique" brass finish. The center stone looks like opalite glass, and the construction looks like 1990s or later. That said, it's pretty.

 

From personal experience, I've found many thousands of dollars worth of unmarked gold and silver, so NEVER assume that an unmarked piece is just costume! Many studio pieces are not marked, marks on old pieces get worn off or covered with grime, or the mark may simply be in a place you wouldn't expect. The acid-test kit is cheap, compared to giving away gold for practically free! I also recommend a diamond tester with moissanite discrimination. They cost about $100 and will pay for itself with one single diamond you find! Gorgeous bracelet, by the way!

 

I'm not sure I've found many thousands, but a few anyway. Another tip is to look for gold-colored backs on costume earrings. They're often 14k, and if the earrings are going cheap enough they're worth buying. The earring "butterfly" backs too. The pieces are bitty, but they add up.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...20-year-old-s-plaything-turned-royal-gem.html



All that sparkles: Four-year-old Imogen with the junk shop brooch

I had bought it from a junk shop for £20, so I knew it was just flashy old tat. Or so I thought.
In a week’s time, this bauble will go on sale at Bonhams fine jewellery sale in London — with a conservative guide price of £3,000 to £4,000. It could fetch much, much more.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...plaything-turned-royal-gem.html#ixzz3D2A2yzKW
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...plaything-turned-royal-gem.html#ixzz3D29p9dqI
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

Score! The back should have given the age away, but I'd imagine over there a lot of pieces are old. I'd bet money the estimate is way low.

 

And the article's author ought to bring that kid to more antique stores; she seems to have a good eye!(LOL)

 

Here's the Bonhams results from 2011...

"Lot 5
A 19th century pink topaz and diamond brooch
Sold for £32,450 (US$ 52,715) inc. premium"
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19015/lot/5/

Like, wow!

 

Not bad for a $30 investment!

 

Great story! Back to the original question... @'Nuff_Said
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I just noticed it when I was looking at your Art Nouveau woman/butterfly pin. (That pin is the real find!) but wanted to add my 2 cents about this bracelet. Cannot help with the maker, but I think yours dates to 1940's-50's. I have a bracelet with a lot of similarities. Mine is a clamper bracelet, but has that same twisted brass or metal ornamentation around the main stone and just feels like the same era. Here are photos for comparison.

 

They definitely look like they were made by the same company/jeweler.

 

Jeezzz, I forgot all about this thread. I do apologize to all who replied and thank you all for your time and thoughts. Awesome advice above, thank you!

 

Thanks for the images Lucille and for helping with the possible age on my bracelet. Thank you!