Featured Earrings, very pretty but ?

Would you be happier if I said diamonds are typically set in a manner that allows more light to reach them?

 

I think it is time, as you say to get a certified jewellers opinion.
I would hope they could determine what the metal is too.
These would make nice rings, as earrings they would pull earlobes down a bit as they are heavy.

 

I’m wondering about that now Bronwen, whether the metal casing is giving me a false diamond reading. The heavy weight of them and clunky back workings made me assume pot metal, they weigh in the hand like lumps of lead. The green stones are green green like emeralds.
I’ll see if I can find a good jeweller and report back.

 

Hi,
My old jeweler used to say check the edges of the green stones. If they are really sharp it is a real stone. Glass ones have a more rounded shape instead of flat planes.
greg

 

Got an Appt at jewellers tomorrow, hopefully they might be able to tell me what’s what.

 

This thread prompted me to dig out the diamond tester that came with a kit, put in the battery that was supposed to revive my CO2 detector but only proved that it is in terminal condition, & experiment with using it. Had no idea they are so finicky, with ambient temperature & dryness of your skin being factors in how accurately it performs. I probably did not calibrate it quite accurately, because it gave me a reading in the lowest diamond range for corundum stones, but was positively exuberant when applied to actual diamonds. Since it tests thermal conductivity, I can imagine that, if a stone were touching metal on several sides, the reading could be skewed. We await the jeweller's assessment.

 

The buzzer on the diamond tester will ring if you make contact with the metal

 

Well I have some info from the jewellers which seems to make sense. She confirmed the emeralds were indeed paste and there were real diamonds, some of them she said were rather dark and maybe some could be white sapphires, she didn’t use a tester she just looked through a loupe for a good 15 minutes and her conclusion was that the earrings were likely replicas hence the showy fronts and closed in backs and ordered for various reasons ie originals sold etc. She said it would cost me a bit to test the metal so I declined but I’ve just done a silver test at home and they are silver! So likely the NG mark is from sterling. They are heavy to wear as earrings, wouldn’t take much effort to get them there but do you think they would make a couple of nice rings?

 

Is 8g really that heavy for earrings?? I’m a man that hasn’t ever worn an earring in my life so I’m truly asking. That doesn’t sound overly heavy to me at all. I just listed a sterling pair that weighs 28g. Those seemed heavy to me. These look big for earrings but that doesn’t sound so heavy, maybe it is though? I bought an ex a pair of jade and gold earrings which she never wore because of their weight, so I really have no clue. Didn’t have a scale then so not sure how heavy those were.

 

When they dangle and move when you turn it can take a bit of a toll on your earlobes. I have a dread of looking like the ex Mrs Trump Ivana, long lobes are pretty ageing.

 

Those are some low swinging lobes! It’s like a Jeff Foxworthy joke. You know you’re too rich if...you have so much gold and stones hanging off your ears that your lobes now rest on your shoulders.

 

The 1980s...

 

No. I think they would be damaged in the process.

 

I never thought of the earlobe sag factor, thanks Houseful! I want and plan to do a whole lot of ageing!

In fact, I'd never have noticed her ears or earrings in that shot, because her hair style is an eclectic throw back in time. I love her hair style. She's surely a beautiful woman. She should re-marry, if she hasn't, thanks.

 

They could be made into rings,but would need the shanks laser welded to the top piece,it might be too expensive though.Or just have new 'O" rings added and bails for pendants.

 

I might add them to a long chain and make an old-school sautoir. Problem solved.

 

I think pendants would be a good solution. Thanks to everyone for your ideas and advice.

 

Some of you might remember these. I originally tested the metal with a neodymium magnet and there was no reaction but I recently discovered they do react to the little magnet that came with my acid testing kit. It may be that some of the diamonds have impurities in them and that’s causing the reaction or it may be the metal. I’m taking them to a jewellers to get new earring backs put on them and I’m hoping he can test the metal and put on new backs. I’d like some advice please joolies about the best style of attachments for these. Screw types backs would look more authentic but wouldn’t be really secure as these earrings are heavy. Lever backs, hooks? I’ve looked at modern silver lever backs but not sure if they would look too new and wrong. Is there a proper antique supply website anyone knows about? What would you do? Thanks.
I think my silver testing acid was off when I thought these might be silver, seems it doesn’t stay fresh for that long.

 

There are newly made 'antiqued' sterling leverbacks, but they probably wouldn't look right, too 'antiqued'. You can find them on Etsy, probably other platforms as well. so you can see for yourself if that is the right choice.

Otherwise buy a pair of cheap old silver earrings, and 'harvest' the hooks.

 

Even modern sterling hooks would be OK; no one's going to care! Screw-thread posts might even turn up if you look hard enough. They're pretty secure and the little balls wouldn't look too far off from what was there in the first place. Only find some antique screwbacks if you don't have holes.