Featured Is this crystal and sterling necklace older??

A no brainer at $4 at an estate sale, even if it was newer I thought it had a cool vibe.

It's really perplexing me as to age. Also it is so dark -- from tarnish or intended?

The stamp is hard to read, see photo. Italy, 925 then 406 AR. From what I can read at least.

Antique or newer? Thanks!

 

In the 80s-90s crystals were all the rage. I think its from that era. I got into all that for a minute,I had a rose quartz one I wore for years.

 

Johnny popped in ahead of me, but I concur.

Think it's just tarnish. Jewellery incorporating quartz crystals was big 1980s/90s in the artisan jeweller world. Your piece is more commercial, from an Arezzo maker, so could be a bit behind the curve.

 

Thirded. It was an early 90s fad around here. Faded out pretty quickly.

 

That poor puppy needs to be polished!

 

Still hot item in Sedona Arizona.

 

I know... it's so black I wondered if intentional. It wasn't like this was in the bottom of some barrel, it was at a fairly high end estate, all other jewelry clean as a whistle. It is so uniformly black that it made me question it.

Just thought of another question, would I call the stone "quartz"?

 

Certainly, but I would also add "rock crystal" to get more eyes on it.

 

I'd use rock crystal quartz. It might even go as herkimer diamond, which is clear quartz too. Most of those aren't long like that though.

 

Herkimer diamonds are distinctive for their double termination, a point on each end. May just be my lack of exhaustive experience, but all the Herkimer stones I have seen are close to being cubic in shape, not a needle like this one. I would use both 'quartz crystal' & 'rock crystal' in a write up.

Does the black on the chain come off readily on your fingers, i.e., with just a little rubbing?

 

Without testing it it could be glass! If you are going to sell it you need to know, not guess.

 

They do tend to be squattier. I have one on the shelf in back of me. That's why I said the one in the pendant was kinda long to be one.