Don't Sell Grandma's Jewelry at a Yard Sale...What's It Worth?
IDENTIFICATIONBefore you can find out what a piece of jewelry is worth, you need to find out what it is.
This can be as simple as turning it over and finding a maker's mark or complicated as in "hours of research".
First thing first:
Examine your jewelry for a maker's mark.
Look on the back or on the clasp.
Thoroughly examine every inch of the piece.
If you see a maker's mark, start your research!
Not finding a maker's mark doesn't mean it's not valuable, on the contrary;
many fine pieces of jewelry were never marked.
It does mean you will need to put in a little more effort in research.
If you received your jewelry from a family member, ask them about it's history.
Did your grandfather give it to your grandmother right before he went off to war?
Was it handed down from her mother?
Answers to these questions will give you a general idea of how old it is. Look at the style of the piece.
Although many styles come back into fashion after a time, it is still possible to ID an older piece by the style and material.
Does it appear to have gemstones?
Determine it they are real gemstones.
You will need some sort of strong magnifying glass or ideally, a jeweler's loupe.
A loupe is a small magnifying glass in various degrees of magnification.
A 10X loupe should be all you need and they are relatively inexpensive.
Craft and hobby stores usually sell them.
Go to a well lighted place and look at the stone through the loupe.
Do you see tiny bubbles in the stone?
Tiny air bubbles mean it is made from glass or plastic.
It's not a real gemstone.
Is it open backed?
Can you see the back of the stone when you turn the piece over?
Does the back of the stone look shiny as in gold or silver colored foil?
These are foil back rhinestones and not real gems.
Foil was often added to reflect the light and create a better sparkle.
Most real gems contain some type of natural inclusion.
Unless you are familiar with gems and diamonds, your best bet is to take it to a jeweler or
appraiser if you think it is real.
Look at the construction of the piece.
This can be extremely helpful in dating a piece!
Look at the clasp or pin.
Are the stones individually riveted on?
Is the clasp rather ornate?
Does it have a layered look?
What type of style is it?
Does it remind you of old black and white movies?
Perhaps Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn?
Does it look Victorian?
By now, you should have a general idea of age and you are ready to start your research in earnest!
RESEARCHHead for your local library or heat up an Internet search engine!
I can spend hours in my local
library poring over books and books and more books.
There are plenty of good jewelry reference books.
Stop by your library or bookstore and check them out before buying.
No sense in buying a book you will hardly use!
If you choose the library, bring your jewelry with you.
You can also make copies of any pages you wish to take or check out the book and bring it home.
As with other research, libraries are extremely helpful.
Searching on the Internet is also a quick and easy way to get fast information.
Some search terms to try are:
Look at anything relevant, look for similar pieces or styles.
Visit online vintage jewelry shops.
Look for forums where you may be able to post a picture and ask for identification help. If you love to research like I do, this is right up your alley!
It can take hours, days sometimes weeks to find out about a certain piece.
As you go, you will gain more knowledge about old jewelry and hopefully you will be as enchanted as many other collectors and dealers.
It's a fascinating world of "junky jewelry"!We are always here to help you with your pieces, so feel free to send us an email if you have questions..
Dressing your cell phone with style
It's back to school time and you it seems you can't get away from the advertisements for all the latest back to school fashions. Seems the '80's are back in style. In a few weeks when the kids go back to school not only will they be choosing the latest styles to dress themselves, they'll also be choosing the latest styles to dress their cell phones - something no kid in the '80's ever had to worry about.
Here's an overview of the latest and greatest accessories to cover a cell phone:
Face Plates - A face plate is a molded plastic piece that fits over the face of a phone. Its purpose is to personalize a phone with the users' own style while protecting the face from scratches and other damages. Most cell phone companies design face plates to fit their individual phones.
They are inexpensive, usually starting at under $10.
Skins - A cell phone skin is a piece of stretchy material that fits over the entire phone tightly. There are cut outs...
Diamonds > Dressing your cell phone with style
Hip hop?s spiritual messenger rises out of the twin cities with The book of knowledge
(ContentDesk) July 14, 2004 -- An important album is about to be released in August 2004 on 306 Entertainment, a new Minneapolis Based record label, entitled, THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE.
The album will introduce the world to hip-hop's spiritual messenger Alfonso Marcello Green P/K/A Knowledge MC.
The BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE is Knowledge MC's personal testimony as to how the love of Jesus Christ saved him from a life of destruction.
Knowledge, who is considered a ?spiritual' MC, credits the word of God for turning his life from the streets and towards the heavens filling his spirit with the will of the Father and planting the seeds of THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE in him to (sow) share with the world through hip ?hop music.
Knowledge based THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE on the Bible's teachings from 1 Corinthians chapter 9 Verses 19-23, where The Apostle Paul being led by the Holy Spirit of God teaches how to minister to the lost souls in an effective manner.
Hip hop?s spiritual messenger rises out of the twin cities with The book of knowledge
Diamonds > Hip hop?s spiritual messenger rises out of the twin cities with The book of knowledge
The Squirrel Effect
An industrious black-tailed ground squirrel has his home beneath a stump not far from my office window. I've been watching him squirrel away provisions for winter. He reminds me of people I've worked with.Starting his journey by standing tall on the stump, the squirrel hurriedly looks side to side. When he's certain it is safe he leaps into the grass, jumping then running to a group of nuts nestled beneath a medium-size pine. There he briefly pauses to make his choice.
Selecting one pine nut in his teeth, he darts back to the stump with a run-jump motion. Once again standing tall, he looks for competitors or predators before quickly popping his prized provision into his nest and beginning the process all over again.Like that squirrel, people often hide what they consider important to their personal survival in the corporate world. It's called information. Hording bits and pieces, they act as if information alone is a work-life sustaining nutrient. The more information nuggets...
The Squirrel Effect
Diamonds > The Squirrel Effect