How do I value my old costume jewellery?

Can you value my old costume jewellery? 

This is the most asked question that comes through to us. How do you value your vintage costume jewellery? Because you want a quick cheap answer without actually making any effort. Here is how it is quite easy to do yourself. It just takes time and the ability to use the search function on any of the search engines. Though I would recommend that you use the Google search first.

Black diamante vintage necklace 1960s of age.

How do I value my old costume jewellery?

Okay - to start to make sure that you have old costume jewellery - also known as fashion jewellery or not made of precious metal (silver, gold or platinum) Get a magnifier or lens to look at the back, the clasp and sides of your piece. Look for a mark - take your time with this and look very closely at all parts of your brooch, necklace, bracelet, etc. If you do not know what the mark is that you find - then use the search engines to see if you can trace it.  Remember that if you have a very old piece of antique jewellery that it may not be marked gold/silver.

If your costume jewellery is damaged ie - stones missing, clasp broken, links broken, etc. This will devalue your piece considerably. It may only be of use to use as repair or spares. Then sell it with any other broken jewellery on eBay or give to a crafter friend. 

So now you have confirmed that you have costume jewellery or otherwise. You may have found a makers mark. So again do your research and lookup about the maker, then look at a range of similar jewellery to find an average value.  You may be able to find the actual piece you have, which will make it much easier to value.

Amber glass vintage costume bracelet by Sphinx

Remember the price is the amount that is the resale value. The price that it will sell for - if there is someone willing to pay this amount. It may sell straight away or however, can take some considerable time to sell if it will sell at all.

If you've wanted to sell to a jewellery dealer - then you will not get anywhere near this resale amount. Dealers will deduct 2/3rds or more of the price they want to buy it at. This will give them enough profit to make it worth their while. Because they have to build in the costs of their shop's property/rates/ website costs/promotions and not forgetting staff wages. If you are selling online then they will need to consider the postage costs and also the packaging. Selling a single item is more costly than many pieces because of the time facture of getting this piece ready for sale - cleaning and then listing. so do not be surprised if the dealer's offer is very low.

No markings on your costume jewellery - then look at the age of your piece. Make an estimate at what you know of its age. Then do a search of jewellery from that decade. Does your piece fit in with the style of that decade? If not try a decade before or after - continue until you find an estimate on how old your costume jewellery is. From this, it will be easier to make a search of the similar pieces of that era for an estimate of value.

As with all antiques and collectables they can go up and down in value depending on the fashion. It may be advisable that you just keep your jewellery safe for a few more years - until it either comes back in fashion or the price increases.

Yellow and white bone china brooch

 I am sorry but Jewels & finery do not give valuations. Nor do we buy jewellery via the internet or otherwise. we have our own sources of buying our jewellery and accessories for resale.

If you do a search and find that you have a considerable amount of valuable jewellery. Then I would suggest that you seek advice through a quality auction house local to you or one in London.              
 

Is my marcasite jewellery real?

Is my marcasite jewellery real? 

This was a question asked by someone who had just purchased marcasite jewellery from elsewhere. Now, this is a complicated question as the term marcasite has been adapted over the years to include many different materials.

Victorian marcasite and before.

Originally marcasite jewellery was invented to be a cheaper option than diamonds and to glitter when worn under candlelight. Most antique marcasite was, therefore, the mineral pyrite embedded into silver. Marcasite has been around for centuries including the Roman period and became even popular in the Victorian period. It can be seen in Art Nouveau pieces as well. Marcasite itself is a gemstone mineral that is too brittle to be used in jewellery, so was never used!

Into the twentieth century.

Now as the years past, marcasite jewellery remained silver until the fifties and early sixties when silver started to become more expensive. Originally the marcasite was fused by heat into the silver settings. But as the years pasted and glue became a better option and much cheaper to use in the manufacturer. So the pyrite was glued into place. However, when silver prices increased, silver-coloured metal was used instead of real silver. Now you need to look very closely at marcasite brooches, earrings and necklaces from the mid-twentieth century to determine whether they are of silver or silver metal. Because many are unsigned, you can test the metal - but this does leave a mark. If the marcasite stones are all intact then this is a quality piece that has stood the test of time.

Today.

Marcasite jewellery is still produced today and can be of silver - it will be marked as such either 925 or sterling. Or it can be purely costume and made from a polished silver or gold coloured metal. It should say what it is in the description when buying.

Look-a-like marcasite.

Through out the years there has been many look-a-like marcasite pieces. These are when they pattern has been produced to have the maracasite stone look included. They are of one metal and you need to look closely to see. there is also the famous Charles Horner polished jewellery that have indentations that shine and are of an aluminium material.

Charles Horner faux marcaste look a like peacock

I like marcasite jewellery, but really I wear what I like whether its expensive or not. Here is a selection that was available from Jewels and Finery.

Studded cat brooch - the raised metal has that "marcasite look. But it is not marcasite jewellery

Mid twentieth century tulip in marcasite

 

Eagle brooch in marcasite

Deer in marcasite - popular 50s theme

Life is too short to wear boring earrings.

This is our jewellery quote for today and forever! Showcasing a pair of vintage snake earrings that are a clipped style that I have found on my travels. 

So have a great day and don't forget - don't be boring!

Watering can earrings by JJ (Jonette Jewelry) Dated to the 1990s.

Please note we have shut Jewels and Finery for good and no longer sell jewellery online.

Nickel free earrings and allergy reactions explained

Nickel-free earrings & allergic reactions explained.

Many people nowadays have a reaction to nickel and wish to buy nickel-free earrings. Allergy and allergic reactions seem to have increased. An allergic reaction happens when a certain chemical comes into contact with your skin or is ingested and causes an inflammatory negative process it may happen on your skin, internally or systematic. Unfortunately, because most of our components for earrings comes from China and Asian countries - we no longer have any control over what metals or chemicals are being used.

Some gold, silver (silverplate or sterling silver, 925 silver) and platinum can also contain nickel.
Vintage and pre-owned from the 1990s may also contain nickel.

Nickel, nickel, nickel seems to be in many things.

Unfortunately, even if the jewellery makers strive to have nickel-free stuff - the Chinese or Asian supplier will use whatever is the cheapest and swear its nickel free. What are the jewellery makers going to do? If enough people complain they will stop buying from that supplier. But the Chinese/Asians will find someone else unbeknown to sell to as nickel free. Maybe if we brought the manufacturing industry back to the UK with our stricter controls that would be more useful?

Hypo-allergenic earrings. Well that's okay but they still may contain nickel and what are the allergens these earrings aimed at? Some people are allergic to enamel, silver, gold, even the nail varnish some use to coat the earring backs to make them less irritating.

Myself  I am allergic to many things. I have a gold ring that I can only wear for a short while as it makes my finger red and itchy. I am also allergic to cucumber which I can eat. But put on my face and red wheels appear. Not that cucumber has anything to do with nickel free earrings. That is life my friends....

Here are some photographs of our earring unfortunately not guaranteed nickel free, because of their age.

Blue plastic earrings with post backs

Monet made earrings that are nickel free

Bank Holiday Blues

Let's get down to some Bank Holiday Blues. Well, it is the Bank Holiday weekend for early May and its, of course, raining here in Solihull! Now, do we expect anything else - no. It is not much to ask for a little sunshine and dry weather. To cheer you up our jewellery quote has a very vintage almost antiqued dark blue rhinestone brooch to covert. So whatever the weather, just enjoy this once in a lifetime weekend.

Swimmimg with the fish - dolphin brooch

Swimming with the fish - dolphin brooch and jewellery

Hope you like our "swimming with the fish" dolphin brooch quote for today. Because it has been such

a beautiful April with the weather warm and sunny. This quote was inspired by yesterdays activity. Cleaning the garden pond and filters. A yucky job. But I was surprised on how many fish we had left. Having caught the heron on the pond in February - it had managed to work its way through my heron pond defences!
So having just added this dolphin brooch to our fish jewellery collection last week. Here is the swimming with fish quote.

Small blue dolphin earrings in a child's size and made of plastic.

China and china collecting

This collecting information blog post is entitled "China and china collecting" as that is the title of the paragraph in the Home furnishing and decoration book that the china identification marks below comes from. This old book is fabulous for helping the householder of the time. Published in the household reference library in London by The Fleetway House. I own 2 of the 6 books that were published in about the 1930s in this series. On Jewels and Finery, we have china jewellery as well as antique and vintage china trinket boxes for sale. So I am always on the lookout for any information on china marks. these are quite old though but this information may be of use to someone. 

  China marks:
1,2,3 = Bow (Old Chelsea and Bow - To the 18 century belong may landmark in the progress of the art. But amongst all the productions of that age lover of old china are the fondest of Chelsea ware, because of its charm and historic appeal. Owing to its remoteness from our own day it is not abundant and the homes of Chelsea and Bow are no more)
4,5,6 = Chelsea (1730 - 75)
7 = Derby 1751 - 69
8 = Chelsea Derby 1769 - 80
9 = Crown Derby 1780 - 1815
10 = Bloor 1815 - 39
11 Derby modern (for the 1930s)
12 = Chinese six-character mark1723 - 36
13, 14 = Plymouth 1768 - 72
15, 16 = Bristol 1770 - 77
17, 18, 19 = Worcester 1751 - 83
20 = Chinese dedicatory mark meaning harmonious prosperity.
21 = Chantilly 1725
22 = St Cloud 1695 - 1773
23 = Sevres 1754
24 = Dresden- Meissen 1716
25 = Copenhagen 1772 - 74
26 = Japanese fabric mark Imari ware 1800