Age of gold brooch

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by KSW, Dec 4, 2019.

  1. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    I’ve been sorting through the stash of bits and pieces to clear some space.
    I’ve no idea where I picked this brooch up but I obviously didn’t pay it enough attention to realise that the base metal pin was a replacement and the rest is gold. The shiny C catch that was shouting at me finally got my attention :rolleyes:.
    I can’t see a mark anywhere but my amateur gold testing tells me it’s around 9-14k. Please can you enlighten me as to if I can call it antique or mere vintage?.
    Tiny ring on one end.
    I need to clean it as it’s filthy and to see if I can find a mark. Do you think a baby toothbrush and some washing up liquid would be ok?. No idea if real pearls or not.
    Thanks for any advice :)
    02CA5FBC-395D-4396-BC60-E717A07CB4D3.jpeg 1874C89A-17D2-4935-B0B5-826E0A1D1AF5.jpeg 4E8DB67E-3BDA-4259-9657-05D689D4D1ED.jpeg CC0A6B1C-BE52-4FAD-B764-EB0E75C26019.jpeg F13B77A1-D4ED-43E9-B0BA-1C17E5640B8E.jpeg B5C1FA7F-D6AC-4643-858F-78910EFCBA9C.jpeg 9349112E-FBD3-471E-85E3-FB7E4F5299CE.jpeg A9519788-BB39-44AC-8B3E-E3F6E8EF482F.jpeg
     
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  2. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    The way to tell if the pearls are real is to run your tooth over each one. It will feel like sand paper if they are, smooth if not.
     
  3. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    To clean do Not use ammonia on real pearls.
    A little dawn detergent and warm water, swish it around and rinse well.
    A little silver polish, on a soft cloth, then swish in the dawn and water, rinse well.
    And dry.


    Wait for other comments before trying.
    Someone may have another idea.
     
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  4. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    I'd use a wee bit of non ammonia window cleaner spray on a cotton bud. Wipe off fast and it won't hurt. That's Ewardian. Not silver polish, it gunks, get a Sunshine cloth on it.
     
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  5. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Very sweet, K.
    Not necessarily a replacement, gold brooches often had either silver or base metal pins.
    Make sure the pearls are absolutely dry after cleaning, moisture can get in between the layers of the pearl and cause damage.
     
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  6. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    A gentle blow with a hairdryer. ;)

    Yes, pins were often brass or silver, it was stronger. And saved money.
     
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  7. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Ah, ok. Thankyou both. I need to be more careful to look further than the pin in future.
    You must be educating me well though as I've just sorted through 'costume' jewellery that the lady assured me was junk and found these bits.
    A 14ct chain,9ct earring + back full hallmark, a 9ct pin back full HM, 2 silver chains, silver Amber earrings, silver pearl earrings, and a Mexico 925 ring bracelet. Also bought the black as I liked it and the green necklace for the beads and because I felt guilty. Not that I should as it's their business to know not some naïve old lady.
    Some of it is for scrap as it's damaged but it all helps.
    My gold sniffer 'nose' is definitely improving:hilarious:
    IMG_0157.jpg
    How can you miss this!.
    IMG_0158.jpg
     
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  8. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Ooh, nearly forgot the nicest bit that was in with the plastic junk earrings.
    Modern but so pretty. 9ct Ruby? and Opal?. Don’t know much about opals yet.
    Only 1 sadly but I’m going to take off the wire and put a jump ring through to make a pendant I think.
    26DC9DFF-FAF8-4C69-9E71-B10506730B84.jpeg 7FAC5847-C6D6-443E-9C52-A16FCF0416A9.jpeg 17B16F90-E7C1-4865-ADCB-C434DDF84DCC.jpeg
     
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  9. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Ooh, the stickpin is gold too!. Also needs a good clean.Today was a good day!
    152E3BBD-A6E8-4D0D-BCAC-039895AC8D16.jpeg

    Sorry, that's a ridiculously huge photo. I will edit!
    IMG_0169.jpg IMG_0170.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2019
  10. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Yay!!!
    You can test the black beads for jet, but they are likely to be 'French jet'. Most of which isn't French made.:wacky:
    That's what it looks like, and it will make a pretty pendant. You can ask Mary about the rubies. Hope she won't be too contrary.;)
    Yay!!!
     
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  11. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Somebody did OK today!
     
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  12. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    The rubies look heavily included and "native" cut.
     
  13. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    I call those Grade Zs, but I wouldn't kick that out of bed either. Free gold and rubies and opals are free gold and rubies and opals.
     
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  14. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Exactly my thoughts. I'm not complaining for the pennies I paid for them!.
     
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  15. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    I Like the great bead necklace, love the color of those beads, very wearable :)
     
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  16. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Not really important, it is pretty and not a Cartier wannabe;):)
     
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  17. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    is about to get sent back too :rage:.
    Useless thing. This one won't even test it just gets stuck in a loop of testing imaginary gems.
    The only way I can reset it is to recallibrate it but I shouldn't have to do that every time I turn it on.
    I should have bought the analogue one :banghead:
    Going to ring them tomorrow but I'm not looking forwards to it as they were less than helpful last time.
     
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  18. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    I'm just warming up!. Honing my skills in preparation for the big find :hilarious:.
     
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  19. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    :rolleyes::(
     
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