Featured 19thC Gold & Tortoiseshell Bracelet

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by shamster, Aug 29, 2025.

  1. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS IS FOUND ON CHINESE EBAY?

    FOR LESS THAN £100?:eek::greedy::jawdrop:

    IMG_3034.jpeg

    I was browsing new listings from saved sellers on Chinese ebay and suddenly ran into this: a set of bracelet and padlock, offered by a seller specializing in Japanese vintage.
    4b99ba369ce12d186a2567ae41a7d7b3.jpeg
    She clearly had no idea of the age & origin of it, so I immediately paid for them & express delivery. Today they are ready to be shown!

    They are made in the end of 19th century, UK, and crafted in gold ( tested as higher than 9ct) and blonde tortoiseshell. I’m not 100% sure if they are original to each other, but there are plenty of similar bracelets offered by various antique dealers- one of them was sold for more than £800!
    https://www.etsy.com/listing/720419882/?ref=share_ios_native_control ( but IMO too high :p)
    3a345d4a63ff322ed12894242cc05222.jpeg

    Please enjoy! And thanks to @Any Jewelry and @kyratango for confirming the authenticity :D:kiss:
    IMG_3038.jpeg 01199896b912217dc8038fb8ca53b9b2.jpeg c4a1eab75fa8d4a913cd42cd2c9a7922.jpeg 61105b4061a084863927ef2ae20bb8cb.jpeg 17fdc1f7492d831d12a291d353142aa6.jpeg
     
  2. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    Also wanna share this: some artificial materials also react to UV light, but this wavy pattern( growth lines) is a good indicator of a real deal: 4ea9bc6d64447266b199fab276778b9f.jpeg
     
  3. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    Also showing off my beryl and south red agate beads! They are newly made by myself, not vintage or antique at all, so not posting them separately. But I’m sure some will love to see them!

    PS: I should have said, newly strung, :playful: as one cannot make these gems! a8aef699281f44e667ed5efd7b1c8faf.jpeg 527fa5dda3ad61cefe166476f95555b3.jpeg 34c6ddf635387e7e3fa68e3c0671b2c2.jpeg ed8bda45fa10340e3eb7b5440b699475.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2025
  4. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Wonderful finds, true beauties.:happy: Good to see you removed the barrel clasp and returned the heart lock to its proper position and purpose.
    Don't you love sellers like that.:playful:
    Excellent photo, and thank you for posting it, very educational.
    Very nice pastel colours on the beryl, and both the colours and the shapes are set of nicely by those special south red agate beads.
     
  5. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    But I keep the small metal pins as I can attach safety chain onto it ;) also if removed, it will leave holes :oops:

    I also took a better photo few days ago, from a Japanese comb: fa57bc2f47d4f9c58dd800a5fd89967e.jpeg

    Did you know them before? The information I found online states that they are exclusively produced in China, do other cultures use them too?:cat:
     
  6. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I did.:)
    Other cultures often use the more orangey-brownish red variety called carnelian. Here in the Netherlands carnelian is valued nearly as much as Mediterranean red coral and also worn with the regional costumes.

    'Our' carnelian is part of the south red agate family, but south red agate covers more shades of red. Red agate as such is also found in some other countries, but not prized as much as in China, and the pure red colour is pretty rare.
     
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  7. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    I agree they look alike:cat: in China south red agate is as pricey as red coral, if not more expensive :( but only those agate not transparent at all, which almost look like red jasper but with more jelly texture
     
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  8. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

  9. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    kyratango and Any Jewelry like this.
  10. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    There are a lot of those overhere. Especially garnet and carnelian, but also some jet. I even have a faceted citrine bead necklace, also traditional Dutch style.
     
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  11. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    I will keep hunting :watching:
     
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  12. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    My rare faceted citrine bead necklace, this one came from Friesland, in the north of the country:

    c585b4de-0886-11e6-8bca-c84feffb456b.jpg

    It also has one of those 14k faceted clasps:

    f0378194-0886-11e6-9da9-36f2f53ee731 - kopie.jpg
     
  13. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    How wonderful this find is! I was always so disappointed when I spot juicy T-shell antiques on eBay but no these are illegal to be shipped to me. I won’t buy an expensive one when in UK either, as I fear the customs will confiscate it and it’s too big a loss.

    But I found one in where I live! And at such a low price, while it’s the most valuable in my whole T-shell collection!

    I figured that it might come to Japan at earlier stage, then sold as originally vintage jewelry, probably by the family of a deceased owner. Then brought to China.
     
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  14. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    It almost looks like amber to me! And love the graduation in colour&size!
     
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  15. mirana

    mirana Well-Known Member

    Beauuuuutiful bracelet! A classic style. I love the gold work. :joyful:

    Thanks for posting the close up UV + growth lines photo for others. I got another cameo recently that really shows them well but i haven't taken photos yet.

    Your bead necklace turned out so well! It looks great on you.

    Just lovely. I bet it sparkles so prettily. :p
     
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  16. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    Would love to see everything T-shell related :D
     
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  17. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    I love this. I am always wondering how to tell real from plastic! The bracelet is amazing!
     
  18. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    I have seen a real convincing faux t-shell material (not sure what it is made of), and it also has bluish glow under UV light. Always look for growth lines!But some smooth surfaces may not display growth lines at all, so you need to consider other aspects, i.e. edges of dark spots, layers indicating it is made of several pieces
     
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  19. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    You did so well! :woot:
    The bracelet is SPLENDID.
    Your long necklace is top too, I didn't know about the south red agate, learning something new everyday:)
    And, AJ, so beautiful dutch carnelian!!!
    I have (somewhere...) a faceted carnelian necklace with faceted clasp, must find it to show:shame:
     
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  20. shamster

    shamster Well-Known Member

    We’re doing our best sharing our knowledge and teaching each other, aren’t we:shame:
     
    komokwa, mirana and kyratango like this.
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