Featured Question about a silver filigree brooch

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by prunus, Feb 13, 2020.

  1. prunus

    prunus Member

    Hello everyone!
    I bought a silver filigree brooch last month. It’s a crane，traditional motif for longevity in China, and has a “silver” mark on its back. When I look at it, I see silver color especially the filigree part has just a little bit yellow tone. I thought it’s tarnish so use silver cloth to clean it. But it’s still there.
    Since I have access to an XRF, so I thought why not test it. Result shows it’s made of 89.9% silver, 5.5% copper and 4.32% gold.
    I have jewelry made of gold plating. It only contains 1-2% gold according to XRF test and looks really like gold. This brooch looks like tarnished silver not gold, so I think it’s not gold plating.
    So what could it be? Some goldsmith accidentally drop some gold in the alloy? Any ideas?
    I put a 925 silver chain next to the brooch, just for the color comparison.
    DD09AF47-10A4-4CCD-B874-7C697E4CB90A.jpeg 75CB1A05-563A-4032-8E19-E3C4F5ADB10F.jpeg
     
    prunus, Feb 13, 2020
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    moreotherstuff, KikoBlueEyes, Northern Lights Lodge and 3 others like this.
  2. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    maybe some white gold for extra brightness..
     
    komokwa, Feb 13, 2020
    #2 + Quote Reply
    KikoBlueEyes, dude and Christmasjoy like this.
  3. prunus

    prunus Member

    Thank you for your suggestions. I’ll check it.
     
    prunus, Feb 13, 2020
    #3 + Quote Reply
    KikoBlueEyes and dude like this.
  4. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    solder
     
    Hollyblue, Feb 13, 2020
    #4 + Quote Reply
    Kathy Anderson, PortableTreasures, KikoBlueEyes and 2 others like this.
  5. prunus

    prunus Member

    Thank you! I think that could be the answer!
    Never consider it...
     
    prunus, Feb 13, 2020
    #5 + Quote Reply
    PortableTreasures, KikoBlueEyes and dude like this.
  6. Northern Lights Lodge

    Northern Lights Lodge Well-Known Member

    Pretty piece!
     
    Northern Lights Lodge, Feb 13, 2020
    #6 + Quote Reply
    KikoBlueEyes likes this.
  7. prunus

    prunus Member

    so glad you think it’s pretty :joyful:
     
    prunus, Feb 17, 2020
    #7 + Quote Reply
    Northern Lights Lodge likes this.
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