Featured 18k brooch, what gemstones, scrap or sell

Hello

I have this 18k gold flower shaped brooch. I often find that vintage brooches rarely sell for above scrap, so i want to check if this is worth the time.

There is a mark after the 18k, but i cant make it out. The gemstones are brown in colour. Any ideas on age/origin/gemstone?

12.61 grams
6.7cm x 3.8cm

Many thanks

 

On my monitor the stones have a purpleish tint, but if they are brown, smoky quartz (sometimes misnamed smoky topaz) would be the obvious candidate.

 

Ditto on smoky quartz. Age ca 1970s imo.

 

As above.

Debora

 

those are nice sized well cut stones.....don't melt it !

 

Smokey Quartz? In an 18K setting? That seems a stretch, but...wdik.

 

It's quite pretty, isn't it? An attractive addition to a lapel.

Debora

 

Scrap it

 

I see some purple also in the first two images!!! VERY PRETTY!!!!! Looks like a cat next to the 18K!!

 

I would not scrap it ever. It is very pretty and the 18K gold makes it quite desirable. Perhaps you could just drop in on your local jeweler to see if they can tell you what the stones are. In addition, the brooch is making a comeback!:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/24/...f this means, of,brooches sewn onto the lapel.

 

It's not particularly stylish in any way, dated

18k Scrap scrap

You'll get more that way, or wait for a Long long sell

 

As @Jaena said, take the stones over to get checked. I am not so sure they are smoky quartz as I see a purple color as well. They appear quite well cut as noted and set in 18K suggests it was a higher quality piece.

Scrappers will usually pay no more than 70% spot on the actual gold content (and usually around the high 60% number). Yes, it depends upon markets - gold moving up consistently - hot market, pays more. gold going down, typically pays less. Scrapping involves actual weight and karat.... - i.e. 18K unless KP for karats plumb is most likely going to test out at low 17 high 16K range. Naturally, that will be without the stones and less the follow up file weight loss necessary for acid testing (assuming they are using XRF spectrometer). Scrapping, unless you really need the money right now, is silly.

If it is smoky quartz, even today, there are women that love what I call pooh brown - my wife is one of them. I did not search for the hallmark, might do some homework on that as well. Get the stones checked, make a decision from that point. Me, on a quick sell, might offer it up for 1.25 multiplier over spot gold for the total weight to include gemstones...probably near double what you'd get scrapping and someone gets something they will wear

Cheers.

 

I've a smoky quartz/topaz ring in 18 ct. 70s ish.

Sell it as a birthstone.

 

Thank you all for your help.

I get 90% of scrap value from my jeweller, and much of my gold and silver ends up there, i don't really have the time to deal with all the bits and pieces.

That said i will try and get around the 1.25 mark on ebay. Most vintage brooches just dont get any attention, but i can try and find a buyer.

 

Unless I’m seeing things I see other marks on that piece. Also, I would use it as a pendant and loop my chain thru it.

 

I have my Mom's smoky quartz cocktail ring. Early '60s IIRC. I inherited all her jewelery and haven't a clue what to do with it.

 

keep the one or two that remind you fondly of her.....ones that she wore often...

and sell the rest......
or
give it to family members on special occasions.!!!

 

I've a smoky quartz cocktail ring, also my mama's. I do wear it.