Featured Mexican Silver Bracelet - Stone or Glass?

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by KikoBlueEyes, Aug 24, 2019.

  1. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    I found this bracelet with green stones\glass that is only marked "Silver Mexico" My question has to do with the stones\glass, but any other comments would be appreciated. I know you can't tell a stone from glass in a photo, but there is a chip in one of the stones\glass that might reveal something. IMG_3918.jpg IMG_3931 (1).jpg IMG_3921 (1).JPG IMG_3922 (2).JPG IMG_3923 (1).JPG IMG_3925 (1).JPG IMG_3928.JPG IMG_3932 (1).JPG
     
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  2. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    Looks like glass or dyed chalcedony.
     
    Kathy Anderson, KSW, judy and 3 others like this.
  3. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    That very round conchoidal fracture argues for glass. Quartz chips similarly, but not usually so neatly.
     
  4. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Thanks for looking at this. I really like the deep green color against the silver.
     
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  5. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    I was thinking glass but wasn't sure with all that silver. I appreciate your comments. I only discovered the chip while I was taking photos. I figured the owner might have kept it if it was undamaged, so I get to have it and enjoy it now.
     
  6. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Gorgeous bracelet, Kiko.
    I'm with Bronwen, glass. This colour glass was used a lot in Mexican jewellery from the 30s-40s, the period this lovely was made. It is typical of the fresh new Mexican designs of the time, a mix of pre-Columbian inspired and Art Deco/Modernism.

    You probably don't see the chip when you wear it, and I agree, the colours look perfect together, so it is a stylish bracelet you can really enjoy wearing.
     
  7. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    You are so wonderful for sharing the bracelet's history with me. It's so exciting to think it has been around for 80-90 years hanging on who knows who wrists, going about daily life, or to special events. I love the idea of the Art Deco\PreColumbian mix in the artist's design. Again thank you for your insights.
     
  8. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    love this bracelet! I have one somewhat similar (glass stones+ silver cushiony-ball design (not a technical term:dead:) ) and from the same era and also just marked "silver mexico" so yes I would also guess these are glass!
    this is the one I have:
    https://www.antiquers.com/media/pink-glass-stones.5052/ I love that in yours the stones are more much nicely set (mine have these pokey prongs that catch on absolutely all fabric I'm wearing ) and I love the silver twists that run across the stones! very cool!
     
  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    A very nice wearable bracelet.... Enjoy !!!!:happy:
     
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  10. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    I love that you have one that is very similar. Your glass pieces are a wonderful color. I can see how all those prongs would catch, so maybe that's why they went to cages to hold the glass in. Thanks for sharing your treasure. :):)
     
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  11. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    my pleasure! yes, it's super annoying, I would wear it much more often if it weren't for those darn prongs!! alas! I hope you get much more wear out of yours =)
     
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  12. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    After years of finding similar bracelets I have a caution for you. Have the metal tested. I can’t tell you how many times I have come across similar bracelets marked silver that are not!

    Make sure you know what you have, especially if you are going to try to sell it :wideyed:
     
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  13. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    I will. Thanks for the kind words.
     
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  14. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    oh my that's a shame that you've come across that often!! good tip!
    I must say, my silmilar bracelet that I linked to has proven harder to polish up than the rest of my silver.. wonder if that's a sign that maybe it's not! hmmm... I don't own testing materials (I don't sell btw)
     
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  15. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Marie, Thanks for the caution. I bought a silver testing kit, but can't seem to get it to work right yet. I testing a spoon marked sterling and it didn't turn red as expected - it turned blue. I bought it because I found a handmade cuff, (poorly done) that I wanted to test. As soon as I figure out how to make it work, I'll check it out. I don't buy to sell, though.
    IMG_3934.jpg IMG_3936.jpg IMG_3935.jpg
     
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  16. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    That's interesting. I bought a cheap testing kit from Amazon with liquids and a stone, but it's not proven to be of much help yet. I figure I'm not doing it right and I should have gotten a white stone. I polished mine a little (it needs much more) and it came up pretty shiny with a sunshine cloth. Not a seller either.
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2019
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  17. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    that's a very interesting looking cuff! I hope someone will be able to help you troubleshoot the testing kit!!
     
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  18. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    I debated a long time before buying it, as it not the quality of a skilled artisan. Maybe a student piece. I was attracted, though, to it's amalgamation of metals and materials. The silver part is light weight, so I thought they may have started out with silver sheet upon which they hammered a texture.
     
  19. Marie Forjan

    Marie Forjan Well-Known Member

    I don’t use silver testing kits because it’s near impossible for me to see the subtle differences in the reds, especially on a dark stone. I test using 18k gold acid. The scraping disappears then reappears as silver-blue flakes. I always test a new piece along side a known piece of sterling. If the results are the same I know I have sterling.
     
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  20. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Thanks for that. :) I'll try that with some sterling to see what happens.
     
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