Mom’s earrings with unusual backs - emerald? Diamond?

Mom has a lot of gold from Suriname but I don’t know if these come from there....

 

Those look more like costume jewelry. Any marks?

Debora

 

No marks that I could find. I do need a better magnifying glass!

 

Let's see what others say but typically those types of prongs indicate costume jewelry. They'd be a bit inadequate to hold semi-precious stones of that size.

Debora

 

They appear to be 1960ish costume.
I don't think gold would turn


Me personally, I wash everything. Others here are adamant about not getting costume stones wet.

My method
Spritz with 50-50 ammonia and water. Swish quickly in soapy water.
I prefer Dawn original dish liquid.
Rinse thoroughly, pat dry and leave on towel to air dry further.

Do not use hot water, use luke warm. Do not let sit in water for any length of time.

Wait for other advice before choosing to do this.
As I said many do not like getting glass costume jewelry wet.

Oh and if you are not familiar with ammonia you need good ventilation.

 

I'd be using vinegar, that's verdigris. Costume.

 

I thought so too, then thought reflection, then just dirt.
Hard to say.

 

1950s costume, for certain.

 

Right - gold doesn't tarnish and surely doesn't develop verdigris.

 

Getting the rhinestones wet will cause the foil backing to degrade and turn black, you will have "dead rhinestones"

 

I really have not had that problem. Maybe because I don't let the jewelry sit in the water.
Some times I just lay a dozen pieces or so in a small bowl, spritz. Add a drop of soap, add warm water. Swish the bowl with all the jewelry. Then rinse and dry.
Nothing is in the water for more than 2 minutes.

You can NOT put real pearls, MOP, cold paint or opals in.

 

You can not put solid opals into an ultrasonic cleaner,but water will not harm opals..... https://www.opalsdownunder.com.au/learn/how-to-care-for-opals/

 

Agreed.
I was referring to the ammonia and soap.

 

The damage to the foil backing on the rhinestones doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen

 

I keep so much of the jewelry that I buy. I wear a lot of the old clip earrings as well as other pieces.
Just haven't noticed any discoloration.
But then, I'm getting older and the eyesight, and hearing are not what they used to be.