BogardTidwell919
Behold that gorgeous antique brooch you've been staring at during the last couple of days on the internet! It's obviously Art Nouveau... isn't it?
It's often very difficult to distinguish from a genuine antique jewellery piece along with a good reproduction. Here are some key points that you should bear in mind before you shop and pay for what you think is a Victorian bit of jewellery only to find out that it is clever reproduction.
Being able to identify the findings which are attached to the jewellery for function instead of design may also be a good way to determine age, although findings can often happen to be altered later on. Some examples of "findings" are the hinges, clasps and catches around the piece. The Victorian times featured tube hinges until a far more streamlined design was introduced in the later part of the era. Other kinds of hinges such as roll over, C shaped and safety pin types evolved through the years. A lobster catch will not be on a piece of authentic antique jewellery.
The colours and metals changed in fashion through the years. The art deco period featured bright primary colours while the Victorian era didn't. Having the ability to identify the cut from the stone and also the type of stone within the piece will also help in dating the piece. Modern brilliant cut diamonds, for instance, weren't introduced to the market until the early Twentieth century.
Aluminium, platinum, pot metal and copper happen to be the popular metals in the 20th century. White gold for instance, although first introduced at the turn of the 1900s, wasn't in wide circulation until about 1920 if this was utilized like a cheaper alternative to platinum. As the second example, 15 carat gold would be a British Empire gold standard until it was discontinued in 1932 also it was widely used in Victorian jewellery.
But often in Victorian times there is more emphasis on the workmanship and beauty of the item than you are on the quality of materials used. Pinchbeck for instance, an alloy of zinc and copper, was a respectable option to gold within the Victorian times but is commonly available at the cheaper end of the market today when a lot importance is placed on jewellery being made of gold or platinum.
Feeling the load from the piece will also help identify its age but, if you are buying online, ask the vendor just how much they weigh. A brooch in the Victorian era look a great deal heavier than one which was reproduced in recent years but often a large piece was made reasonably light so that it didn't pull around the wearer's clothing. Check also to find out if jewels are glued in and when the piece is made by hand or even the product of the mould.
A registration mark on a piece will give you an accurate time period as will hallmarks. A makers mark or label is another step in identification. There are plenty of guides and forums available on the web to help identify hallmarks.
