LandrethDelgadillo69
Behold that gorgeous antique brooch you've been looking 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 the genuine antique jewellery piece and a good reproduction. Here are a few key points that you should keep in mind before you shop and pay for what you believe is a Victorian bit of jewellery only to find out that it is clever reproduction.
Being able to identify the findings which are connected to the jewellery for function instead of design may also be a good way to determine age, although findings can frequently have been altered at a later date. Some examples of "findings" would be the hinges, clasps and catches around the piece. The Victorian times featured tube hinges until a far more streamlined design has been around since the later part of the era. Other types of hinges for example roll over, C shaped and safety pin types evolved over the years. A lobster catch will not be on the bit of authentic antique jewellery.
The shades and metals changed in fashion through the years. The skill deco period featured bright primary colours while the Victorian times did not. Being able 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 example, weren't brought to the marketplace until the early 20th century.
Aluminium, platinum, pot metal and copper have been the most popular metals within the 20th century. White gold or platinum for example, although first introduced at the turn from the 1900s, wasn't in wide circulation until about 1920 when it was utilized as a cheaper option to platinum. As another example, 15 carat gold would be a British Empire gold standard until it had been discontinued in 1932 and it was commonly used in Victorian jewellery.
But often in Victorian times there was more emphasis on the workmanship and sweetness of the item than you are on the caliber of materials used. Pinchbeck for example, an alloy of zinc and copper, was a respectable alternative to gold in the Victorian times but is commonly available at the cheaper end of the market today when so much importance is positioned on jewellery being made from gold or platinum.
Feeling the weight from the piece can also help identify its age but, if you are buying online, ask the seller just how much it weighs. A brooch in the Victorian times can look a lot heavier than a single which was reproduced recently but often a large piece was made reasonably light in order that it didn't pull on the wearer's clothing. Check and to see if jewels are glued in and when the piece is made by hand or the product of a mould.
A registration mark on a piece provides you with an accurate time period and so will hallmarks. A makers mark or label is yet another part of identification. There are plenty of guides and forums available online to assist identify hallmarks.
