Vintage Carved Moonstone Moon Face Ring 14k Gold

Blissfully Smiling Full Moon Carved Moonstone 14 k Gold Ring

This gorgeous ring is Vintage. It was treasured and very well cared for.  It is beautifully made, the carving is detailed and done with great care. Full of joy and contentment, just like she makes you feel

Buying Vintage is also a wonderful way to shop green this Valentine’s Day or anytime.  Show her you care for our planet too.

Vintage Pauline Trigere Rhinestone Doube Stars Brooch

You might also give her the stars!  This beautiful pave rhinestone vintage brooch is by famous designer Pauline Trigere.  She will be so impressed you know about rare Vintage Costume Jewelry and Important Designers!

This is a gorgeous vintage signed brooch and sparkles like her eyes do when she sees you!

We have many other choices, you can visit our site for other Vintage Jewelry

We ship very fast (even in a snow storm as long as USPS is running) and we gift wrap it for you at no charge!

She will love to see you took your time and made a wonderful choice!

Over the years of buying lots, jewelry boxes and estates,  little bits and pieces of Antique and Vintage jewelry accumulate. Some of it can be solid gold, some of it can be just plated or gold filled.

Sometime ago, I decided to cash in on these and sent them to my trusted buyer to be melted. There was quite an amount and I thought I was in for a small treasure.  Much to my disappointment, 1/3 of it was not solid gold!  I had tested each tiny piece by scratching it on the test stone, following the given directions and it had reacted as gold should, so how come it was not right?

As it turns out, rubbing the piece or removing shavings from it is not a sure way to test. Read on and I will share my secret.

The Basics:

It is important to note that gold filled or rolled gold and gold plated are not the same. They are very different and have very different values.  Gold filled or rolled gold actually has a gold content. The gold content in plated jewelry is negligible.

The process for making Gold Filled is similar to making a sandwich.  One or two sheets of gold and one sheet of base metal are layered. Generally speaking, brass is used for Yellow Gold Filled and Copper is used for Rose Gold Fill.  If two sheets of gold are used, the base metal will be in the middle (like a sandwich).  The sheets are then heated and passed through a rolling mill, hence the name rolled gold.  The heat and pressure cause the sheets to bond permanently.

Gold plated is a different process all together. The jewelry or metal piece is attached to a wire on the negative side, a piece of pure gold is attached to the positive side of the same wire.  The two ends are submerged into a special liquid (plating solution). A low voltage current is then applied. The current causes gold molecules to move from the pure gold to the surface of the metal being plated.  Older antique and vintage jewelry tends to have a thicker layer of gold, but as you can tell from the process itself, that layer is still very thin, generally 7 microns for better quality. Nowadays, most plating is done with a maximum of 3 microns. A micron is one thousand of a millimeter. That’s really thin!

Back to our testing for gold and silver content with an acid test kit.

First let me start with a very big warning:

Use extreme caution! Always follow test kit manufacturer instructions and use loads of common sense.

• These chemicals are dangerous, they are acids and very destructive, they burn the skin and surfaces of furniture.
• Do not leave where children and pets can reach them.
• Work in a well ventilated area. Do not breath the fumes or stand with your face right above the testing area. Do not let it splash.
• Wear goggles to protect your eyes. Do not get it on your skin!
• Do not allow testing liquids to touch gemstones, enamel or any ornamentation on the jewelry.
• Always start with the 10k Gold Testing Solution and go up from there as described below.
• If the piece is of lower than 10k it might be damaged as well.

Testing for gold with an acid test kit:

Clean the piece well.  Examine every area of it carefully with a jeweler’s loupe. If you see that the edges or high profile areas are a different color you can probably stop there, the piece is gold plated.  Another sign to look for is the quality of manufacturing. For instance, very rarely you will you see gold necklaces that do not have soldered links. I have never seen one, all of the vintage and antique gold necklaces I have had had soldered links.

Look for quality marks. I test all jewelry, even when it is marked. Until the 1980s it was acceptable to have some variation on the gold content per karat. So you may come across jewelry marked 14k that might have a content as low as 12k!  Once or twice, I also tested jewelry fully marked 14k and it was just plated.

Now you have looked at the piece carefully and there is no indication that it is plated, no costume jewelry company name on it, no metal quality mark.  We go to the next step.

Some very important things to keep in mind:

The acid can destroy or at least damage the piece of jewelry tested if it is not solid gold. Be extremely careful and try to find an area where it will be seen the least.  Make sure to have a clear surface for the test stone. Have some Baking Soda handy to neutralize the acid right away. Place some in a shaker or small cup, have it with you while testing.

Because gold filled has a thick layer of gold, rubbing it on the test stone is sometimes not enough to determine if a piece is gold filled or solid gold. My experience is that the older it is the thicker is the layer of gold.

You need to make a tiny incision in a hidden area. Using a single edge razor blade, carefully make a small but fairly deep cut, no bigger than 1/16″ . Take care not to go through it!  What you want to do is to get to the metal underneath the surface layer. At that spot, drop the smallest of drops and wait a second or two.  If it turns green you can stop, it is gold filled. It will bubble like crazy. As soon as you see the green color throw some baking soda on it to neutralize the acid. Do not breathe any fumes. Then wash the piece well and polish with a Sunshine Cloth (not affiliated, just think it does a great job).  If instructions are followed carefully you should have no problem returning the piece to it’s original condition and removing all the marks, if any, left by the testing liquid.

If you had no reaction with the gold testing acid, congratulations!  The piece is solid gold and now we will determine what karat it is.

Take the test stone that comes with the kit.

Choose an area on the jewelry you want to test that is not easily seen. Rub it carefully and evenly to create a fairly healthy streak on the stone. Avoid keeping the same spot against the stone as it will sand down the surface. Drop the 10k Gold Testing Liquid on to the streak on the stone. If the color of the scratch remains unchanged, it is 10k or higher. Proceed by repeating the process using the 14k Testing Solution. If the scratch color remains unchanged, it is at least 14k and you should repeat the process with liquids for 18k and until 22k or 24k solution, whichever is included in your test kit.  When the color changes from one step to the next the last karat solution which caused no change is the karat gold for the jewelry you are testing.

It is always good to replace the test kit with a new one about every 6 months.  I have been told the liquid gets stronger with time, which would cause a karat reading lower than the actual karat weight of the jewelry being tested.

And one more reminder:  Use extreme caution and loads of common sense!

Please also note that I am not responsible for any mishaps that might occur. This is how I do it and I am just sharing my experience. There maybe a better way for you. And if you do not feel comfortable doing this, by all means, bring it to your trusted jeweler and have him or her do it for you.

This gorgeous vintage key brooch is over 3″ in length and sure to make a statement. Not only it is a great design, is also one very coveted form, brought to you courtesy of Tiffany’s newest Fine Jewelry collection which uses several antique key shapes as the basis for pendants and charms.

This Haskell brooch is more unique, it was made decades ago, in the 1960s. It is also signed.

At a mere $145.00 and Free Shipping to the US, it will keep you safe from over spending.

Available at VeraBattemarco.com.

Signed Miriam Haskell Vintage 1960s Key Brooch or large Pin

Back at the studio I started the cleaning process as I do with each piece I offer for sale, prior to doing the research involved in each listing. When I started to hand polish the back, the name tag fell out! It was glued and not soldered!

So carry your loupe with you and make sure to check the area around the tag for the solder. If it is not soldered, it is not authentic!

This one is an authentic early 1960’s necklace.  Note the soldering around the tag, there is no gap.

KJL Kenneth Jay Lane Vintage 1960s India Inspired Long Necklace

Notice the solder puddle around the tag, this is authentic.

If you have a question, please post a comment.

As a vintage jewelry dealer and collector I have noticed on the past year or so a trend growing towards large flower brooches.  Even I was attracted to them!  Maybe it  started when the 60s were revived recently.  At any rate,  I had noticed that before the Obamas trip to Italy, where the First Lady wore a sunny yellow dress and a large green flower brooch.  She looked beautiful, as always, I love her independent sense of style.   Wonder if she knows those are the Brazilian flag colors – I was flattered!

Our store has a beautiful collection of those brooches.  My favorites are:

Vintage Lisner Red Enamel Flower Brooch

Pink Enamel on Copper Dimensional Flower Brooch

Faux Pearls and Turquoise Enamel Kramer Flower Pin or Brooch

The center rhinestones tremble when you move!

We have many different ones, you can use this link to see all our vintage flower brooches.

Prices range from $20.00 to $225.00 for my own  Biwa Pearl and Branch Coral flower.

I always loved her style and her clothes, even though they were out of my reach. Underlying her collections through the years is one theme, pure self expression.  Regardless of the inspiration or whatever time period this inspiration came from, it was always about how you felt. You could be a pirate today and a 50s rocker tomorrow. To me that is art to wear, regardless of what form it may take.

In 1981 I had the privilege of meeting Gene Krell, then manager of  World’s End, during a visit to Rio de Janeiro.  My son was an infant and my family had invited me to stay with them for a while.

Gene is a really sweet guy and we both stuck out in the crowd in Rio back then. He was there to research and to introduce the collection to the Media. I had the honor of having my jewelry used for the “Pirates” collection photo shoot. My then current jewelry collection was inspired by the 1800’s and Modernism. An odd mix, but quite stunning and just right for the time. After all this was the 80s. Living in the East Village I was very aware of what was happening then, it was part of my everyday life. Unfortunately, my copies of the magazines were lost in time in my many travels. I still search for them and hope to find them at some point. I returned to New York and he returned to London.  We stayed in touch for a while but then lost track of each other.

In the meantime, he has written Dame Vivienne Westwood’s biography for the book series “Fashion Memoir”, a must read as her history is fascinating.

This past Friday during an interview with British Jonathan Ross at his TV Show, she discussed shopping, style, consumerism and the survival of our species. I am glad to know we still have much in common as people in spite of our geographic and life style differences.

Looking beautiful as always, dressed in 7 meters of silk (about 7 yards)  she talks about making do with what we have, shopping our own closets and preserving the environment.  I believe she did not mention vintage as after all, she still needs to sell her own collections. It was a very interesting interview and both parts are embedded below. Enjoy!

Part 1

This is a finely beaded, almost woven Lariat Necklace from the 1920s.

Fold in half, wrap it around the neck and pass the ends through the loop. It will look like this.

Wrap around the neck twice, then knot it in the front. You can knot the loop too and will look like this image. If you just knot it, it will have one short plain strand higher in the neck and one longer one where the knot is. Doing it as seen on the image avoids the weight of the end making it too tight around your neck.

Here is another way, just let the ends fall in the front or for a Summer evening out, bring your hair up and let it fall down a low cut back.

In this style, you knot it as high as it is comfortable to wear, then leave the long ends which can be both worn to the front, the back or one in the fron and one in the back if you place the knot on the side.

The weight of the beads at the ends is what keeps a lariat in place. These are Italian Murano beads and this style is called "wedding cake".

The best way to figure out how to wear a lariat necklace is to think of it as a scarf. How many different ways can you wear a scarf?  It really depends on the occasion, your style, how daring you are.  You can make a fashion statement that steals the show or a demure and classic finishing touch to your outfit.

Other ways not pictured are as a belt, a wrap bracelet and even braided in your hair if it is long enough. Feeling like a Flower Child today? Wrap around your forehead.  Wearing a Menswear inspired suit?  Replace the tie with a lariat.  The only limitation is your imagination and how daring you are!

If you have an idea not mentioned here, please post your comment.

If you have any questions and would like more instructions, please post and I’ll try to help.

The gorgeous vintage 1920s Flapper Lariat featured in this article is available at Vintage Jewelry, Fashion Magazines and Fine Collectibles plus Jewelry by Vera Battemarco.

Of particular interest to this blog are the appearances by Patrizia Di Carrobio, Jewelry Expert and Dealer. Her history is amazing, from Italy to America. Her grandmother shared a New York apartment with Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930s and begin consulting wealthy Americans on Fashion and Lifestyle choices. Patrizia moved to the US in 1980 and begin her career at Christie’s where she became one of Christie’s first women auctioneers.  Her taste in impeccable, her  opinions are practical and valuable. I really enjoy her appearances and I trust you will too.

The first video was made in the Spring of 2008.  The second is from March 2009.  Both are timeless and have great information for all categories of Arts, Jewelry and Collectibles.  More information about this show can be found at PBS.org, your local Public Television station or at wealthtrack.com

Don’t feel bad when buying Vintage Jewelry or Collectibles. A wise purchase can be a palpable investment you will wear or enjoy for many years to come.

Vintage Jewelry as an Investment Videos.  To learn more about Patrizia visit her site at PatriziadiCarrobio.com

Now have hubby watch it with you

About the same time  Mme Secretary Albright was interviewed by Bill Maher and worn an outstanding bee/wasp enamel and rhinestone brooch specially for the show host.

Madeleine Albright was the first woman to be appointed as US Secretary of State by then President Clinton. She has said many times that her brooches indicate her mood.  A clever way to communicate when you can’t always say what is really in your mind!

The exhibit titled “Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection” opens September 30 at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.  It will travel around the country for 2 years.  When told by the museum’s chief curator she would not have her jewels to wear for that a long a time,  Mme Albright as a true collector replied “Great opportunity to buy new ones!” .   Now that’s a woman after my heart!

Read more at the Huffington Post.

An earlier article about the same subject, from May 2008.

The Museum site is http://www.madmuseum.org.

YouTube video of  Madeleine Albright’s interview by Bill Maher is no longer available.