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Jewelry Blog
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Antique Jewelry, Vintage
Jewelry and Tips on Jewelry
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We'd like to
know if you have any advice, questions or comments about antique
or vintage jewelry. In this space, you can share your thoughts
with other visitors. Your feedback to other visitors' comments
is also welcome - just email us at
help@perlin-jewelry.com.
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Add Your Comments, Questions, and
Concerns about Jewelry.
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are having problems with people abusing the comments section. Please
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help@perlin-jewelry.com
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| 8/18/10 |
Comments
How can you tell what kind of plastic is being
used in a piece of jewelry? Thanks, Maria
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Answer,
Some of the things you can do to identify
plastic is look for mold marks or seams. Bakelite usually does not
have this but Thermo set plastic or thermoplastic does. Acrylic and
celluloid tend to yellow with age. Vulcanite and ebonite have a
faint yellowish cast. You can also identify different things by
smell. Sometimes rubbing a piece until it is hot will help you
distinguish by smell. Celluloid smells like camphor or mothballs.
Galalith smells like burnt milk. Bakelite smells like
formaldehyde/carbolic acid. Tortoiseshell smells like burned hair.
Vulcanite and ebonite smell like sulphur. Cellulose acetate smells
like vinegar. Bakelite is heavier than other plastics. It will
make a clunking noise when tapped rather than the lightweight
clinking sound of plastic. Bakelite can also be tested by using
409, Scrubbing bubbles or Simichrome Polish. When a piece of
Bakelite is rubbed with one of these it will leave a yellow residue
on the cloth.
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| 08/4/10 |
Comments
When were Dress Clips and Fur Clips popular and
can you tell me how to tell the difference. Thanks, Terry
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Answer,
Dress Clips were popular in the 1930’s. They
were made in many different types of material from Platinum &
Diamonds to Pot Metal and Plastics. Dress Clips have a flat-hinged
clip with prongs that grasp the fabric and hold the clip in
place.Fur Clips were popular in the 1940’s and they were also made
by many different manufactures and materials. They can be
distinguished from Dress Clips because the prongs on the back are
two thin sharp-tipped prongs.Coro patented the Duette in 1931 and
Trifari patented the Clipmate. Both of these creations were
brooches that consisted of two Dress Clips or Fur Clips that would
come apart from the pin and could be worn separately or as one large
brooch.
- Date: 9/26/07
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| 07/29/10 |
Comments
Can you tell me if there is any way to identify genuine cairngorm or how
to tell the difference between it and glass or other imitations?
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Answer,
A. Hi! Thank you for visiting or website. Cairngorm is a yellow or
smoky brown clear quartz found in the Cairngorm Mountains in
Scotland. The mines are now exhausted and real Cairngorm is hard to
come by. This beautiful stone was used in Victorian jewelry or in
old Scottish jewelry. Heat-treated Brazilian Amethyst is used as a
substitute in some Scottish jewelry today along with Topaz. If you
use a 10x loupe which magnifies the piece 10 times a piece of glass
can have bubbles which are found in man-made materials or an "orange
peel" effect and concave facets which are indicative of glass. I
hope this information helps. Best Wishes, Linda & Perry
B.
In regards to glass and other imitations sometimes they are slightly
concave on the bottom side and mold marks. Gem stone are hand cut
and shape The bottom side is always flat. By
Francis the Rock Hound |
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| 07/25/10 |
Comments
I acquired a vintage silver link bracelet with
four links and at the center of each link is an opal surrounded by intricate
scroll work and a large silver bead on each side. I cannot find what types
of opals these are or if they are man made. They fire yellows, oranges,
pinks, greens, and specks of silver and black. It is stamped Taxco and I
suppose it to be from the late 40's or early 50's. Opals are enclosed from
the back. It's quite lovely but I can't quite figure out the four opals. I
would like information. Thank you.l
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Answer,
Your bracelet sounds beautiful. Being stamped Taxco we know that it comes
from the silver mining center in Mexico. Since I have not seen the bracelet I
can only assume that the Opals might also come from Mexico. Great looking Opals
are hard to find and expensive. There are three types of Opal pieces sold:
Solids, which are one piece of natural Opal stone, Doublets, which are 2 pieces
and Triplets which are 3 pieces. Doublets are usually one piece of real Opal
with a piece of black Opal or some other stone glued to the back of it.
Triplets will be a doublet with a dome of clear substance on the top of
it. Sometimes if you look at synthetic Opal from the side it mostly has vertical
striations which are quite uniform whereas a natural Opal is generally wobbly
and layers go all over the place. Synthetic Opal will be perfect in most cases
whereas natural Opal is flawed. If it looks too good then it probably isn't a
natural stone. If you take this to a jeweler he can give you more specific
details on your bracelet. Best Wishes, Linda & Perry |
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| 07/15/10 |
Comments
Jelly Belly Blog. My
friend Tammy asked me the other day to look at a piece of jewelry
that was her Grandmother’s it was Turtle Pin with a large center
stone that was blue she wanted to know if it was a Jelly Belly. I
had to tell her no she was very disappointed. A Jelly Belly is a
clear Lucite cabochon that is the predominate feature of a pin. As
part of their World War II efforts, Trifari installed Plexiglas
windshield & turrets in military bombers. The company would only
use flawless material. They were left with rejected material and
rather than throw it away Alfred Phillipe had cabochons cut from the
Plexiglas and incorporated them into jewelry designs. This was
called their clear line or Jelly Belly.
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| 07/5/10 |
Comments
- What exactly does it mean when someone says they have a
piece of acrostic jewelry? Thanks, Sandy.
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Answer,
Acrostic jewelry is jewelry that holds a message. The
stones in this type of jewelry are arranged so that the first letter of the name
of each stone spells a word. For example, the Victorians did this with regard
rings or hearts with stones. In “regard” the first stone is a ruby followed by
an emerald, garnet, amethyst and another ruby along with a diamond.
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| 06/12/10 |
Comments
I bought a gold tone pin at a flea market last
weekend on it says 585. What does that stand for? Tom
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Answer,
Tom, In response to your question 585 is a European Karat
marking which is equivalent to 14 karat gold. Hope you had a great
time at the Flea Market and you found a great piece. Best Wishes,
Linda & Perry
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| 05/20/10 |
Comments
My mom just cleaned out her
jewelry box and gave me some really pretty costume jewelry. The back of the
topaz pin says adele simpson but I cant find a picture of anything similar
to it. Can you tell me anything about it? I also have a really pretty Trifari Rhinestone pin that looks like it
needs to be cleaned. Can it be safely cleaned and if so what do I use?
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Answer
Anne, You are very lucky to have any jewelry by Adele Simpson.
Her jewelry is very rare and sold for high prices in the 1940s and
50's. The production of her jewelry was limited so there is not much
of it. As far as cleaning any Rhinestone Jewelry such as Trifari
you must be very careful that no moisture gets behind the
Rhinestones. I brush jewelry gently with a soft dry toothbrush to
loosen dirt, especially around prongs and settings. Do this over a
cloth so if a stone falls out it will not be lost. I clean my
rhinestones by dampening a toothbrush with glass cleaner then gently
brush over the stones and dry with a soft cloth. I hope that this
helps. Best Wishes, Linda |
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| 05/5/10 |
Comments
WHITE GOLD
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White Gold is created from yellow gold alloyed with white
metal. All white gold is Rhodium plated to create a bright white finish.
Rhodium is a shiny, white metal that is extremely hard. White gold was
originally developed to imitate platinum during World War II (during this time
in the U.S. platinum was considered a strategic material and its use was
prohibited for most non-military applications like jewelry making. |
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| 04/16/10 |
Comments
I was at an Antique Show
last week and two woman were talking about Berlin Iron Jewelry can
you explain to me what that is. Thanks, Rita
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Answer
Berlin Iron Jewelry is Iron Jewelry that
was lacquered black and was worn in place of gold and silver jewelry that was
donated for the war effort during the Napoleonic Wars. Most of it was done in
delicate openwork patterns and was made in Germany. This type of jewelry was
produced well into the mid 19th century and a bit later. The later
pieces of Berlin Iron Jewelry are less austere and more naturalistic.
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03/27/10 |
Comments
I have a Razza gold tone lion head necklace. It was
told to me that it was created for the MGM hotel/casino, Las Vegas, back in
the early 1970's or late 60's for their grand opening, and was given to high
rollers. Do you have any info on this item? Would you know what the retail
value of this item might be? |
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Answer
Denis, I wish I could help you but I don't
know anything about the Lion Head Necklace made by Razza being created for the
MGM Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas. You could possibly write to the Hotel to
see if they might have any information about that. I do know that this
jewelry is becoming more and more collectible. Most of the large figural
animal head pendants made of gold tone metal sell for about $75.00. This
jewelry was designed by Luke Razza in the 1960s and early 70's. Best Wishes,
Linda & Perry
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| 03/1/010 |
Comments
What
is Goldstone? I love Victorian jewelry and have a stickpin with
it. Anita
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Answer
Goldstone is not gold nor a stone it is a misnomer in the
jewelry field. It is a brown glass flecked with metallic particles such as
copper or chromic oxide. Goldstone was very popular during the Victorian
period. |
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| 02/19/10 |
Comments
I notice that when shopping for Vintage Jewelry
on line people refer to stones as being Watermelon Stones what’s
with that? Sally |
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Answer
Watermelon stones are glass
stones that resemble the colors of tourmaline. The term
“watermelon” comes from when this stone has a pink inside with a
green trim. |
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01/11/10 |
Comments
Amber Jewelry |
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Answer
I had someone ask me the other day about Amber
Jewelry so I thought I’d write about it. Amber is fossilized tree
resin. Light Yellow (honey colored) is the color most associated
with the name, it can be a variety of shades of yellow, brown or
even red (cherry amber). The color of amber can vary according to
the depth of water into which the tree fell. Amber can be
translucent, opaque, or a combination of both. Amber will darken
over the years as it is exposed to air.
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| 12/28/09 |
Comments
Why does the pin stick out past the brooch on
older items of jewelry? I don’t think it looks very attractive.
Patty |
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Answer
Patty, Prior to 1900 or so, brooches has a
simple “C” catch with no locking mechanism, and the pin often
extended out beyond the “C” far enough to weave back into clothing
for security. They were intentionally made this way to provide a
bit of security that the brooch wouldn’t fall off.
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| 12/15/09 |
Comments
Why was Hair Jewelry popular and when? Thanks,
Kathy |
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Answer
Queen Victoria’s passion for sentimental or “commemorative” jewelry
helped popularize jewelry made from human hair. The hair of a
deceased loved one could be intricately curled or woven into
delicate designs or sentimental scenes which would then be preserved
under glass in brooches. Sometimes these pieces of hair jewelry
were inscribed on the back to identify the donor. Later in the
century, hair was woven into watch chains, bracelets, and earrings
they were given as tokens of affection. |
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| 12/15/09 |
Comments
Why was Hair Jewelry popular and when? Thanks,
Kathy |
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Answer
Queen Victoria’s passion for sentimental or “commemorative” jewelry
helped popularize jewelry made from human hair. The hair of a
deceased loved one could be intricately curled or woven into
delicate designs or sentimental scenes which would then be preserved
under glass in brooches. Sometimes these pieces of hair jewelry
were inscribed on the back to identify the donor. Later in the
century, hair was woven into watch chains, bracelets, and earrings
they were given as tokens of affection. |
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| 12/15/09 |
Comments
I purchased a necklace and the man whom I
bought it from said that he thought it could be Jade it is yellow.
I always thought that jade was only green. Would it be possible
that this yellow stone is Jade? Thanks, Ken |
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Answer
Jade comes in the widest
variation in color of all the stones of the earth. It can
be found in deepest black to pure white, with rainbow colors in
between. It comes in yellow, mauve, brown, gray, and every
degree of greenness. To answer your question yes that
yellow stone necklace could indeed be Jade. If you are
friendly with a jeweler he or she can tell you what it is or
isn’t. The yellow is rare and you may have a real “find”.
Best Wishes, Linda & Perry |
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| 11/30/09 |
Comments
I have a garnet ring my Grandmother gave me before she died I
wore it to work the other day and my friend said she thought it
might be a fake or a doublet. What is she talking about?
Jamie |
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Answer
Jamie. Doublets and Triplets are composite stones made up of two or
three pieces of material to look like something they are not. They
are made to deceive. A “doublet” refers to a sandwich like stone
created by bonding two pieces of material together with a colorless
glue; a “triplet” refers to two pieces of material joined together
with a colored bonding agent in the center, or three pieces of
material sandwiched together. This type of deception is not new,
both doublets and triplets have been around for a long time. They
were especially prevalent in the Late Victorian era, around the turn
of the century. Garnets were used a lot because of its luster and
durability. |
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| 11/14/09 |
Comments
I happen to have a set of black onyx
cufflinks along with 2 shirt studs complete with a round row of diamonds
done in a circle applied onto the black onyx. The shirt studs are marked
on the reverse. Bte then further over the letters SGDG. They are
also marked PARIS across from the previous letters. On the movable flap
there are the initials ''R & G''. What do you know of this vender? I
would adore to hear from you at your earliest convenience. Many
thanks, Martha |
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Answer
Martha, Your black onyx cufflinks and shirt studs with diamonds
sounds lovely. They were made in France, Paris to be exact. The SGDG
stands for Sans Garantie du Gouvernement and the Bte is short for "brevete" |
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| 10/26/09 |
Comments
Hi! I often see an item I like with a letter c
before the date like c1940. What does this mean? Thanks, Julie |
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Answer
Julie, The c before the date indicates that the item has been circa
dated. That means that an approximate date is given which is a
ten-year window on either side of the given date. A circa date
of 1920 indicates a date somewhere from 1910 to 1930. |
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| 10/17/09 |
Comments
I purchased a piece of Jewelry from an Antique
Mall and the woman told me it was a piece of Scottish Jewelry. Can
you tell me what that she meant by that. Thank you, Rita |
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Answer
Rita, Scottish jewelry is usually made of native silver and agate
stones that our indigenous to Scotland. The amber-colored stones
are known as cairngorms; many resemble our topaz. Sometimes called
“smoky quartz,” these semiprecious gems are found in the Cairngorm
Mountains of Scotland. Perry is extremely found of agate stones he
loves the variously colored stripes or clouded colors. Best Wishes,
Linda & Perry |
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| 9/28/09 |
Comments
I have an old ring that my boyfriend gave me. The
inside of the ring has 14K H.G.E. are those the initials of the person who
made the ring?
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Answer
The H.G.E. STANDS FOR “heavy gold electroplate” many
people mistake them for karat gold marks. Best Wishes, Linda & Perry |
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| 8/19/09 |
Comments
Sometimes when I see a description on an old piece of
jewelry it will have the letters AB before describing the rhinestones. What
exactly does this mean? Thanks, Patti |
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Answer
The letters AB
mean Aurora Borealis. This is the trade name used for glass or plastic that
has been coated with a compound to give it an iridescent look. This was
very popular in the 1950s & 60’s and is still made today. I love that
iridescent look. Best Wishes, Linda & Perry |
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| 7/26/09 |
Comments
I have a question about a painting
on porcelain. My Grandmother gave me a pretty pin with a painting on it
which she said belonged to her Mother. Did someone really paint this?
Thanks, |
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Answer
Sometimes
these paintings on porcelain are actually transfers which have been around
for over 200 years. There is a process that allows a printed picture to be
transferred to a surface giving the impression that it was hand painted.
Sometimes people will even put brush stokes with paint on it to make it look
like a painting. The process used in the transfers leave tiny little dots
that you can see with a jewelry loupe. If you have no dots it is more than
likely hand painted |
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| 6/04/09 |
Comments
I have a pretty Ivory Necklace that has turned yellow how do I clean this? |
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Answer
Ivory is organic and will naturally turn yellowish with age. The color
change is irreversible and desirable in antique jewelry. Clean ivory by
rinsing it quickly in lukewarm water, followed by immediate through drying
with a soft, dry cloth. It is important to know that ivory being yellow
does not prove age or that the material is genuine ivory. |
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| 4/16/09 |
Comments
I have thoroughly enjoyed browsing thru your various
categories of jewelry. The web site is very professional and beautifully put together. There are so many choices of
jewelry available and your rating lets me know that this is definitely a site to use when looking for special
pieces to purchase |
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Answer
Thank You for the positive comment. Good Day Linda |
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| 2/23/09 |
Comments
How do you test bakelite? I was told to rub the item and it puts off an odor.
What does it smell like? |
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Answer
I too have trouble detecting an odor but it should smell like varnish or
formaldehyde. I use 409 bathroom cleaner on a cotton swab rub it on the
back side of the item if it turns yellow I know that it's Bakelite. Black
Bakelite doesn't always turn yellow. Linda |
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11/08/08 |
Comments
I bought a bracelet at a flea market last fall. They told me it was turtle
shell. How can I tell ?
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Answer
When I first look at a
piece of Tortoise Shell I will feel for a wavier finish. Then I will look with a
10X loop where the light color changes to the dark is made of small dark dots.
If you look at some of our items at
Tortoise Shell
I hope it add to you understanding. Perry |
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9/08/08 |
Comments
One of my co-workers have a
ram's head necklace which has razza imprinted on it and I went on the
internet but did not see it. I want to know if you still have them in
stock, I do know she got this one from her mother and it is not known
how long they have had it. It is silver tusk with a black head and
brown eyes. Thanking you in advance for what ever information you can
provide. |
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Answer
Anna, We don't have the Razza
necklace on our website at this time. However, we do have a Razza
Goldtone Pendant of a Woman it is listed under pendants and is #PE1003.
Razza jewelry was very popular during the 1070s. Thank you for visiting
our website. Best Wishes, Linda & Perry |
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8/27/08 |
Comments
Hi everybody we are back. During the past four months we have
been in the process of moving and things have been a mess. We
have just now got on our feet back on the ground and getting
everything sorted out. So we are officially back in business -
lets Go..... |
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4/27/08 |
Comments
I love Victorian Jewelry and am always looking for
it. What are some of the symbolism associated with that jewelry.
Thanks, Pat |
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Answer
Hi! Pat, I also love Victorian Jewelry. Victorian
jewelry could be read like a book because the design tells of the
giver’s feelings or hopes. Some examples of this are: Pearls = Tears,
Daisy = Innocence, Forget Me Nots = Remembrance, Butterfly = Soul,
Clasped Hands = Friendship or Lasting Love, and of course the serpent one
of Queen Victoria’s favorites a symbol of eternity. Some of the gems
had special meanings also. Amethyst = Devotion, Emerald = Hope,
Diamond = Constancy and the Ruby = Passion. Victorian jewelry is fun to
study and learn about. Linda
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4/10/08 |
Comments
I have a bracelet that is marked 900 what does that mean?
Thanks, Meg |
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Answer
Meg, This means that your bracelet is 90% silver
and 10% other metal. Pieces marked 900 are coin silver. Silversmiths
melted coins and made jewelry out of it thus, the name “coin silver”.
Coin silver is a lower grade silver than items marked 925 or sterling.
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3/27/08 |
Comments
What is a Fede Ring and what is a Gemel Ring. Thanks,
Sharon |
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Answer
A Fede ring depicts two hands clasped together. It has
been used as a wedding ring, engagement ring or as a token of affection. This
ring style was used as far back as Roman days, and was popular throughout Europe
from the 12th until the 18th century.The word fede means faith, or faithfulness. The Gemel ring
separates into two or three hoops attached to the base of the ring. The word
comes from Gemini: twins. To the best of my knowledge it was popular during the
middle ages. The two hands together can be faith or a love ring. |
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2/16/08 |
Comments
What is Gold Stone Made of or is it a natural stone? |
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Answer
Goldstone is not gold nor a stone it is a misnomer in the
jewelry field. It is a brown glass flecked with metallic
particles such as copper or chromic oxide. Goldstone was
very popular during the Victorian period. |
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1/22/08 |
Comments
I
think I found a diamond in the carpet after I had it clean it is
about 1/4 inch around with lots of sparkle I used the old trick
to see if it can cut glass and it did. Did I found the real
thing? |
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Answer All I know for sure is that the item you found is harder than
glass. There is an hardness scale and you can find a lot of
items harder than glass. I tried this old school theory on a
rhinestone and a cz "an imitation
diamond" They both scratched the glass. My conclusion on this matter is that the
theory of using a glass to identify diamonds is not a good test. I would take it
to a jeweler and ask them if it is worth appraising. They can tell in just a few
minutes if what you have is the real thing. Good luck to you. Perry |
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1/22/08 |
Comments
Hi, i have a Gold lipstick case with flip up
mirror, with an emblem of the Eiffel tower which is still in the
original box, could this possibly be an antique or was it just a
novelty item. Many Thanx. John |
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Answer
I
would need more information on the gold lipstick case with the
flip up mirror and the emblem of the Eiffel Tower to give you an
answer. Does it have a patent number on it? Does it
have any hallmarks does the original box give you any additional
information or can you send me a picture? Without seeing
it my guess is that it's a novelty item from Paris. Best
Wishes, Linda & Perry |
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1/8/08 |
Comments
How can you identify garnet as genuine? |
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Answer
Sally, Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your letter I
have had a house full of company for the last two weeks. Perry & I
usually take our jewelry in question to a jeweler who is a gemologist.
Identifying stones is not always easy. To begin with not all garnets
are red they come in other colors. If the Garnet you treasure is good
take it to a jeweler and let them look at it under a loupe they can give
you a great deal of information about it's value. I hope this helps
some. Bet Wishes, Linda & Perry |
