Jewelry

JEWELRY

EVALUATING ESTATE, FINE AND COSTUME JEWELRY By Indra Jhaveri and of manufacturing, the era and easily; however, when assessing Carlo Dino Calescibetta G.G. condition. As times change, styles stones, there are numerous technical VINTAGE evolve — Victorian, Art Nouveau factors to consider. An appraiser

Many individuals have and Art Deco are some examples. might need to examine the color acquired estate, vintage and Culture influences style, as do new to determine whether the stone is antique jewelry but may not gem discoveries and economic times. natural or synthetic, included or clean. understand the differences between A professional will also determine the three categories. For example, whether the stone has undergone any vintage items are between 20 to 100 heat or radiation treatments. Some years old while antique items are stones have fractures filled with considered to be more than 100 years glass, and emeralds are often oiled to old. Estate jewelry refers to high-end disguise fractures. pieces that have been pre-owned and costume jewelry is made with non- Gems are also valued in many ways. precious metals. Rubies and sapphires have been manmade since 1890, and synthetic COSTUME Pearls have been imported for thousands of years and cultivation of these sea beauties has been evolving more than 100 years. Before that, true pearls were only found in the wild seas and considered extremely rare. Cultivation has made pearls available to all, and Chinese freshwater pearl production has exploded to the point that the market is flooded with inexpensive pearls made of glass, plastic and shell. Rare pearls from areas like Tahiti and the South Seas maintain higher values Often times determining the spinel, a common simulant of many exact value can be difficult as stone types, is produced in many based on size, color, quality of luster materials, metals and stones are colors not found in nature. With the and shape. all quite diverse. A well-informed, development of synthesis technology, knowledgeable individual is essential there now are many new offerings Costume jewelry has established in providing an accurate assessment including coatings on quartz, topaz value because during the Depression, and appraisal. ART DECO and glass. high-end jewelers such as Miriam Haskell, Coco Chanel and even The value of any piece of jewelry is Synthetic diamonds are now Matisse developed their own dependent on materials, the quality Metal jewelry can be evaluated fairly available in jewelry, and diamond costume jewelry lines. The value coatings are offered on stones to of costume jewelry depends on Wholesale Prices To The Public increase durability. materials, quality of manufacturing, design and rarity. 60-80% Off Retail There are several U.S. laboratories One Of The Valley’s Premier Buyers—We Pay Top Prices! that offer expert gemstone identification and quality analysis.

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The Gemological Institute of America, considered the industry leader, originated the “4Cs” diamond grading system, which has been

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adopted worldwide. Other labs of note include the International Gemological Institute and the American Gemological Laboratory and European Gemological Lab.

All jewelry has value, even if the primary value is sentimental. When having jewelry appraised, it’s important to entrust this job to an experienced, accredited expert to determine the value of these personal treasures.

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