AboutThomas Expertise Have a question about jewelry repair or working with gold or silver jewelry and gemstones? I am a working professional bench jeweler, involved everyday with setting stones in mountings, designing and making jewelry, repairing and some custom manufacture. Over 30 years experience. If you work with jewelry as a hobby or as a profession, I might be able to help. I deal with the retail business, not mass production. Ask privately if you wish. See the box for that: It keeps your question between us. Please DO NOT ask MAKER'S MARKS, but metal quality marks are fine to ask. Please DO NOT ask diamond prices. See a gemologist for that.
Experience Education is English/Physics!Started in human resources, to advertising, to jewelry...wow, what a road. Now a jeweler for many years. I have had formal training in jewelry work and many shared experiences with top grade jewelers. We just never know were we will go or be. Follow your best, your dreams, with some discretion!
I am sorting thru jewelry from my mother and she had several pieces I think belonged to my grandmother, born in 1887 in Scotland. Are the British marks different than typical American ones? (10K, 14K, etc.) The marks I'm seeing are 16 CT and 9 CT for example. I am including a photo of one brooch that can be worn as a pendant or a brooch (pin back.) It is marked 16 CT. Also, any way of knowing if the tiny pearls are real? And how about the stone? Thanks for any help you can provide!
Answer Jane, thanks for this very neat question. Of course, without the items in hand I cannot say much about the jewelry. I will say, from the picture of the brooch, the item looks genuine and the pearls appear to be partially half pearls and perhaps some round ones. Generally, these are called oriental pearls, pearls fished from wild oysters in the sea and not cultured in pearl farms. The stone is the color and look of Peridot (pare-i-doh). Still, for positive identification, you will need to take the brooch to a reputable jeweler who has credentials for knowing these things. Look in the least for a GIA Gemologist. Beyond that are specialists who hold certifications in appraisal and may provide more info than the gemologist. The gemologist should be able to tell you what the metal is and if the stone and pearls are genuine. All looks genuine to me but that is only an opinion from the fine picture you thoughtfully attached.
Hallmarks in the UK are quite different than in the USA. The tradition of hallmarking in the UK is quite old, going back a few hundred years. Some parts of a hallmark will vary depending on where the item was made, in Scotland or Ireland for instance.
The following websites will provide some information. These are copy and paste links:
9kt gold is an accepted standard in the UK but is not accepted at karat gold in the USA. I am not certain about the 16kt items.
Jane, I believe a visit to a gemologist jeweler is in order at this point. Where I can generally dismiss many items as costume, the image of the brooch makes me think differently and believe you may need the items evaluated professionally.
Best wishes in the discovery of what your mother provided through her mother. This should prove to be interesting indeed and a taste of family history.
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