Bit of fun today – try to guess the age of these seven items of jewellery…..answers at the bottom of page 🙂
Number 1 below:
Number two:
Number 3:
Number 4:
Number 5:
Number 6 below:
Number 7 :
ANSWERS:
Number 1 Red Buckle Brooch: This is a typical vintage Scottish agate buckle brooch, which dates from the antique Victorian period, circa 1880s.
Number 2 Glass diamante swag necklace: Although it looks vintage, this necklace is a lovely modern reproduction. How can we tell? The clasp is a modern ‘lobster’ clasp with typical post 1990s long extender chain. Also, the spacing between the stones is longer than on vintage necklace.
Number 3 Yellow bead necklace: The rounded patterned barrel clasp indicates that this necklace is art deco and dates from the 1920s. Another give-away is if you shine a UV black light torch on the glass beads, they’ll glow in the dark*; early 20th century and art deco glass was sometimes had minute amounts of real uranium added to them intensify the colour.
Number 4 Cross pendant: This kitsch looking item is decorated with glass tiles and is properly known as micro mosaic jewellery, a distinct looking type of jewelry which has been made in Italy for hundreds of years. This Italian religious pendant is modern and dates from the year 2000 – it was made to commemorate Christs 2000th birthday and is dated on the back.
Number 5 plastic and rhinestone brooch: Although it screams art deco period, this brooch actually dates from the 1970s (there was a big art deco revival during this decade). The biggest give-away is the pin at the back, which has standard modern roll-over clasp.
Number 6 Black bracelet: Believe it or not, this bracelet is over 120 years old. It dates from the Victorian period and is made from Whitby Jet, a type of gemstone mined in the east coast of England, which is now rare. Antique Victorian jewellery was so well made that a lot still survives in excellent and perfectly wearable condition today.
Number 7 Orange necklace: This double strand kitsch looking necklace is made from real coral gemstone, and dates from the Victorian / early Edwardian period, circa 1900s. Coral was worn by superstitious Victorians as they believed it enhanced their health, and protected them from other people’s jealousy.