posted on April 20, 2004 04:58:57 PM
This is a pin that my grandfather gave my grandmother over 40 years ago. It is stamped sterling on the back and is marcasite. It's pretty heavy but I don't know how many grams it is. We don't know whether we need add additional insurance on it or not. How much, if anything, is it worth? Oh, it also looks like it's missing stones, but they are all intact. It measures approx. 1 3/4" x 1 1/4". Thanks.
posted on April 20, 2004 05:30:24 PM
Thanks MsLucy, GoUSA and Paloma. I saved this information so that I can try it again in the future. It's a lovely pin, but I don't know anything about jewelry. I haven't counted the stones, but there are alot of them. I wasn't sure if the stone count or the weight or what is important to look for. I would venture to guess it is an antique, but then again, I could be wrong. Anybody?
posted on April 20, 2004 06:50:31 PM
I would actually bring it to a jeweler for an appraisal.
One, anything anyone tells you on the board here is only as good as it's worth: free.
An appraisal can be used as provenance in an auction.
A lady had a ring on the jewelry board on ebay a while ago, it was nice but all the info she got was only what people thought of the stone etc, based on their experience. She got squat for it, too.
Bummer.
J
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
[ edited by stopwhining on Apr 20, 2004 07:11 PM ]
[ edited by stopwhining on Apr 20, 2004 07:12 PM ]
posted on April 20, 2004 08:13:36 PM
It is a nice pin. Cheryl was right to ask for a picture of the back; she probably wanted to see what type of clasp it has. It looks like it has a C safety clasp, which validates the 60's dating.
You probably don't want to sell this on eBay, if you choose to sell it. Marcasite jewelry is popular but old styles are reproduced all the time.
What's unusual is the center design. Is that a Tree of Life? I can't see clearly.
I don't think you need to get an insurance rider on this. Replacement value might be $150-200.
Store it wrapped in soft cloth, sealed in a plastic bag. Try to avoid applying any kind of pressure to the marcasites. They are relatively soft (compared to rhinestones) and fracture easily. You can match missing marcasites but it is no fun.
posted on April 20, 2004 08:22:49 PM
Fluffy,
This isn't ebay related, but does it look pierced and filed, like a handmade piece? Or a portion of it at least, or is it stamped and I can't see the demarcation of the stamping process?
Really me just trying to fill in the books I am reading.
Thx
J
posted on April 21, 2004 09:02:27 AM
Thank you Fluffy and everyone else for your help and patience as I learn the ropes. I'm not sure what a tree of life looks like, but it really is lovely. It does have a c safety clasp. I'm going to tell mom to place it in her safe deposit box and leave it to my daughter as a family heirloom. I think the real value will lie with the fact that it was from her great-grandfather to her great-grandmother. I think my daughter will be able to appreciate it when she gets older. And considering that we lost so many of grandma's and great-grandma's heirlooms as a result of a robbery, this piece is even more valuable to the family.
[ edited by fenix03 on Apr 20, 2004 05:27 PM ]
