Edwardian gold/diamond earrings help please

denisebrain

denisebrain

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These earrings are really out of my realm! I got them from a woman who bought them from an estate sometime in the 80s.

I think they look like 1910-20 things I've seen but I'm unsure. They are marked 14K PKCJ with no periods. I might be reading this wrong, the stamp is very tiny, and I doubt my photo will help. The earrings are for pierced ears. I'm not sure how the woman I got these from knows these are diamonds...is that a given with the gold?

Anyone? Thanks in advance!

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Originally posted by denisebrain I'm not sure how the woman I got these from knows these are diamonds...is that a given with the gold?
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I can't tell from your pics one way or the other but just because they have a gold setting doesn't automatically make them diamonds or precious gems--they did use a lot of glass in gold settings.

But you can tell the difference between glass and diamonds so .... most likely they are diamonds.. :D They are really pretty!
 
Maggie -

I don't think they are Edwardian. Most jewelry from that period is more delicate and is set in white metal - platinum or white gold and has fillagree. I think they look later and they remind me of Etruscan Revival style - at least the little gold balls do. I would take them to a reputable jeweler to see if the stones are diamonds and to get an idea of value.

A really good website for antique jewelry is : www.langantiques.com

Linn
 
Thanks Linn, that is a great site!

So Etruscan revival would make these Victorian? I do see a great similarity when I search the style online. I do think I need to get an appraisal, even just for my own knowledge.
 
Maggie -

I think the earrings are mid-20th.C. from the mounts but I am not an expert. They do not look Victorian to me - they look "Estrucan Revival" but by that I mean their style is based on the earlier VIctorian ones. It's hard to explain and to see in a photo. Earlier fine jewelry and even a lot of early costume is quite delicate and intricate.

Linn
 
Thanks again Linn...I think it is time for me to visit the appraiser on these. Too much to chance an estimate (date, materials).
 
My gut feeling tells me that they are relatively new - if they were antique, I would somehow expect them to finer, with more filigree work too. I am no specialist, it's just what I feel. The backs of the earrings and how the stamp looks make me feel that way too. How do they close?

Karin
 
Are they post backs? I would put them no earlier than 60's.

They're very sweet btw :) , and if the stones are in open back settings and you happen to have a good loupe on hand, you can do a 'quickie' diamond check, by placing newsprint beneath it and then viewing through the loupe.

If it's CZ or glass, you can read/see the print. With a diamond you'll barely be able to make it out. Not foolproof or course, and depends on the setting.
 
They are post backs. The stones are so tiny, I don't think I could try the reading trick, but appreciate the tip in case I ever have a possible diamond of any substance.

Well, I'm whipsawed by confusion, but do have a vintage jewelry expert friend who does appraisals. I will see if I can get a confirmation of your theories.
 
That's a neat trick, Laura! Not to hijack, but can you recommend a good loupe, or type to have on hand?

Maggie, I noticed a certain similarity to a very old lavalier that I have, that was my grandmother's, but as Linn said, there is a real delicacy to the antique ones, with tiny diamonds and little seed pearls, at least judging by the one that I own. I was going to suggest, that will all the gold buying and such going on, you could take it in, to one of those places, and have it evaluated quickly, not that you'd want to sell to them. I've done so on occasion, just to ascertain content, as I don't have all the necessary gear to test.
 
Joules and everyone -

You want to get a 10X loupe. They are available at jewelry supply stores and online - and probably on eBay. There are some very good online suppliers but they have minimums. I am not sure if B'Sue carries them. www.bsueboutiques.com I don't think Steph at prettysnazzy or mrstones.com do - but you can check.

I wanted to make one point about earrings with posts. They are not necessarily from the '60's on. There were older post earrings but the posts are generally thicker and screw into the mounts.

I sold this Edwardian pin. Notice how delicate it is and how fine the workmanship is:
Victorian%20Amethyst%20and%20Seed%20Pearl%20Brooch.jpg
Victorian%20Amethyst%20and%20Seed%20Pearl%20Brooch%20Back.jpg

Linn
 
Originally posted by joules
That's a neat trick, Laura! Not to hijack, but can you recommend a good loupe, or type to have on hand?...
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Hi Julie!

Any good loupe with a triplet 10x lens is good for casual use. They usually run around $10 or less.

For those who do more than casual buying, I suggest and use myself the Belomo Triplet 10x -- and if one is going to check stones, then best to get a loupe with a black casing (which most Belomos are), since it reduces reflection (unlike loupes with chrome casings).

The Belomos run around $30.00

And if you're really into stones, you'll want a small penlight to shine beneath your speciman. So you'll have a total of 3 items, but will need about 20 fingers to co-ordinate it all. ;)

Maggie -- If you can show the actual post back with earnuts, I can nail a more accurate date for you.
 
Thank you, I've learned gobs by asking about these!

Here is the back of one that I photographed because one side of the back is broken off:

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I'm doing a flea market, so I'm sort of more gone than around the computer, so please excuse my absence from my own thread!
 
Well good heavens -- I had just written out a long winded response, when this computer 'updated' on me and I lost all of it (I dislike these new computers -- they're like living organisms).

Anyway, I'll be brief so that in a nutshell, Karin's original assessment was on the money, as these earrings are on the contemporary side (probably within the last 10 years or so).

I can see just a part of that post base, where your nail is covering, but those findings, bale sizes (one still looks open to me, but can't tell), and the fact that these are cast (simulating granulation), are contemporary features -- including their size and proportion to both the findings and simply overall (your fingers helped with scale as well ).

I would definitely have those stones checked of course, since you'll want to know if they are indeed diamonds, and if so, what grade. Very nice purchase!
 
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