I need some jewelry help Please

  • Thread starter Thread starter alonesolo
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alonesolo

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I don't know jewelry at all sorry to say. Although I think I should have been born dripping in jewels with my expensive taste.

A few years ago I attended an auction and purchased a large jewelry box full of very old mostly edwardian jewelry and sold a lot of it on ebay. There were all sorts of brooches and hair clips and shoe clips. My DD and I kept some for ourselves ( okay she kept more!) Any ways here are two pieces that I never wear and want to sell.

First is this emerald green brooch Pin on back just closes with a hook. I don't even think its silver. It may be pewter???? Do you think this is edwardian and what do I call it bar ? brooch ?? Pin ???

<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/sept/193.jpg>
<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/sept/194.jpg>
<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/sept/195.jpg>
<p> Next are these earrings. Faux pearls and what in the middle topaz or what? Do they look 40's

<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/sept/190.jpg>
<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/sept/191.jpg>
<img src=http://ftp.innernet.net/pcameron/sept/192.jpg>

And being without a scanner are the pics okay?

TIA
 
Pauline, do you have a macro setting on your camera? Usually it's indicated with a tulip icon. That's what you need to get clear closeups. These pics are too blurry, I think.
 
I used the macro and zoom and for some reason the pic of it in my hand turned out better. Guess maybe I should just for get it.
 
I don't see why you would need zoom. Maybe that's the problem. You can move the camera close to the item, check the focus, and use the macro setting. Zoom is for when you are too far from the item to get a good shot.
 
I find it impossible to get good closeup shots with my camera, even on the macro setting. Hmmm, maybe I can think of something I want for Christmas LOL.

Deb
 
The top pin I think is probably 40s or 50s but could be older. I would say bar brooch or pin.

The earrings look 50s to me and I would say it is a topaz or citrine color.

I really think it might have to do with your lighting. I made a little white box out of strofoam and place my item in it. Aim a light in, maybe covered with a white plastic bag for diffusion. Set it on macro (there is no flash), and prop your elbows on something so there is no movement. Take some different pics moving the light around.

I say to do this but sometime I can take good closeups and sometimes not. Am still working on taking a better pic of that leaf rhinestone brooch!

Don't give up. This jewelry is too pretty! The pic of the brooch on your suit was gorgeous!
 
nothing is as valuable as a scanner for jewelry. you can take a camera shot to show scale, etc...but if you have a scanner, place em face down with a piece of plain fabric behind it. it really makes things look so much richer and clearer.

there are some items (more gold tone) that are pot metal..kind of a composite. usually pretty strong. silver tone items can be silver plated, nickel plated, or even a metal composite as well.

but i am no expert (seriously!)
 
There are two kinds of zoom on digital cameras. With a digital zoom, the camera makes up what it thinks it should be seeing, so photos aren't always as crisp and accurate as they should be. With an optical zoom, the camera actually focuses in for the close-up, so the pics are much more precise. This is something I wish I'd known when I bought my camera, and will definitely be springing for an optical zoom when my old workhorse of a camera finally bites the dust!
 
Mine says digital zoom I think the camera I had before that went dead after a month may have been an optical because the pics were so crisp I could get a close up and show each thread in a weave with it. ( that was a cannon sureshot) Nice camera just didn't last past a month. Twice!

Ellen that is a beautiful shot of that brooch And the brooch is a beauty too!
 
Thank you, Pauline.

I use my camera only for ebay items and have never used the zoom function. Macro is for closeups. Zoom is for faraway things you want to bring in closer.
 
I use my macro (tulip setting) for closeups too and have found that one of the tricks is to not get too close! I have to be about 8" from the item, any closer and it blurs.

I also agree that the lighting will throw things off. Use natural light and no
flash.

As for the jewelry, Pauline, I'm like you....like the stuff, but basically clueless on dating most of it.

Sue
 
Different cameras have different macro capabilities. The Sony Mavica can usually get in about an inch from the object and have excellent focus. Other cameras may be farther away to get a good macro focus.
 
Pauline

It can be sometimes difficult to get a good shot and what seems to be happening here is that you are too close and using your zoom for all its worth, then you get blurry.....

We have a Fuji 3000 which has a digital zoom . We still don't want to get any closer than a foot away from the item we are trying to photograph even when it comes to doing makers marks on pottery, the same approach is used....

It would all depend on how you are setting up the jewellry. I think its best to have it photographed right on a garment if you can or set the jewellry on a board (a piece of styrofoam board works wonderbar)with black velvet or fabric. This way you have control on the slant of the board to avoid the glare.....You can choose several boards all with different colours of fabric.

I love using our scanner but you have to remember that there is glass on there which can be a reflective problem when scanning rhinestones....

Nanc
 
I believe that top pin is an older piece, probably 30's or earlier. It very well could be Edwardian. It would not be a stretch to say that or Victorian. It is a bar pin and has the classic "C" clasp that is seen on older pieces. If there is gold rubbing off and silver showing through it could be vermeil. A lot of older pieces are not marked. If it is silver rubbing off and brass underneath, it's probably rhodium. If there is nothing rubbing off then it is probably pewter.

The earring look 50s to me too.

kj
 
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