One of our most handy tools in sourcing and collecting antique vintage jewellery has been a gem tester.
It became obvious that we needed a way of testing some of the stones in the jewellery because although we could take an educated guess, we needed to be more accurate.
Vintage modern stone bead bracelet.
Research showed us that one gem tester The Presidium stood out from others but we were unable to find a dealer in the UK. So we sent for the tester from the US and have been more than happy with the results.
We have tested all stones, even if we are fairly sure that they are faux ones.
Miracle jewellery is usually made with mock quartz stones, but there are the exceptions in silver.
Exquisite the Solihull jewellery makers also used faux stones, but it is possible that some earlier pieces may have used actual real quartz so we always test for example the mock jade chip pieces are Chrysoprase.
Quartz stones are different in feel to glass as they have a somewhat cooler surface (ideal to wear in the summer)
Vintage Deco brooch with faux turquoise
One benefit is that if we say the stone is jade, then it is not a guess. As many pieces of jewellery from the seventies, when jade was very fashionable, were made of jade but there was also many mock jade imitations manufactured.
Vintage jewellery set Real jadeite chip necklace and earrings
It became obvious that we needed a way of testing some of the stones in the jewellery because although we could take an educated guess, we needed to be more accurate.
Vintage modern stone bead bracelet.Research showed us that one gem tester The Presidium stood out from others but we were unable to find a dealer in the UK. So we sent for the tester from the US and have been more than happy with the results.
We have tested all stones, even if we are fairly sure that they are faux ones.
Miracle jewellery is usually made with mock quartz stones, but there are the exceptions in silver.
Exquisite the Solihull jewellery makers also used faux stones, but it is possible that some earlier pieces may have used actual real quartz so we always test for example the mock jade chip pieces are Chrysoprase.
Quartz stones are different in feel to glass as they have a somewhat cooler surface (ideal to wear in the summer)
Vintage Deco brooch with faux turquoise One benefit is that if we say the stone is jade, then it is not a guess. As many pieces of jewellery from the seventies, when jade was very fashionable, were made of jade but there was also many mock jade imitations manufactured.
Vintage jewellery set Real jadeite chip necklace and earrings
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