Posted 9 years ago
Efesgirl
(1017 items)
This is gorgeous. I bought it today from a street market for $2.50. I was told it wasn't silver. It was tarnished, so the mark on the pin wasn't readily noticeable. Size is 1"x 1". I took it to a friend at the local pawn shop and she tested it to be sure. I didn't see the gold accents until I got home and did a bit of cleaning on it. The last pic was taken off my pc, as I couldn't get a clear enough photo with my phone camera/magnifier. It looks like either a Buffalo, a Ram or....??? I would like to, if possible, find out who made this brooch.
All help appreciated!
nutsabotas6- thanks! I'm still squinting at that other mark. Still looks like an animal to me. I dunno.....!
A beautiful, well designed piece! Enjoy!
Hiya OAS - the gold didn't look like gold when I bought it. The stones aren't diamonds - too much "bling" when held in the sunlight, kind of like a rainbow. Still wondering if that other mark is a Bison. I could look at it until I'm cockeyed and still not be sure! The woman who sold it to me usually knows her jewelry so no idea how she missed this one. I just took her word that it wasn't silver. No matching photos in Google Images. Looks like a designer piece to me.
Thanks, upstatenycollector! Give me a holler if you can figure out what that second mark is...I'm starting to lose sleep over it, lol!
OAS - yes, it's gold over silver. I don't think it's American made, either. It could be a mouse! It could be a hippo, too...hahaha! Hey, let's have another drink. Maybe we'll see a big white Rabbit named Harvey. :-)
What a gorgeous brooch, efesgirl! Wow!
I think it looks like a pig? The snout is sort of piggy. :)
It's so pretty. yea, since it's got the silver stamp 925, no gold I don't think but I can't see the hallmark either. If diamonds are good, they do show the colors of the rainbow, but you would know. I'm surprised your pawn shop friend didn't have more info for you. (I guess that would depend on how much jewelry they get).
Really pretty!
OAS, that is too funny, lol!!! :))
Thanks, I am enduring traffic headaches driving my son and his father to Comic-Con the last two days, another two days yet to go. :(
Never as much as I miss you, my friend. :) How is your eye doing, has it decided to get with the program, or still being stubborn about the whole thing?
That's not good news, OAS. Perhaps a second opinion is in order?
Argh... Find another!
Doctor or eye ;-)
Joking, but it is not funny ........
Hope you'll get better, my thoughts are with you.
@shareurpassion - a gold stamp is not required when the gold amount is below a certain number of grams. Because it is gold overlay, there is no stamp (yes, it's definitely gold). I can take the brooch to a friend who has a diamond tester, but I really don't think they are diamonds.
@katherinescollections: I thought about it being a pig, too. It is a continental piece, as there are no Dutch hallmarks to be found. The mystery deepens...
OAS, very glad to hear that, pls keep us informed. :)
Efesgirl, it is a gorgeous brooch, I hope OAS's leads will help you ID it. :)
OAS - I will take the brooch with me next week to another friend at another pawn shop and have the stones tested. They just look a little too "Blingy" in the sunlight to be diamonds, but I guess nothing ventured nothing gained. I think this brooch was made outside Europe but won't know for sure until I figure out what that little critter is next to the .925 stamp. Thanks for the info!
@katherinescollections - thanks!! The saga continues, lol!
OAS - get yourself straightened out - we need you!!! HUGS
In the second picture, the picture of the back, is that some kind of mark or writing on the bottom, to the left of the clasp?
Also, looking at the hallmark from a different angle, could it be a profile of an eagle with the beak open and facing left. I also see something that might an eye above the beak. I've seen some hallmarks from France that is similar to yours.
http://www.silvercollection.it/frenchhallmar
Good Luck
MA
Hi
I just tried the link to the silvercollection and it doesn't work. You can try cutting and pasting it to the address bar and see if that works.
MA
Hi MA - the link doesn't work at all. I tried the copy/paste. I found another page with French silvermarks, and the Eagle is shown for gold.
http://www.925-1000.com/Ffrench_marks.html
I wonder if that funny little mark is a Weevil?
OAS - I agree that they are real stones rather than man-made. They could be natural clear crystals, or White spinels, maybe colorless Chrysoberyl, colorless Iolite...would be nice if they were diamonds, though!! "Hot Diamonds" marries up diamonds with sterling silver, so anything is possible, I suppose.
OAS - I will keep looking. This is not a piece I am willing to part with yet, so onward and upward! I am going on Thursday to see the same dealer who sold me this brooch and the Buddhist pendant to see what other "it's not silver" stuff she has for me!
THANKS to everyone who offered help with/loved on this brooch. :)
Scandinavian perhaps. It has that sleek design - very streamlined. I must buy myself a magnifying glass or a loupe.