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Found this mystery "diamond ball" or charm... anyone know what it is?

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    Posted 12 years ago

    alienalias28
    (1 item)

    We bought this home from a little old widowed lady, and she left a bunch of stuff behind, like an old oil painting from the early 1900's. Her fridge, washer and dryer, and etc, and our contract states that we get everything in the home AS IS. So, the home is now ours, as are the problems we're having like finding out there are rocks in our plumbing (of all things!) from some work that city workers did. We have no water and are supposed to move in this weekend... ahhhhh! Anyway, so we are already spending money on having plumbers come and figure out all this stuff that is not fun.

    WELL, Long story short, I was at the home, and had ripped up the carpet to get to the hard wood floors because I'm going to surprise my wife and refinish them. I was scooting a carpet across the floor, lying down with my hammer and flat-head screwdriver, and prying off the carpet strips along the base of the walls. This Master BR has a door in it that leads to the outside, because this used to be a rec area that migrated to a large Master BR. The door is sealed shut and the carpet pad and carpet itself covered the inch of space between the floor and door bottom easily.

    So, the carpet was pulled up and I had finished the entire room, except for the closet. Inside the closet, is the sealed door that use to lead to the outside. Deep under the sealed door I saw something shiney, and thought, "Hmmm, what was that?" I grabbed the longest nail I could find and fished it out, and was immediately cautiously excited. Yes, something glimmery caught my eye, and at first I was super excited that I'd found diamonds. It looks old.

    I'd found a ball piece pendant of sorts with 12 nice size diamonds... again, it appears be a pendant for a something, or used to be part of an earring. It's basically a little oblong shaped ball, crusted with diamonds set in (not glued). It has 12 "diamonds" in it, but we have no idea if they are real. The little old lady who lived here was 87 years old and they apparently carpeted the place 30 years ago, so the piece has been sitting lodged under that door for who knows how long? Probably at least 30 years, maybe more. In the pictures, I'm holding the little "loop" that connected this charm to whatever it was used for... a bracelet? An earring?

    I carefully pried one of the prongs open, and was saddened that the back of the "diamond" had a goldish/bronzish coating of some kind on the back of it. I was saddened and a little bummed, and said to my self, "Dangit, costume jewelry..."

    However, for hoots and hollers, I started researching to learn if any diamonds do in fact have foil-like lay on the backs of diamonds, and apparently this was common practice in Georgian and Victorian times, so now I'm getting a little excited again and wondering if anyone can help. This little old lady has tons of friends and family who had been coming to visit her in her home from Poland, for large family get-togethers, for years and years. It was an annual summer thing. They'd have 10 and more people sleep in the extra long 1 car garage in tents and with sleeping bags, many more sleeping in the house, and I'm told the family members looked more forward to these events than anything else in their lives. They are a long, connected group and family of Poles, and some of their parents came over on the original boats to Ellis Island in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

    All of this together has my mind going a little and wondering if there is any chance we have anything here. It looks very similar to some of the Georgian diamond stuff I've been researching online. It could also be Victoria style, I just have no idea. I do plan to take it to a local jeweler tomorrow to learn if it is diamond or not. But in the meantime, wanted to share it here and see if I could get any opinions and insights as to what you think it might be. Your help and ideas are certainly appreciated! Thank you!

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    Comments

    1. Stillwater Stillwater, 12 years ago
      Lol, they're rhinestones, you can tell by the cheap setting and construction. Old diamonds were not cut that way. It actually doesn't resemble anything from the 19th century, it could not be MORE different in terms of contruction. It wasn't made later than 1980. Take it to a jeweler if you want, but I'm telling you, just save the gasoline.. I can tell you're a dreamer huh?
    2. PotteryFella, 12 years ago
      I agree that I don't think they are diamonds, but there is no need to be rude about it.
    3. Stillwater Stillwater, 12 years ago
      Whats rude? The construction IS very inexpensive, it doesn't resemble anything from the Georgian or Victorian era, and old diamonds were not cut that way. He posted asking for information, I gave it. Don't have time to pat him on the back and say "how wonderful!" Maybe you do?
    4. Stillwater Stillwater, 12 years ago
      Since you've got all this time on your hands Mr. Pottery Fella, feel free to check out the early handpainted Weller vase I found this morning for a dollar. Love to hear what ya think
      :P
    5. PotteryFella, 12 years ago
      I don't wish to argue with you, if you don't see your reply as being rude, then that's your problem I guess. :/

      I can't actually find your Weller vase when I had a look, but I know next to nothing about American pottery, so doubt I could do anything other than give you a pat on the back ;)

    6. Carlomar Carlomar, 12 years ago
      Refreshing to see somebody excited about their findings, even if is something expensive or not. Keep up the spirit and keep up searching. Who knows what you can find in the house!!
    7. inky inky, 12 years ago
      I think it is lovely little thing you have there and sometimes the find is worth just as much. We all!! dream of that great exciting 'find' and the hunt can be just as exciting. I do hope you keep hunting because one day it will happen! and maybe in that house, it's lovely to read your story and also I hope that the rude comments of some don't put you off this wonderful site, because there are some beautiful people here that will be willing and want to help you, I would like to welcome you!...:-)
    8. alienalias, 12 years ago
      Thanks so much everybody! Hey Stillwater, Mr. Expert, the input is nice but the other writer was right in the fact that you're a little condescending in your response. I am a layman, a no-nothing regarding things of this sort. Your superiority in Victorian or Georgian history, congrats, and I wasn't looking for a pat on the back. I do appreciate the input, but your approach could be a bit better. Just sayin'. And no, there is nothing wrong with being a dreamer. I have some friends who found over $2k in cash sitting covered in dust above their kitchen cabinetry. Finding treasures, it happens.

      Regarding the other responses, sorry for my delayed response, as we've been moving and I've been refinishing hardwood floors and painting! You guys are very kind and helpful, so THANK YOU!

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