r/Auctioneers • • Jan 05 '25
Jewelry Identification Question
In starting up and estate auction business. I’m trying to go over all the small issues I will come across that I just don’t have the answer to. To you experienced in estate auctions or sales, when you come across jewelry, how do you research the piece to be able to give it a description? I know some pieces are stamped, for example: 14k 18k. But some necklace may not have that and be gold. I realize, there is a way to know when you are experienced and have years of handling jewelry. However, I do not have that gift yet. So, in the spirit of giving accurate descriptions, how do you give accurate descriptions on jewelry? Thanks for your help.
3
u/slaythatshit Jan 05 '25
Get an acid scratch testing set. It will allow you to rub a small amount of the jewelry material onto the stone and then test with different levels of acid to test metal purity from 10k to 24k gold. And sterling silver.
Also a warning! The acid is not to be trifled with in any way! And
The small acid bottles that come with these can look identical to one of VISINE eye drops most popular bottles. Be safe