Jewelry Treasures: December 2006

Lotus blossom pin is 2 inches by 1 inch and is marked G.E.D. with C clasp. This is a Victorian era pin, from the early part of the century, possibly through the 1920's. It is extremely beautiful, in great condition. I think it might be guilloche, which is a French word meaning "engine turning" where a machine etches the pattern in the metal, carving the design, and then it is filled with the enamel. This is a real beauty, and I think it is worth somewhere between $75 and $150, and maybe more. I can't find the G.E.D. mark yet, but I am going to keep looking. I have a big book with Art Nouveau jewelry in it, but it is in storage in Houston so I can't put my hands on it right now.

Views of back of water lily pin.

Japanese pin with mountain and pagoda, measuring 1 5/16" by 3/4" with C clasp. This one appears to be Victorian too, I think they called these "bar pins" or "collar pins." I would value this one at $30 - $50.

Back views of pagoda pin.

Very heavy gold tone pin marked Barclay. This is another great pin. I think it is from the late 1940's or early 1950's. Value $40 - $65.

Back view of Barclay pin.

Giraffe pin with green eye and mark saying A1754. I think this giraffe is a Boucher design. I think it is from the 1950's. Value $45 - $65.

Back of giraffe pin.

Glass scarab circle pin. This is an Egyptian Revival pin. I adore scarab jewelry and can you believe, this is my first piece? The stones are molded glass made to resemble genuine gemstones, like jade (green) and carnelian (red). Scarab jewelry has been popular for over 100 years. This pin could be anytime from the 1940's through the 1970's. Value is $25 - $35.

Carolee gold tone hat pin. Carolee has been in business since 1972. Her jewelry is sold in department stores like Dillards and Macys. It is hard to tell exactly when this was made, but all of her newest designs are covered with rhinestones. This is either from the 1970's or the late 1990's. Very heavy and well made. Value $25 - $50.

Green marquise clip on dangle earrings. This is a great pair of earrings, all the stones are prongset, I think they are from the 1950's. Value $40 - $45.

Back view of earrings.

Add a bead necklace with gold beads and cloisonne' beads. These necklaces were very VERY popular in the early 1980's. You choose a chain and added the beads to it. The necklace is 14 K.G.F. which is 14 karat gold filled, it has gold content, but is not pure gold. The gold beads are 14 kt. gold. There are 6 large ones, 12 small ones and 7 cloisonne beads. I would put the value of this necklace around $100. It is gorgeous and has a wonderful long chain.

Brushed gold tone pin with green rhinestones. This pin says 1950's to me, I have already replace the missing stone, had a perfect match. Value $25 - $45.

Avon breast cancer ribbon pin. Avon did an annual issue pin for breast cancer awareness starting in 1992. This design is from 1993. These are worth around $5.

Leaf pin, missing a pearl, probably. This is a 1950's pin, that was the time of elegant and tailored jewelry, especially accented with pearls. I need to check my pearl stock for a match for this one, but I am pretty sure I have it. Value $10 - $15.

Heart and leaves pin. I think this is symbolic of something but I don't know what it is. It is definitely two leaves coming out of a heart, you can tell from the back, but I can't find out what it means. I think it is from the 1950's. Value $20 - $30.

Sarah Coventry rose pendant. This necklace is the Rose Marie design from the late 1970's. I saw one for sale on the amazingjewelry website for $18.

Heavy gold tone screw on earrings with faux opals and rhinestones. These are very nice earrings, very heavy, I think they are from the late 1940's or early 1950's, they have well made screw on backs. Value $35 - $45.

Rose and rhinestone screw on earrings. These look like guilloche and were very popular in the 1940's and 1950's, but also were sold up to the early 1970's. I think these are from the 1950's, they have the screw on backs. value $25.

Sterling flower screw on earrings with pearls and amber stones. I think these are from the late 1940's, but they could be 1930's or 1950's. Value $35 - $45.

Pair of gold tone leaves pin marked BSK. B.S.K. was in business starting around 1948, I think this pin is from the late 1950's. Value $25 - $30.

Rhinestone and pearls swirl flower pin. I think this pin is from the late 1950's or early 1960's, pearls were popular in the 1950's. A really sweet pin. VAlue $25 - $40.

Heavy 3 3/4" hair pick marked Made in Japan. It appears to be from the mid 1960's. I don't really know anything about hair picks but I think the value is $10 - $20. One of the ladies at Jewelcollect told me to have it tested for silver content, but I think if it was silver, there would be some kind of mark about it.

Another lady from Jewelcollect, Pamela, just told me it is a hair pick, that you used to tease up your "do," and circa 1965. Make it high and wide! Thanks Pamela!

Back of Japan pick.

3 inch enameled red rose pin. This pin is in excellent condition. I think it might be from the late 1950's to early 1960's, very elegant design. Value $25 - $35.

Enameled flower with lady bug pin marked MJENT. This is a really great example of MJENT which is MJ Enterprises open in 1977. It is heavy and well made and has a bale so you can wear it as a necklace. I think it might be from the 1980's, since it is an extravagant design. Value $45-$50.

Heart and pearl pin marked 1/20 12 KG W.R.E. This is the mark of a company started in 1900, and I don't know how old this is, it has the 1950's circle pearl look, but it could be even earlier. Value 35 - $50.

Pale blue rhinestone circle pin. Circle pins were popular in the 1950's. Value $20 - $30.

Coral colored flowers pin. This pin says 1950's to me. Value $20 - $25.

Gold tone flower with brushed petals and clear rhinestones pin has an illegible mark, which could be something like Gloria but is two words, one on top of the other. Heavy and well made. I have looked and looked and can't make out this mark, the plating is too thick, and I can't make it out. This one will drive me insane til I figure it out! I would value this one at $25 - $35.

Back views of leaf pin.

Rhinestone accented silver tone leaf pin. I think this pin is from the very early 1960's, elegant and tailored. Value $25 - $40.

Enameled Xmas tree pin. X-Mas was actually used as a symbol for Christmas as early as 1525 AD, when the X was a symbol for the cross of Christ. This pins looks like a 1950's design to me. Value $20 - $30.

Small gold tone flower pearl pin with Mary medal attached to one leaf. Another elegant and tailored design probably from the 1950's, the little Mary medal has been attached to it by a previous owner. You can buy these little Mary medals at a Catholic bookstore, they are actually called "watch medallions." Value $20 - $25.

Pale green beaded flower pin. I have no idea about the age of this pin, it could be a homemade piece from anywhere to the 1950's through last week, I just don't know. One of the ladies asked me if it was for sale, I said NO but asked her what she knew about it, and I haven't heard back from her yet. I would put a value on it at least $25, without knowing anything else. I will let you know when she replies.

Brass pin with red stones and pearls. I think this pin is really old, from the 1920's or before, but it could be up to the 1940's. Value $50 - $65.

Back view of pin.

This lovely orchid pin is marked with an illegible mark. It looks like 2 backward S's with KGP on the end, it is heavily coated and impossible to read. It might be a Hawaiian souvenir pin and it is gold plated, but I can't read the exact amount, too much plating. I think this could be a 1990's pin. Value $15 - $20.

Back view of pin.

Clear rhinestones swirl pin. This pin could be from the 1920'sthrough the 1940's, it has an extra long pin stem. Value 20 - $35.

Pale blue snowflake pin. Definitely 1950's, nice prong set stones. Value $25 - $35.

Amber high domed pin with open back under large center stone. This looks like a Victorian Revival pin from the 1950's. Value $25 - $45.

Pale blue opaque and ab blue rhinestones pin. I think this pin is from the late 1960's, which designs got a little abstract. Well made with prong set stones. Value $30 - $40.