Georgian style jewellery is massively popular in the antique market, and one of the drawbacks of this is that there is plenty of fakes about also. If you love Georgian jewellery, but you are not sure how to spot a fake, you will need to do some research and gain some knowledge before you go shopping. Here are some ways to spot genuine Georgian jewellery and refrain from getting one of the many fakes that you can find on the market.
Look At The Settings
The setting that holds the gemstones in place can often tell you a lot about a piece of jewellery and where it comes from, and the fakes will often have much lower quality settings. You will often find that antique jewellery can get damaged over time, and the quality of the craftsmanship will often surpass that of cheap imitations. You will want to ask a reputable antique dealer if they can show you the difference between copies and genuine antiques. There are many antique jewellery dealers Sydney trusts if you search hard enough, and a reputable dealer will be more than happy to educate you about their passion when you are looking to make a purchase.
The Gemstones
One thing that you find with antique jewellery compared to the modern equivalent is that the gemstones’ quality was not as good in antiques. The gems’ quality and the way they were cut are not as high-quality, and antiques will often have foils used to enhance the gemstones’ colour. Antique jewellers would place the foil at the back of the gemstone, improving its colour and brightness and hiding any imperfections that the gems may have.
The Precious Metals
You would also find that Georgian jewellery would use specific metals depending on the gemstones being used. When they created jewellery using diamonds, it was typical for silver or white gold to be used, as this help to enhance the qualities of the diamonds. When other gemstones were used, such as rubies, sapphires, or emeralds, it was more common for the jewellery to be made from yellow gold, which would also help to enhance the colours of the gems in the piece. When you find something that you like online, you will want to contact the seller and ask them what materials are in the place, including the purity, which can often help you determine whether the antique jewellery is genuinely Georgian or not.
Avoid Paste Gems
It was common in Georgian times to replace precious gemstones with glass paste, which could give a similar effect but cost significantly less. There are many examples of Georgian paste jewellery, and any dealer will openly admit whether their items have precious gems or glass paste. Jewellery made from paste can still be beautiful and appealing, and you may even want it, but the price needs to reflect the materials in the item.
Get A Second Opinion
Until you have increased your knowledge of Georgian jewellery, you will need to take your time before making any purchases and ask plenty of questions about an item before buying it. You may also wish to get a second opinion, which can help ensure you purchase genuine Georgian jewellery at a fair price.
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