Determining if Antique Jewelry Really Is Antique

Antique jewelry is highly coveted as both a fashion statement and an investment. An antique ring or necklace looks wonderful accompanied by a beautiful black dress or even a business suit, making the proper addition regardless of you are wearing. Antique jewelry is also bought for a rather low price and re-sold to collectors in order to make a nice gain. One of the more common questions asked by folks buying antique jewelry is how to determine if a piece is actually an antique. 
Needless to say the sure approach to determine if a piece of jewelry is definitely an antique is to bring it to a jeweler or appraiser for inspection. But with a little research and observation, you could be able to see whether a piece of jewelry you have really is an antique. The initial things that will be considered will be the cuts of the stones and the prongs in the settings. Several stones on antique jewelry were hand cut, and observed beneath a magnifying glass you will still be capable of see the residual proof the jeweler’s handiwork. The prongs on antique jewelry are also distinctive from the prongs on jewelry today. Prongs on old jewelry tend to wrap up over the top of your stone. Nowadays, not much metal is utilized to support a stone or jewel in place, with prongs rarely approaching over the top side of the stone.
Settings were also different back then while using larger prongs and different diamond cuts. Pay attention to your antique jewelry and study the setting. Do you think it looks to be an antique? You may look for any determining marks on the antique jewelry that can provide a hint as to whom the manufacturer is. When you can find a name or a logo, you will be able to trace that back to a jewelry company and determine the age of the item.
Finally, evaluate the kind of metal that was used in making the antique jewelry. The same metals usually are not used nowadays. Gold is never solid anymore, as it is a soft metal and will get damaged and scratched very easily. Silver is mixed with metals to give durability and strength. And platinum has been used a good deal lately to make long-lasting jewelry. Once you have done all this analysis and you are still not sure that the item you want is an antique, bring it to a professional appraiser.