Testing Pearls

This may not be an exact science for testing your pearls, but if you cannot get them to a jeweler this is what I do; Clean a couple of the pearls with a damped cloth or q-tip, put one of the pearls between your front teeth and rub your teeth across it, if it is gritty like sand it may be a real pearl, but some of the high quality costume pearls have been coated with a pearl coating, and the only way you can tell is if the coating comes off and reveals the glass bead beneath. I usually take a loupe or magnify glass and inspect each one first to see if there is any peeling or scratching, and if they are costume there will usually be some type of flaw. A jeweler friend of mine also told me that her husband who was jeweler for many many years, said that the smaller the light on a real pearl the better the quality. This same test is used for Fresh Water Pearls. Please don't ever use any soap or harsh chemicals on your pearls, or put them into a sonic cleaner, as it can damage them, my daughter had an expensive pearl ring and was wearing it while washing dishes, it removed the lustrous finish and the pearl was dull after that. I never dip them directly into water, since this can damage or weaken the cord they are strung on, just use a soft cloth dipped into water and wipe them carefully. Perfumes and lotions can damage pearls if allowed to stay on them, it's best to put your perfume and lotions on before adding your pearls, and wipe them off before storing them....
These vintage beauty's are in our store; http://www.rhinestonespast.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=420

Stampings on Gold and metal jewelry;

There are stamps on gold jewelry that sometimes are confusing, some of the European stamps are almost impossible for the average person to understand, like me. If you have jewelry with any of the numbers below and wondered what they meant this may help you in identifying it. Some costume jewelry is heavily coated with gold, most is 12k gold filled and the majority of them are stamped somewhere on the piece, but a some are not so when testing it, you have to rub it down to the base metal to test it using an ink eraser in an inconspicuous place. If someone tells you that a piece is 12k gold, more than likely it is plated, you very rarely see jewelry done in 12k solid gold...

375 = 9c/ct

538 or 585= 14K

750 = 18K also an Eagles head {French}-18K

14KP = plumb {exact} this was not used until the 1980s.

Russian stamps = 56=583= 14K

Platinum = 900 Plat-100 Irid the dogs head was used after 1912 for platinum.

1/20 14K or 12K GF = Gold filled.

RGP = rolled gold plate

HGE = heavy gold electroplate.

Silver = 925 = Sterling 92.5% silver.

800, 825, 830, 850, 900 are European or Continental stamps for silver.

EPNS = Electroplated nickel silver

Alpaca = copper, zinc, nickel, 2% silver.

The colors of stones for the month of your Birthday..

January-Garnet
February-Amethyst
March-Aquamarine, Bloodstone
April-Diamond
May-Emerald
June-Pearl, Moonstone
July-Ruby
August-Peridot
September-Sapphire
October-Opal, Tourmaline
November-Yellow Topaz, Citrine
December-Turquoise, Blue Topaz

Garnet comes in every color under the sun except blue.
Amethyst can come in various shades of purple, from a deep purple to a pale pink.
Aquamarine ranges in color from a colorless pale blue to a teal color, the most prized deep blue Aqua.
Diamonds are clear white colorless stones.
Emeralds can be from a deep grass green which are highly collectible to a pale green with yellow cast.
Pearls can come in many shades from white to black, but the white are the most popular.
Moonstones a wide array colors,from colorless,blue,pink,yellow,brown,or gray with a silvery sheen.
Ruby has from a deep blood red to a pinkish red color.
Peridot are a light yellow green to bright green to an olive color.
Sapphires come in every color of the rainbow except red which is a ruby.
Opals are white and black with many colors radiating from inside the stone, a rainbow of color flashes.
Tourmaline come in every color from black to colorless, yellow,blue,pink,purple,and green.
Yellow Topaz are from a pale yellow to the Imperial Topaz which is a reddish orange color.
Turquoise color varies from a turquoise to green blue to a sky blue color.
Blue Topaz is found in sky blue to a deep blue.