▲ 75 r/washdc

What is happening in Mount Pleasant?

Edit: I have to make this edit because people are unhinged. I made a post about a very real increase in property crimes in the area wondering what’s been happening lately and got just insane responses (and a few reasonable and thoughtful ones as well). The economy in DC has been polarized for a long time. The cost of living has been very challenging even before recent economic deterioration. I don’t think either of these statements are controversial. I was hoping to get a sense of what’s been shifting in the last few months. But instead people have been blaming high paid professionals for moving in and bringing societal instability upon themselves… or blaming them for being priced out of their homes… or downplaying the serious nature of this shift as if I’m lying about what I and my neighbors have experienced. I mean, have at it, but most of you missed the point.

reddit.com
u/RowanRally — 3 days ago

BEWARE: gold plated bracelet priced as solid gold

I was contemplating this 1930s bangle marked as solid 10k gold by TRR. I had the wits about me to run it through chatgpt and the prompt returned that the marking “marsh plate” means gold plated. I looked it up and it’s true- this is a plated bangle being sold as solid gold. BEWARE.

u/RowanRally — 14 days ago

My first Georgian piece (and another Victorian addition)

Left: Georgian pin/pendant with a female figure leaning on an anchor. This was a popular motif to represent hope. It is set in brass (most likely - definitely not gold).

Right: pretty little vulcanite vs French jet (aka glass) earrings set in 10k rose gold.

u/RowanRally — 1 month ago

My first Georgian piece (with a new Victorian addition)

Left brooch/pendant: Georgian female figure leaning on an anchor, representing hope. Set in brass (?), definitely not gold. I don’t usually purchase anything other than solid gold but made an exception for this rare beauty. She looks like a dream on a long gold chain.

Right earrings: later Victorian earrings most likely vulcanite (vs possibly glass or “French jet”) set in 10k rose gold. They’re pretty little things that I got for a song.

u/RowanRally — 1 month ago
▲ 13 r/jewelry

Some of my recent favorites in

Left to right:

An estate sterling pendant featuring a mabe pearl and tiny diamond on a vintage Ukrainian sterling chain

A 1919 Birmingham assayed sterling Albert watch chain with a 1918 Birmingham assayed sterling fob

A c. 1930s 10k Binder Bros watch chain with a 12k Victorian onyx fob (magnificent carving with a bearded man facing left).

A c. 1910s Chapin and Hollister sterling long watch chain with sterling charms I use with it

A midcentury 14k coral Asian brooch

A 1972 London assayed 9k gold Victoria revival ring with a central garnet and Australian opals

A midcentury Dutch 14k gold and garnet Victorian revival ring

A midcentury 14k ring with rose and green gold floral pattern and rubies (that I sadly fumbled on the photo).

A midcentury 18k gold and turquoise ring

A midcentury 14k rose gold pearl ring

u/RowanRally — 1 month ago
▲ 35 r/jewelry

Today’s Stack

Left hand:

12k gold Victorian bracelet with natural pearls and diamonds set in a silver top

1970s 14k gold Thai ruby and diamonds ring

1972 London assayed 9k gold Victorian revival ring

Ring hand:

10k gold late Victorian/early Edwardian chalcedony cameo ring

14k rose gold midcentury pearl ring

10k gold late Victorian cigar band

9k gold London assayed opalite pinky ring

u/RowanRally — 2 months ago
▲ 159 r/jewelry

Some of my favorite antique (and some vintage) pieces I’m loving right now

Left to right:

14k gold and seed pearl Victorian earrings (late Victorian period)

Sterling and 10k gold Victorian book chain, Birmingham assayed in 1881. Spooky photos of Victorian children included

Sterling art nouveau locket

12k gold Italian Victorian cameo

14k gold and 20ct amethyst pendant on original chain

12k gold Victorian bangle with rose and old mine cut diamonds, and natural pearls set in a sterling top

14k gold Egyptian revival scarab bracelet featuring onyx, sardonyx, bloodstone, tiger’s eye quartz, moonstone, jasper, chalcedony

14k gold midcentury pearl ring

10k late Victorian to early art nouveau chalcedony cameo ring (I got to see one almost like it in an antique jewelry catalog)

14k gold art deco ring featuring two soldiers

18k gold, diamond, and synthetic sapphire art deco shield ring

14k gold 4ct natural aquamarine art deco ring

10k gold and quartz pendant (NOT camphor glass) on 14k gold period-original chain

18k gold and quartz (NOT camphor glass) necklace

9k gold Victorian revival ring with Australian opals and center garnet, London assayed in 1972

12k gold late Victorian coral cameo

u/RowanRally — 2 months ago

Mostly antique (and some vintage) favorites

Left to right:

14k gold and seed pearl Victorian earrings (late Victorian period)

Sterling and 10k gold Victorian book chain, Birmingham assayed in 1881. Spooky photos of Victorian children included

Sterling art nouveau locket

12k gold Italian Victorian cameo

14k gold and 20ct amethyst pendant on original chain

12k gold Victorian bangle with rose and old mine cut diamonds, and natural pearls set in a sterling top

14k gold Egyptian revival scarab bracelet featuring onyx, sardonyx, bloodstone, tiger’s eye quartz, moonstone, jasper, chalcedony

14k gold midcentury pearl ring

10k late Victorian to early art nouveau chalcedony cameo ring (I got to see one almost like it in an antique jewelry catalog)

14k gold art deco ring featuring two soldiers

18k gold, diamond, and synthetic sapphire art deco shield ring

14k gold 4ct natural aquamarine art deco ring

10k gold and quartz pendant (NOT camphor glass) on 14k gold period-original chain

18k gold and quartz (NOT camphor glass) necklace

9k gold Victorian revival ring with Australian opals and center garnet, London assayed in 1972

12k gold late Victorian coral cameo

u/RowanRally — 2 months ago

This is Grumpy 13.5 Year Old George

This is George, a fat grumpy old man we rescued when he was 10. His previous owner unfortunately developed severe Alzheimer’s and had to go into memory care. No one in her family could take him so when my husband and I heard the story, we had to save him. We absolutely adore him and I hope he’s happy with us.

u/RowanRally — 2 months ago

Today’s Purchase

I’m very lucky to have a supportive husband who, despite not knowing a damn thing about vintage or antique jewelry, voluntarily goes with me to my favorite antiques store to suffer while I browse. This is a late Victorian 12K bangle with pearls and rose and old mine cut diamonds over silver. Marvelous condition for only $800.

u/RowanRally — 2 months ago

Sisters, not twins

Two original art deco necklaces. Top one has a 10k quartz pendant with a removable 14k paperclip chain. No maker’s marks and probably American. The bottom one is all one piece and is 18k gold also without a maker’s mark (and also probably American).

I just sourced the top necklace. And before anyone says “camphor glass,” no, these were tested to be definitively quartz.

u/RowanRally — 2 months ago
▲ 40 r/VintageJewelry+1 crossposts

Please help ID ring

I bought thing ring at a consignment shop today. It gives a Victorian vs Victorian revival aesthetic and looks like it has British hallmarks… except I cannot for the life of me figure out what the assay office and date marks are. I took these photos with my phone through a loupe and it’s the best I can do without a microscope. The metal tested as 9k gold. It’s quite substantial, 10g on a kitchen scale. The maker’s mark is EF in a rhomboid cartouche. Thank you!

u/RowanRally — 2 months ago

Some Recent Acquisitions

Pardon my gnarled nails, the gym has been extra hard on them lately.

Left to right, top to bottom:
Belais 18K white gold band, somewhere in the Edwardian to Art deco crossover

Late Art deco Montana agate 10K white gold ring

Probably circa 1980s 10K rose and white gold diamond knot band

Late American Victorian 12K carved coral ring

Art deco carved shell cameo habille ring in 14K white gold

Really cool chalcedony cameo 10K gold ring likely at the intersection of Victorian and Art nouveau aesthetic (need to look into it a bit more)

Late 1800s 12K gold Victorian band

u/RowanRally — 2 months ago
▲ 111 r/Antiquejewelry+1 crossposts

My American Victorian treasures

My small but very much growing collection. These are all solid gold from about the late Victorian period.

u/RowanRally — 3 months ago

Best way to catalog jewelry collection

I’m a new collector of vintage and antique fine jewelry and have amassed a moderate collection so far. I need to catalog and insure it, and was wondering what people use to categorize their collections. Thank you!

reddit.com
u/RowanRally — 3 months ago
▲ 72 r/Opals

Bought this Ethiopian opal sterling ring for $36 today

And I’m thinking I did awful well for the price. I’m hoping you all can confirm (or refute) that this is quite a nice stone. My husband is very skeptical and asked for your opinion. This is a whole opal, not a doublet or triplet. Thank you!

u/RowanRally — 3 months ago

Updated vintage and antique ring collection

A few weeks ago I posted my small vintage and antique ring collection, and today I’m posting the entire thing… which is still quite small but steadily growing. The small garnet cluster is Swedish 830 silver and the simple silver band is sterling from Mexico, and is sentimental. Otherwise the only truly modern pieces are the diamond band up top (my wedding and engagement rings turned into one), and the Mexican silver band. Everything else is vintage or antique gold ranging from 10K-20-ishK. And as you can see, diamonds are cool but colored gems are what I love.

u/RowanRally — 3 months ago

I just bought this gorgeous and substantial necklace. It’s 18k white gold (rhodium plated) with a quartz pendant with a central diamond. Marked 18k but tests for higher (22k acid slightly partially dissolves it, the 18k acid doesn’t touch it). No maker’s mark but has the number “3926” hand etched on the pendant. Any info much appreciated.

Edit: folks, the pendant is definitively NOT camphor glass. It’s rock crystal (quartz). It was tested by a GIA gemologist.

u/RowanRally — 4 months ago

The garnets are rose cut around the center cabochon but the shank has a hallmark of an oak leaf with 585 stamped in it. That seems to be a Dutch mark after 1953. I mean, it’s kinda built antique but doesn’t seem to be? Any info is very appreciated. Thank you.

u/RowanRally — 4 months ago

Thrift score from Saver’s today! The bracelet is a 1950-60s Egyptian revival piece in 1/20 12K gold fill. The watch is a Kenneth Jay Lane piece from probably around the same time? Maybe 1970s? The stones are genuine.

I have a smaller scarab bracelet in 14K gold and find the stones are the same. Although I collect almost exclusively fine vintage/antique jewelry, I can’t say no to Egyptian revival!

$16 for bracelet and $21 for the watch.

u/RowanRally — 4 months ago