Early Victorian Jewelry

The seven factors that determine the value of your pearl earrings, brooches, bracelets and strands of pearls are: "Size Shape Color Luster Surface Quality Nacre Quality Orient" as described by the Gemological Institute of America. Pearl Size Pearls are measured in millimeter (mm) size and equals one measure of value. Rarity is a major factor in value as well. For instance, the standard size of an akoya pearls is 6...

Platinum is one of the rarest metals on earth.   This precious metal comes out of the ground pure white. Some of the most delicately made vintage engagement rings and jewelry is made in platinum. Eighty percent of platinum production comes from Africa. During times of economic stability, platinum is twice as expensive as gold.  Economic uncertainty brings the price of platinum down sometimes lower than gold. The biggest benefit of...

Cultured pearls are grown in saltwater oysters and freshwater mussels and are organic in nature. Freshwater pearl necklaces have been found as far back as 200 B.C. in archaeological burial mounds in the state of Ohio.  Unbelievable, but true. Pearls contain layers of nacre which is secreted from mollusks around an irritant.  Natural pearls are very uncommon and considered most valuable as compared to farm grown pearls which are most...

The beautiful effects of opal rings are its rainbow like opalescence.  White precious opals have a beautiful play of color and are most well-known. Their color can go from pale cloudy yellow to transparent at its top quality. Precious black opals are black, dark gray-black, dark blue, dark green and gray black which are rarer than white opals.  Boulder opals occur as pebble rock which means the rock is the...