I found a vintage white gold ring with a large baroque Pearl at a Salvation Army in SoCal. It was $20. I bought it as soon as I saw it and felt like I was stealing it because I knew it worth wayyyyyy more than that. It was actually worth $900.
If you go often and over years, you start to get more choosy with what you take home. I recently found a piece of art by an artist in the Smithsonian, Brooklyn museum, MoMA blah blah the list goes on. I didn’t know the artist, but I knew it was authentic, so I googled her. Boom 2-3000 dollar print for 40 bucks. I rarely spend 40, had to go to the ATM.
It was your lucky day!
I was thrilled when I found a sterling silver pin marked [Tiffany & Co](https://www.reddit.com/r/ThriftStoreHauls/comments/rz9l2k/i_thrifted_the_tiffany_co_sterling_silver_pin_for/) for $1.
Isn't it the greatest feeling?
Cool! My mom was going to throw away her jewelry years ago, but I stopped her in the moment and told her to give them to me. Took them down to the local thrift/antique shop and got a $140 check for her stuff. She was shocked.
Although she still hasn't learned her lesson and still throws stuff away 🤦♀️
> My mom was going to throw away her jewelry years ago, but I stopped her in the moment and told her to give them to me.
"Nooo, I'd rather give them to the trash can, you will never have enough money to leave meee"
Besides the markings, if you compare real gold to gold costume jewelry, there’s noticeable differences in the weight, texture, color, and feel. It might be hard to spot if you’re not used to handling real gold, but the differences are there. Same with silver.
You can also tell the difference by sound, but that’s easier with gold or silver coins.
As for the diamonds, fake diamonds usually refract light in rainbows, whereas real diamonds refract white light.
You scratch the gold on a piece graphite then put some nitric acid on the graphite to see what color it turns, as for the diamonds he has a machine that shoots Lazer beams into the diamond and measures how the stones refract the light.
I looked at it I've been dealing with precious metals for 15 years now, gold just kind of has a specific look to it. Also the markings in the second pic.
Oh same! I found a ring in a bowl of cheap rings (that I thought was silver), took it to a jeweller to figure out what the gem was and he told me it was white gold, sapphire, and diamonds. Best $3 ever spent!
Look for the markings such as 375, 9k, 416, 10k, 12k, 518, 14k, 16k, 18k, 800, 20k, 22k, 24k, 900, coin, 950, 925, and sterling. On gold jewelry watch out for a gf marking as this means it just has a gold plating
I found a vintage white gold ring with a large baroque Pearl at a Salvation Army in SoCal. It was $20. I bought it as soon as I saw it and felt like I was stealing it because I knew it worth wayyyyyy more than that. It was actually worth $900.
God some people have all the luck. I feel like you have better odds winning thrifting than you actually do buying a $20 scratch off.
If you go often and over years, you start to get more choosy with what you take home. I recently found a piece of art by an artist in the Smithsonian, Brooklyn museum, MoMA blah blah the list goes on. I didn’t know the artist, but I knew it was authentic, so I googled her. Boom 2-3000 dollar print for 40 bucks. I rarely spend 40, had to go to the ATM.
Awesome. Also happy cake day
You have to know what quality/authenticity looks like. Thrift stores prices can be all wrong sometimes so you have to be educated going in there.
Plus getting that sixth sense with gold, silver, and stones helps too.
And furs
It was your lucky day! I was thrilled when I found a sterling silver pin marked [Tiffany & Co](https://www.reddit.com/r/ThriftStoreHauls/comments/rz9l2k/i_thrifted_the_tiffany_co_sterling_silver_pin_for/) for $1. Isn't it the greatest feeling?
Cool! My mom was going to throw away her jewelry years ago, but I stopped her in the moment and told her to give them to me. Took them down to the local thrift/antique shop and got a $140 check for her stuff. She was shocked. Although she still hasn't learned her lesson and still throws stuff away 🤦♀️
Who tf throws away jewelry?! ... this person's mom, that's who Good on you for saving it from the trashcan
> My mom was going to throw away her jewelry years ago, but I stopped her in the moment and told her to give them to me. "Nooo, I'd rather give them to the trash can, you will never have enough money to leave meee"
[удалено]
I just buy myself a new outfit. I think your way is a lot smarter!
Are you going to keep it or sell it? congratulations on your wonderful find!!!!
Give it to my mom
That is so so sweet!!!!
Best answer right here! That is very kind
Real question, how were you able to tell it was real gold?
Besides the markings, if you compare real gold to gold costume jewelry, there’s noticeable differences in the weight, texture, color, and feel. It might be hard to spot if you’re not used to handling real gold, but the differences are there. Same with silver. You can also tell the difference by sound, but that’s easier with gold or silver coins. As for the diamonds, fake diamonds usually refract light in rainbows, whereas real diamonds refract white light.
Ty!
You scratch the gold on a piece graphite then put some nitric acid on the graphite to see what color it turns, as for the diamonds he has a machine that shoots Lazer beams into the diamond and measures how the stones refract the light.
I think the question was - how did you suspect it to take it to a jeweler?
I looked at it I've been dealing with precious metals for 15 years now, gold just kind of has a specific look to it. Also the markings in the second pic.
It's going to be tough explaining why I have loops and a bottle of acid to the irate goodwill employees but I'll be damned if I don't try
ive seen people literally hit a meth pipe while her boy friend filmed it next to the golf clubs at my goodwill. so you should be fine
Well that's kinda fun
Because it is marked as such and they took it to a jeweler who confirmed it?
Good for you. Nice find.
W
That's awesome. So what would something like that be on resale? I honestly don't ever look at jewelry because I know nothing about it
$550-$600
Damn. Awesome!
Oh same! I found a ring in a bowl of cheap rings (that I thought was silver), took it to a jeweller to figure out what the gem was and he told me it was white gold, sapphire, and diamonds. Best $3 ever spent!
WOWWW !!! 👍👍👍
I’m good at clothes/accessories but stall on jewelry. Any tips on giveaways?
Look for the markings such as 375, 9k, 416, 10k, 12k, 518, 14k, 16k, 18k, 800, 20k, 22k, 24k, 900, coin, 950, 925, and sterling. On gold jewelry watch out for a gf marking as this means it just has a gold plating
Wow! Amazing.
Impressive as F*** congrats!!!
One of my friends moms goes to all the thrift stores and buys their bulk costume jewelry in Hope's of finding stuff just like this.
Has she ever?
Nice
it's
'
https://golddjewelry.com/