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Jewelry Part II - Processing Jewelry in the Lab
Jewelry & Fashion | PUBLISHED 11.19.20 | Jennifer Ventresca
PART II
BRING ON THE BLINGOLOGY
(Processing Jewelry in the Lab)
When it comes to jewelry, knowledge is definitely power!
Knowing what is actually in any piece of jewelry determines its overall value. A band made of pure gold is certainly worth more than a similar band which has been gold-plated.
So how can you tell the difference between something that is pure versus plated? How can you determine the difference between a real diamond versus some of the really beautiful modern-day high-end cubic zirconias on the market? In short, it's probably best to have your jewelry inspected by a professional gemologist or jewelry appraiser.
It just so happens, that BRG has its own jewelry lab staffed with professionals who can help identify what is inside your jewelry box.
Professional Inspection: A look inside the lab
So what happens to your jewelry when it comes to BRG's lab? Generally there are multiple steps taken to inspect, test, grade, and value your jewelry.
First, jewelry is sorted.
It goes from this...
to this....
Once the obvious distinctions are made between costume jewelry, jewelry that needs to be tested for metal content, and fine jewelry, our experts begin performing a more detailed inspection and any necessary testing.
Some of the tools of the trade include:
💎 Loupe (magnifier)
💎 Microscope
💎 Refractometer
💎 Calibrated Scale
💎 Calipers / Micrometer
💎 Diamond Tester
💎 Acid Testers
Jewelry is inspected visually for flaws, markings, and other important traits and characteristics which help determine things like age, quality, and overall valuation.
Jewelry might also be weighed to help determine weight in precious metals and stones measured for sizing.
Metals are acid tested to determine exact content of metals (for example: 10kt gold versus 14kt)
Precious and semi-precious gemstones are inspected, according to the guidelines and protocols of the GIA.
While this is a very broad overview of some of the inner-workings of the BRG jewelry lab, much care and time goes into each inspection to ensure accuracy and safety of the jewelry entrusted to us during inspection.
If you have a piece of jewelry or an entire collection, BRG's expert jewelry appraisers will be happy to help you discover its value. You may call to make an appointment, drop-off your jewelry, or use our Consign by Mail service to send your pieces to us for testing and inspection.
Next time ...
Jewelry Part III: Jewelry Through the Ages
If you would like to learn more about your own jewelry (valuation, whether it's real or fake, etc.), send us an email. Someone from our expert jewelry team will be happy to help you.
If you missed any of the blogs in this series, links to each appear below:
I |
II |
III |
IV |
V |
VI |
VII |
VIII Proper Care, Cleaning, & Storage |
Keywords: jewelry, jewelry lab, GIA, test, grade, inspect, valuate, jewelry specialist, jewelry appraiser, jewelry appraisal, loupe, refractometer, micrometer, caliper, diamond test, acid test, inspection, flaws, markings, weighed, precious metals, gemstones, gems, diamonds, gold, silver, sterling, sterling silver, platinum, sizing, semi-precious