Notes & stories

The School of Fine Jewelry

lessons in antique & vintage jewelry

Instant results as you type, from titles and topics. Try moonstone, rose cut or hallmarks.

Geneva link vintage necklace in 14K gold, 36.6 grams
AUG 2026 · Buying & value

How Much Is My Gold Worth? The Honest Math

Curious what your gold jewelry is truly worth? I walk you through the honest math, so no buyer can outsmart you with a lowball offer.
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Italian vintage charm bracelet in 14K gold from 1960
AUG 2026 · Bracelets

What Is a Charm Bracelet? A Life Told in Gold

Discover where charm bracelets began, what their little charms really mean, and how to choose or build one that will carry your own life's chapters...
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Antique cannetille work aquamarine necklace in 18K gold, Sweden 1921
AUG 2026 · Gold & metals

What Is Filigree Jewelry? Lace Made of Gold

Discover how goldsmiths coax gold and silver wire into lace, why cannetille spirals belonged to the early 1800s, and how to tell handmade filigree from...
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Rose gold bismarck bracelet in 18K gold from 1960
AUG 2026 · Gold & metals

What Is Rose Gold? The Blushing Alloy Explained

Discover why rose gold never fades or fakes its blush, and why she is copper's oldest, warmest trick in the book, not a modern one.
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Danish diamond bracelet, 1.20 carats, in 18K white gold, 26 grams
AUG 2026 · Gold & metals

White Gold vs Yellow Gold: What Is the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

Discover why white gold and yellow gold are really the same gold underneath, and learn how to choose the one that matches your skin, your...
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Antique citrine silver bracelet from the 1930s, sterling silver with warm patina
AUG 2026 · Care & cleaning

Why Does Jewelry Turn Your Skin Green (and How Do You Stop It)?

Find out why a ring or bracelet sometimes leaves a green mark on your skin, what it really means about the metal, and the honest...
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French sterling silver horse bracelet by Arthus Bertrand, 1940s
AUG 2026 · Gold & metals

What Does 925 Mean on Jewelry? Sterling Silver Explained

Learn what those tiny stamps on your silver truly mean, from sterling's 92.5% purity to spotting plate, patina, and the gold-colored 925 trick before you...
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Danish jumbo Geneva link necklace in 14K gold from the 1960s
AUG 2026 · Gold & metals

14K vs 18K Gold: What Is the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

Find out what really separates 14K from 18K gold, and let me help you decide which one deserves a place on your hand every day.
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Antique ring from 1895 in 23K gold with an old cut diamond
JUL 2026 · Buying & value

How to Tell if Gold Is Real: The Tests That Work and the Ones That Do Not

Discover which simple checks, from marks to magnets to the feel of real weight, actually tell you if a piece is gold, and which ones...
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Is It Real Gold? How to Read Hallmarks on Antique Jewelry
JUL 2026 · Buying & value

Is It Real Gold? How to Read Hallmarks on Antique Jewelry

Learn how to read hallmarks, spot gold-filled or plated pieces, and tell Swedish crowns from Danish towers so you never overpay for a piece she...
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Why Gold Jewelry Is A Great Investment
FEB 2022 · Buying & value

Why Gold Jewelry Is A Great Investment

Discover why gold has held her value for thousands of years, and how she can protect your savings while looking beautiful around your neck or...
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