Miscellaneous

Photo Credit: iconrelicsaz

Vintage U.S. Naval Aviator Insignia

Buy It Now Price: $85 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a spectacular example of a vintage U.S. Naval aviator insignia from the World War II era.  Naval aviator insignia were awarded to pilots who had completed their training and were deemed qualified to fly a military aircraft.

-The Naval aviator pin has remained unchanged since it was first designed in 1917.  It consists of a pair of wings spreading from a central shield superimposed on a fouled (tangled) anchor, all rendered in gilt metal.  This same badge has been used to the present day to denote qualified pilots in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corp and Coast Guard.

-This vintage U.S. Naval aviator insignia is hallmarked “1/20 10K GonS”, which indicates it is made from solid sterling silver with a thick layer of 10 karat gold-filled material on top.

-This vintage U.S. Naval aviator insignia is marked “AMICO” on the reverse.  Otherwise known as the American Insignia Company, AMICO was a well-known and highly regarded manufacturer of vintage U.S. military insignia.

-Although it isn’t readily visible in the photo above, the silver colored clutches on the pin appear to be sterling silver Ballou clutches.  These clutches are scarce and rarely seen today.  They were first patented in 1943 and were only made for a few years afterwards.

-This vintage U.S. Naval aviator insignia is incredibly high quality, even by the exacting standards of World War II American military paraphernalia.  Vintage sterling silver AMICO pilot’s wings typically weigh a hefty 18 grams (0.578 troy ounces), compared to only 10 to 12 grams (0.322 to 0.386 troy ounces) for most wings from other contemporary manufacturers.

-Militaria is a burgeoning niche within the antiques industry today.  Demand is skyrocketing for high quality pieces like this insignia pin, so I believe that prices may go much higher in the future.

-The patina on this vintage U.S. Naval aviator insignia is even, undisturbed and original.  I have no doubt that this is a genuine World War II era pin from a coveted maker in superb condition.  I have seen similar insignia offered between $200 and $250.  In light of this assessment, the $85 asking price seems laughably low.

Cons:

-Even though this piece is made out of sterling silver, it has a fairly modest intrinsic value.  Although the seller did not explicitly state the weight of the piece, if we assume that the hallmarking is accurate it should weigh around 18 grams.  In this case, our vintage U.S. Naval aviator insignia contains about $15 of gold (at a spot price $1,300 per troy ounce) and just short of $9 of silver (at a spot price $17.25 per troy ounce) for a combined scrap value of around $24.  Therefore, the premium for this specimen is 254%, which is honesty not as high (expensive) as I thought it would be.  Of course, no one would melt such a beautiful and historic piece, so this is really a rather academic exercise.

-I would have really loved it if the seller had included a close-up photo of the silver Ballou clutches.  This could have helped confirm the World War II dating of this vintage U.S. Naval aviator insignia beyond any possible doubt.  However, I honestly believe there is little question of the piece’s authenticity anyway.

Photo Credit: RomanJewelsGold

Superb Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold Thimble

Buy It Now Price: $798 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This superb antique 18 karat gold thimble perfectly reflects the ornate, upper-class Victorian sensibilities of the Gilded Age.  It was made in America sometime in the late 19th century.  This attribution is supported by the “18K” hallmark, which indicates an American origin.  The domed shape of the top of the thimble, when coupled with its florid Victorian decoration, strongly suggests a late 19th century date.

-This Victorian 18 karat gold thimble is 22 mm (0.875 inches) tall by 15 mm (0.59 inches) in diameter and weighs a considerable 9.2 grams (0.2958 troy ounces).  It is marked as a size 8 on the interior of the thimble and also engraved with the monogram “D.F.” in the same location.

-This 18 karat gold thimble is among the heaviest examples that I have seen – a sure indicator of its high quality construction.  The typical weight range for antique, solid gold thimbles is anywhere from 3 to 8 grams.  This thimble, in contrast, weighs in at 9.2 grams and contains over 0.22 troy ounces of pure gold – about the same as an old British gold sovereign or a pre-1933 U.S. half eagle ($5) gold coin!

-Sewing was a required skill for practically all middle and upper class women in the 19th and early 20th centuries.  Unlike today when clothing is often discarded as it becomes damaged or outdated, clothing was regularly mended, altered or otherwise modified in households before World War II.

-This antique 18 karat gold thimble is in almost perfect condition, with no visible wear.  It would appear that this item was so highly valued by its owners that it was considered “too good” to use.  If you are interested in buying this gold thimble, I would also strongly suggest that you also refrain from using it in order to keep it pristine!

-There are a considerable number of high-end 18th and 19th century sewing kits made from ivory, gold, tortoiseshell, silver or other luxury materials available in the antique marketplace.  These are often referred to as “etui” in the collecting community, a word derived from the French which means a small box or case containing sewing implements, cosmetics or other personal items.  Gold thimbles are simply a subset of these fascinating, antique sewing accoutrements.

Cons:

-The asking price of almost $800 is extremely expensive for an antique 18 karat gold thimble.  Most solid gold thimbles have prices ranging from about $100 to perhaps $400.  However, the quality of this particular 18 karat gold thimble is so superlative that I would strongly consider paying the premium price.  This is a classic example of investing in a high end antique by buying the best of the best.

-This 18 karat gold thimble does not appear to have a maker’s mark – either that, or the seller did not take a photo of the mark.  If it does have an intact maker’s mark, it would be on the inside of the top of the thimble.  Although this antique gold thimble is already extremely desirable, if its maker could be identified it would be even more desirable.

Photo Credit: Antiques-Uncommon-Treasure

French Mother of Pearl and 18K Gold Antique Cigar Holder

Buy It Now Price: $206.25 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This stunning French antique cigar or cheroot holder from the Victorian era is made from opulent mother of pearl and rich 18 karat gold.  A cheroot is a type of cigar that is untapered and cut at both ends.

-This antique cigar holder measures 2.38 inches (60 mm) long by 0.5 inches (13 mm) in diameter.  This is a typical size for cigar holders from this era.

-Cigar or cheroot holders were extremely popular among refined gentlemen smokers in the late 19th and early 20th century.  It is easy to imagine this antique cigar holder gracing the lips of a cosmopolitan British, French or German man in a bar, coffeehouse or salon in turn-of-the-century London, Paris or Berlin.

-In this period, before the widespread adoption of synthetic plastics, many high-end antique cigar holders were made from luxury organic materials such as amber, mother of pearl or tortoiseshell and then accented with solid gold or silver trim.

-Considering it is between 100 and 140 years old, this antique cigar holder is in superb condition.

-This French antique cigar holder is absolutely imbued with Continental European Fin de siècle spirit.  Fin de siècle translates from the French as “end of the century”.  It was a movement around the year 1900 characterized by material decadence along with a cynical, fatalistic belief in impending social upheaval.

–Tobacciana is one of the great sleeper niches of the investment grade antiques market.  This could translate into enhanced future appreciation potential for our antique cigar holder.

-It is amazing that this 120 year old French objet d’art, expertly crafted from premium materials, is available for just over $200.  To put this into perspective, as of July 2017 this antique cigar holder costs about the same as 1/5 of a share of Amazon, 3/5 of a share of Tesla or 1 and 1/10 Netflix shares.  I know which one I would rather own as a long-term investment.

Cons:

-The mother of pearl body of this antique cigar holder has a very minor hairline crack running partway along its length.  However, it does not detract structurally or visually from the item, and I think it has very little impact on its value.  Antique mother of pearl items frequently have these kinds of tiny flaws because, as the material ages, it becomes more sensitive to dramatic changes in relative humidity and temperature.

-The seller has acid tested the gold trim and determined that it is 18 karats (75%) fine.  France had a well developed precious metals hallmarking system at the turn of the 19th century.  Therefore, we would expect the piece to be hallmarked with an eagle’s head indicating solid gold construction.  One of the photos shows what may be a hallmark on the gold band at the tip of the cigar holder, but the photo is at the wrong angle to make a definitive determination.  Nonetheless, every aspect of this antique cigar holder screams high-end; I would be shocked if it wasn’t solid gold.

-The affixed gold plaque has an elaborate monogram that is contemporary with the vintage of the piece.  Some collectors dislike antique items that are monogrammed, believing that it “brands” them.  However, I feel that monograms are part of the history of a piece and should have a neutral impact on value.

Photo Credit: Joanie’s-Fine-Antiques-and-Silver

Superb Antique Georgian Dice Cup in Gold, Bone and Enamel

Current Bid: $185.50 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a lavish early 19th century Georgian dice cup originating from Britain or possibly France.  The body is made of bovine (cow) bone while the fittings test as 14 karat solid gold.

-This antique Georgian dice cup measures 1.375 inches (35 mm) tall by 1.1875 inches (30 mm) wide and weighs a surprisingly heavy 24.6 grams (0.79 troy ounces).

-The top of the dice cup prominently features an enamel badge applied over gold.  It depicts playing cards surrounded by the whimsical French motto “succès en tout le meme” which roughly translates as “success in everything”.  The motto is particularly fitting for this high end gambler’s accessory.

-The screw top lid indicates that this antique Georgian dice cup also doubled as a dice box or dice case.  A wealthy merchant or aristocrat would have used it to carry his favorite pair of dice with him on his travels.

-Gambling was a favorite pastime for European nobility during the Georgian period.  Baccarat, blackjack, craps and roulette were just a few of the games of chance that wealthy risk takers of the early 19th century loved to wager on.

-The quality of this Georgian dice cup is exceptionally high.  It is obvious that it was extremely expensive when it was made.  It is even possible that it was a one of a kind commission by a wealthy customer.

-This specimen is in excellent condition for its age, with only a small, unobtrusive hairline crack on the rim of the lid.  The enamel also has minor wear consistent with the item’s age.

-This Georgian dice cup might be more than 200 years old.  That is old enough that it might have been constructed completely by hand, without any machine assistance.  That possibility simply adds to the item’s allure.

-The current bid of $185 is far too low and will definitely rise before the auction closes.  I would be shocked if the closing price is anywhere below $500.  For a premium Georgian objet d’art of this caliber I would be comfortable bidding close to $1,000.

Cons:

-This eBay listing is a no reserve auction format instead of a buy-it-now listing.  That means it goes to whoever has the highest bid when the auction closes on April 10, 2017.  You must bid quickly if you hope to own this beauty!

-The gold trim on this Georgian dice cup is not hallmarked.  However, that is normal for small, mixed media gold or silver articles from the 18th or early 19th centuries.  I do not believe the lack of hallmarks should impact the value of the object.

-This antique dice cup is fairly small, with the longest dimension less than 1.5 inches (38 mm).  This reduces the desirability of the item somewhat.  However, if it were larger – say 3 or 4 inches tall – it would be a museum quality piece with a price tag of at least several thousand dollars, if not more.