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Superb Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold Thimble

Superb Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold Thimble
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  Unlike today when clothing is often discarded as it becomes damaged or outdated, clothing was regularly mended, altered or otherwise modified in households before World War II.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.

0.84 Carat Victorian Era Old Mine Cut Diamond

0.84 Carat Victorian Era Old Mine Cut Diamond
Photo Credit: MyDiamondZone

0.84 Carat Victorian Era Old Mine Cut Diamond

Buy It Now Price: $1,250 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a wonderfully charming specimen of an antique, Victorian era old mine cut diamond.  Old cut diamonds are highly sought after by knowledgeable antique jewelry and gem connoisseurs.  This stone looks as if it has been hand-chiseled from a solid piece of crystal.

–Old mine cut diamonds were popular in the 19th century before the mathematics of light dispersion within diamonds was understood.  Because of this, these old cut diamonds lack the icy-white, cool brilliance of modern brilliant-cut diamonds, but make up for it with a warmth and vintage elegance that cannot be found in modern cuts.

-This Victorian era old mine cut diamond weighs 0.84 carats.  Although it is less than one carat, it is still a substantially sized stone and would look good in an engagement ring, period setting or other jewelry.

-This Victorian era old mine cut diamond rates a “K”, or “faintly colored”, on the GIA’s D (perfectly colorless) to Z (lightly colored) diamond color grading scale.  This may seem like a mediocre ranking at first glance, but it is actually fairly good for an antique cut stone.

-This Victorian era old mine cut diamond is exceptionally well proportioned for an antique cut stone.  Because they were hand cut, most old diamonds suffer from significant bulges, lopsidedness or other obvious cutting asymmetries.

-With an asking price of $1,250, this Victorian era old mine cut diamond sports a price per carat of $1,488.  This is actually quite reasonable for an old cut stone, particularly one as attractive as this example.  I have seen similar stones sell for close to $2,000 per carat.

 

Cons:

-Antique cut diamonds are not the bargains they used to be in the early 2000s.  Since that time, prices have risen substantially as diamond lovers have came to appreciate the unique characteristics of these beautiful, old gems.  However, I feel that even with their higher prices, old cut diamonds are still compelling tangible assets that will see strong price appreciation in the future.

-Our Victorian era old mine cut diamond has an SI2 clarity rating.  This means the stone is “slightly included” or flawed.  While it isn’t a great score, it is perfectly acceptable for antique diamonds, which tend to be more heavily flawed than more modern stones.  In addition, the stone’s clarity rating is driven by a single inclusion which is only occasionally visible when viewing the diamond from the front.

-Diamonds, especially old cut diamonds, are fairly illiquid.  If you intend to buy this gem as an investment, be prepared to hold for a bare minimum of 7 to 10 years.  However, a longer holding period would be better.

French Mother of Pearl and 18K Gold Antique Cigar Holder

French Mother of Pearl and 18K Gold Antique Cigar Holder
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.

Men’s 14K Gold & Diamond Retro Longines Wristwatch

Men's 14K Gold & Diamond Retro Longines Wristwatch
Photo Credit: Central-Jersey-Estate-Liquidators

Men’s 14K Gold & Diamond Retro Longines Wristwatch

Buy It Now Price: $349.99 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a very attractive men’s solid 14 karat gold & diamond retro Longines wristwatch from the World War II era, circa 1945.

-The case is made from solid 14 karat gold and the dial has diamond hour markers at the 12, 3 and 9 o’clock positions.

-The dial appears to be in superb condition and has not been refinished – a desirable attribute for European vintage wristwatches.

-This retro Longines wristwatch has a rectangular case that measures 21.4 mm (0.84 inches) wide by 21.4 mm (0.84 inches) long, excluding the lugs and crown.  This would be considered rather small by today’s standards, but was completely normal for men’s wristwatches in the 1940s.

-Longines wristwatches were one of the finest luxury watch brands of the early to mid 20th century, easily the equal of competitors Omega and Rolex.

-This retro Longines wristwatch sports a manual-wind, 17 jewel, 8LN movement which is completely consistent with a mid 1940s attribution.  In addition, the serial number on the movement, 7059639, pinpoints the year of manufacture in 1945.

-Although I can’t verify the exact model of this retro Longines wristwatch, I am certain it is from the 1940s.  It is almost identical, stylistically speaking, to the Longines “Coronation Strap” model which retailed for $125 in 1941.  Adjusted for inflation, that is the equivalent of $2,083 today!

-I love the sculpted, hidden lugs on this retro Longines wristwatch.  They really epitomize the stylistic zeitgeist of the 1940s era.

-Longines vintage wristwatches are similar to American vintage wristwatches in that they are largely overlooked in today’s marketplace.  How else do you explain the ridiculously low $350 buy-it-now price for this solid 14 karat gold and diamond example from the 1940s?  I believe that savvy connoisseurs should accumulate vintage Longines wristwatches now, while they are still underpriced.

 

Cons:

-The crown might be a replacement.  You could probably have an original crown swapped in for a modest fee when you have the watch serviced.

-The seller claims this retro Longines wristwatch is running, but doesn’t know its service record.  Therefore, he is selling it as-is.  If you were to purchase this watch, you would be wise to have it immediately serviced.  This would probably cost somewhere between $100 and $300, assuming no major issues are found.

-Some of the hour markers on the wristwatch are heavily tarnished.  This makes it appear far less attractive than it could be.  Luckily, I think a professional dial restorer could easily clean the hour markers for around $50 or even a bit less.  You could also have the rest of the dial restored at the same time, if you so desired, but this would drive up the price.  In addition, some vintage wristwatch collectors adamantly favor original dials, and this retro Longines wristwatch has a nice original dial (with the exception of the hour markers).