Fifty dollars does not stretch far these days. For a reseller who goes by Kelsey Olive on YouTube, it bought an entire box of jewelry, and saved for the very end was a piece stamped Tiffany and Co. in 18 karat gold.
“I spent $50 on this entire jewelry collection,” Kelsey says at the start. “And we’re going to go through and see how much value is hiding in here.”
Start at the top, and spot the fakes
Kelsey likes to grab a layer right off the top. The first discovery was a strand of beads that are not real pearls. They are obvious plastic, way too light, and not cold at all to the touch. So there was no need for the tooth test or the grittiness test.
That is useful to know. Real pearls tend to feel cool, and plastic does not.
Brands, clasps and stamps
Kelsey sells Trifari individually all the time, though does not believe the stones in this lot are real. There was also a piece made in Mexico, in Taxco, which Kelsey calls a huge place for silver making. A clasp that is not solid gold will typically have a little 10, 14 or 18 karat stamp on the ridged area.
Kelsey guessed turquoise and malachite on one piece but said it should be tested first, in case it is dyed calcite. And Kelsey is always looking at clasps, because that is typically where metal purity stamps hide. By this point, Kelsey figured there was already about $50 in value in the box.
A safety note on the tooth test
Kelsey gets plenty of comments telling people not to do the tooth test. If you see Kelsey doing it, keep in mind that if you try it at home, you should be careful, because you do not want to damage something you like.
Little clues that matter
A bent bangle can be a good sign, Kelsey says, since silver and gold are very malleable metals. A certain little closure was popularized by Monet. Kelsey also finds many sterling earrings that are not marked, because their backs were marked or because they were made at a time or in a place where hallmarking was not nearly as enforced.
Gold filled and the 5 percent rule
One piece got Kelsey excited, but it felt too light to be 14K. Kelsey explains that about one twentieth of the weight is gold, so a 5 percent top layer and some kind of base metal. Every item is a little different, but this is a really good rule of thumb.
Then came a tiny 14K stamp on some gold beads, probably about half a gram of gold, which Kelsey calls a $40 or $50 find. There were also 14 karat gold filled posts that Kelsey is holding on to.
The big finish
Kelsey saved the best for last, admitting it could be a total wash. Then, the reveal. “That is for sure Tiffany and Co. AU750.” AU is the symbol for gold on the periodic table, and 750 means 18 karat.
The plan was to clean it up, weigh everything and put the math on the screen to show how much gold Kelsey estimates is in the pile. With only $50 spent, Kelsey calls the results incredible.
Why unsorted lots can pay off
A mixed box of jewelry is a gamble. Most of it may be costume pieces and plastic beads, which is what the first layer of this box showed. But when a seller prices a whole lot at one flat amount, the one real treasure inside often costs nothing extra. That is the bet behind a purchase like this.
The key is to go through the box piece by piece, set the junk aside quickly, and give the promising items your full attention. Kelsey does exactly that, working layer by layer from the top down, and saving the best for last.
What to learn from this box
You can use the same ideas at home or at your next sale. Eighteen karat gold is 75 percent gold, which is where the 750 comes from, and 14 karat is a little over 58 percent.
- Check clasps first, since that is where purity stamps hide.
- Know that plastic beads feel light and warm.
- Look for karat stamps like 10, 14 or 18, and for AU followed by a number.
- Remember that gold filled is mostly base metal.
- Be careful with any test that could damage a piece.
Kelsey is also open about the uncertainty. Several items needed testing, and the final math was saved for after the box was cleaned and weighed. That is a good habit: be excited, but wait for the numbers before you decide you have struck it rich.
The lesson is that value hides in boxes most people would not bother to open. Take a few minutes, look closely, and do not toss anything until you have checked the stamps. You might not find a Tiffany piece, but you might find something worth far more than you expected.
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