Hand-made bracelet/ what kind of metal?

[get-r-dug]

Hi, I'm new to this website but have been totally glued to it since I found it a few days ago. Its all so fascinating to me. But I will try to get to the point of this post.

My dad found this bracelet years ago when I was a kid. It was found in Tennessee beside a creek. I'm not that sure about if it was completely buried or partially above ground or anything like that because I was pretty young when he found it. Before my mother passed away she gave it to me and now my dad is gone too and it is just a real treasure to me. I'm sure its not worth any money and that doesn't matter to me.

It is obviously handmade with no markings or letters on it. My question is what kind of metal might it be? I realize it would be hard to identify by the photos but maybe someone could suggest how to find out the type metal.
Thanks so much for any help or suggestions.

[bootybay]

Welcome to Tnet and I love your name.. Your bracelet could be unmarked silver..does it tarnish? or look dirty.. also it could be made out of stainless steel too..best thing to do is have it checked at a jewelers to see if its silver or not.. but it sure is nice..

[get-r-dug]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will check with the local jeweler, but I live in a really small town and they might not know without sending it somewhere to have it checked out and I don't plan to let it leave my grubby little hands.

Oh i forgot to mention that it is fairly heavy. Don't know how anyone actually wore it as a piece of jewelry.

Thanks again.

[Ant]

The first photo looks like brass, is that the true color? You could try shining it up with Brasso or Never Dull polish wadding. If it polishes up like gold, it’s brass. People wear copper bracelets and wires around wriest and ankles to help with arthritis.

[randazzo1]

Hi get,

silver (or more specifically the tarnish on silver) has a certain smell to it. It smells kind of like garlic.

maybe that will help.

[Montana Jim]

Identify by color:

Copper = Reddish Brown
Manganese Steel = Bluish in service; copper-color in storage
Zinc, Magnesium, Aluminum, Tin & Lead = Whitish
Brass = Yellow if high zinc content, otherwise reddish
White Cast Iron = White and silvery
Grey Cast Iron = In a fractured state, grey Will deposit grey graphite streak on contact

Identify by chipping:

Grey Cast Iron = Chips are smooth and brittle
Cast Steel = Easily chipped, can be continuous if desired
Aluminum = Chips are continuous but leave a saw edge
White Cast Iron = Metal is brittle and breaks into small fragments
Malleable Iron = Rough chips
High Carbon Steel = Lighter color at edges than mild steel, chips can be continuous

[get-r-dug]

Thank you so much for the suggestions all of them sound reasonable. I went to our local (very small town) jeweler after I got off work today at 4:30! and it was already closed so I guess I will try again on my lunch break tomorrow. I really feel like they wont know though, I think they mostly just sell stuff they don't even do repairs they have to send them off.

The bracelet doesn't have a smell so its probably not silver. I was hoping but I thought it was probably to heavy anyway. Yes the first picture is the color of the metal or as close as I could get the pictures to turn out. The second one kinda looks silverish but its not and its not shiny at all its rather dull.

I'm thinking maybe some kind of steel but I didn't know steel would turn that goldish color, maybe it is brass but I'm not convinced. I will let yall know if the jeweler has any idea.

I think I will enjoy metal detecting as a new hobby. Yesterday I went out late in the evening and just tried around in the yard. I was thrilled to find a pull tab, a 1987 penny, and some kind of car thingy that my husband had left in the yard. BUT I also went to the beach (lake) and didn't find nothing not even one little beep... hubby says somebody else probably already checks there on a regular basis. I will have to find somewhere else to hunt.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Montana Jim]

Also consider just stopping by the local antique shop - if he'she seems to know what they are talking about throw them 5 bucks for thier time. They will probebly be able to tell you right away Maybe get second and third opinions that way...

[get-r-dug]

You all have been real helpful. If I cant make it to the jewelry store before they close for the day again I will try the antique store down the way from it. I didnt' get to go to the jeweler at lunch on wednesday because at 9:30 that morning I passed out at work and the doctors think I might have had a seizure of some kind soooo..... now I cant work or drive until I see a neurologist and get a diagnosis or a release so I guess I wont get to "treasure hunt" either till then. I am kinda depressed and disappointed but I know my health should come first (along with other people who might be on the road with me) so I'm down for now.

Thanks for the suggestions and I will be back at it soon I hope.

[Montana Jim]

You all have been real helpful. If I cant make it to the jewelry store before they close for the day again I will try the antique store down the way from it. I didnt' get to go to the jeweler at lunch on wednesday because at 9:30 that morning I passed out at work and the doctors think I might have had a seizure of some kind soooo..... now I cant work or drive until I see a neurologist and get a diagnosis or a release so I guess I wont get to "treasure hunt" either till then. I am kinda depressed and disappointed but I know my health should come first (along with other people who might be on the road with me) so I'm down for now.

Thanks for the suggestions and I will be back at it soon I hope.

In the end it's only your own health that matters!

Take it easy and good luck with finding out whats going on!


At least you can sit and read Treasure Net - right?
Depression and disappointment are normal... don't get sucked into it...

[get-r-dug]

I still don't know what my bracelet is made of but the medical thing is ok so far. The neurologist changed my medicine and so now I don't feel dizzy all the time and I had my MRI after having to take 6 (.5) xanax (cause they stick you into this little tube thingy and apparently im claustraphobic). Don't have the results yet but I feel fine and am going back to work tomorrow ( well today, its 1 am) can't sleep. Still can't drive and maybe not until six months siezure free. Thats the part that really sucks. How do you treasure hunt if you cant drive? But I will get it figured out. My husband is logging a place where he says there is an old house foundation so maybe I will go with him soon.

Anyway thanks for the replies and good luck hunting.