Diamond? Studs with letter E, W, or M stamped

jklund38

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Apr 7, 2016
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Found a pair of stud earrings at the local thrift for $5. They look to be .75 carat or so each.

No CZ, .925, 14k, 10k, etc… hallmarks on them. Seem to be a quality setting.

I don’t have a diamond tester, working on that.

One earring has what looks to be the letter E hallmarked, but I suppose could be an m or w. The matching earring has no mark or it is worn down

I have done some searching and am not coming up with anything. Anyone seen a hallmark like that? I am working on getting a good picture
.
Thanks!
 

vpnavy

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...One earring has what looks to be the letter E hallmarked...am not coming up with anything. Anyone seen a hallmark like that?...
tn_metal_detector.gif
The picture will help greatly.
 

SusanMN

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Jun 1, 2007
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On gold studs sometimes you find the karat mark on the stem and not the back.
 

UnderMiner

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If you have a black light that's an easy way to test for diamonds, a larger percentage of diamonds glow dim to bright translucent blue when exposed to black light. Chances are that at least one of them should glow if they're real. I have a diamond ring with 20 diamonds and 2/3 of them glow to some extent under black light.
 

OP
OP
J

jklund38

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Apr 7, 2016
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If you have a black light that's an easy way to test for diamonds, a larger percentage of diamonds glow dim to bright translucent blue when exposed to black light. Chances are that at least one of them should glow if they're real. I have a diamond ring with 20 diamonds and 2/3 of them glow to some extent under black light.
I’ll try that tonight! Thanks!
 

tamrock

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Take them to a good jewelry shop or pawn shop and they can test them. They look like the real deal at least in the photos.
 

pepperj

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Take them to a good jewelry shop or pawn shop and they can test them. They look like the real deal at least in the photos.
That's the easiest way. Most all pawn shops will have a tester handy.
"Do you want to pawn or sell?" 😁
 

tamrock

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That's the easiest way. Most all pawn shops will have a tester handy.
"Do you want to pawn or sell?" 😁

That's the easiest way. Most all pawn shops will have a tester handy.
"Do you want to pawn or sell?" 😁
That's how I do it, but now the local gold, silver & coin dealer has an XRF Metal Analyser. This is a pic of an early 19th century Georgian period sugar boat I picked up which the hallmarks were all, but completely worn off. It turned out to be spot on sterling silver. I've had unmarked gold also confirmed by this very XRF gun. Not every pawn shop, jeweler or coin shop is gonna have one of these as they are around a $5000. tool. Still an acid test is as good as gold imo.
 

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pepperj

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Feb 3, 2009
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That's how I do it, but now the local gold, silver & coin dealer has an XRF Metal Analyser. This is a pic of an early 19th century Georgian period sugar boat I picked up which the hallmarks were all, but completely worn off. It turned out to be spot on sterling silver. I've had unmarked gold also confirmed by this very XRF gun. Not every pawn shop, jeweler or coin shop is gonna have one of these as they are around a $5000. tool. Still an acid test is as good as gold imo.
Wow they have sure come down on price.
$25-30K 15yrs ago for an unit.
I have to admit they're the only way to go for business.
 

SusanMN

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Jun 1, 2007
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That's how I do it, but now the local gold, silver & coin dealer has an XRF Metal Analyser. This is a pic of an early 19th century Georgian period sugar boat I picked up which the hallmarks were all, but completely worn off. It turned out to be spot on sterling silver. I've had unmarked gold also confirmed by this very XRF gun. Not every pawn shop, jeweler or coin shop is gonna have one of these as they are around a $5000. tool. Still an acid test is as good as gold imo.
Electronic testers arent that expensive and are easy to use. I have one and you pour in a couple solutions, clip your item to it and then dip It. The test lights up with the karat level.
 

tamrock

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Electronic testers arent that expensive and are easy to use. I have one and you pour in a couple solutions, clip your item to it and then dip It. The test lights
Wow they have sure come down on price.
$25-30K 15yrs ago for an unit.
I have to admit they're the only way to go for business.
Yeah maybe they are a lot more than I'm thinking. They just aren't cheap I know.
 

pepperj

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Electronic testers arent that expensive and are easy to use. I have one and you pour in a couple solutions, clip your item to it and then dip It. The test lights up with the karat level.
Apples/Oranges
XRF testers will tell you a list of metal compositions.
Not just if it's gold or silver.
 

SusanMN

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My Mizar tester was around $120.
 

pepperj

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Feb 3, 2009
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My Mizar tester was around $120.
Ok, and it tests if it's a certain K of gold.
But that is it basically.
XRF Will test 22 elements in 1 or 2 seconds in the precious metals group.
32 elements in the standard metals group.
So not all testers are created equal.
Simple testers will test the elements they're designed for.
 

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