What are they, exactly?

[bigscoop]

This should help pass those slow winter months. Should be fun too. Got a find or two that has left you stumped as to exactly what it is/was/or once looked like? Please share. Found this one the other day and all I can tell you is that it was very deep from the bottom of deep hole. It has a silver earring post, but that's all I know about it? About the diameter of a nickel.

 

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[EccentricInTexas]

Its a never ending Gobstopper!!! I'd say it was an older earring, Looks like the sort of things that all the cheap costume jewelry is patterned off of. Neat looking.

 

[Lady Pirate]

They are exactly "cabochon" cut stones. I know the camera is not doing justice to the color, and a very gentle cleaning will help to find out what stones they are. Very interesting indeed.

 

[bigscoop]

They are exactly "cabochon" cut stones. I know the camera is not doing justice to the color, and a very gentle cleaning will help to find out what stones they are. Very interesting indeed.

Well thanks! Now then, you're speaking to a man. So, what are they exactly? And what do you mean by, "gentle cleaning", exactly? I take the wire wheel on my grinder and shop vac isn't exactly, "gentle". Just kidding, but can you please enlighten me a bit further me on the stones? And how should one go about "gently" cleaning this thing?

 

[Southern_Digger]

Well thanks! Now then, you're speaking to a man. So, what are they exactly? And what do you mean by, "gentle cleaning", exactly? I take the wire wheel on my grinder and shop vac isn't exactly, "gentle". Just kidding, but can you please enlighten me a bit further me on the stones? And how should one go about "gently" cleaning this thing?

All you need to do is go over it lightly with a jack hammer! Seriously though.... it looks like basic bling junk but there may be some silver in their somewhere.

 

[Lady Pirate]

Warm water with mild dish soap. Hold on the piece and swirl it around a little, rinse it under warm water. Do a few times. Use a very soft toothbrush to gently brush around the stones to get the dirt/sand out while holding in dish water. Then rinse and start to inspect to see what you have. There are many minerals that are are cabochon cut and set in gold, silver and platinum! Just don't think of it as junk bling or costume until you know for sure bigscoop. You never know. Take picture when you are done so we can see the stones then.

 

[bill from lachine]

bigsoop,

Neat find.....kind of has an art deco look to my untrained eye.....and if so some of that stuff is worth pretty serious coin depending on the designer.

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[Sandman]

Gentle cleaning can also be done with an ultrasonic cleaner.
http://www.amazon.com/New-Trent-CD-3800A-NT-CD3800-Ultrasonic/dp/B004MBE6WQ/?tag=treasurenet01-20

 

[pat-tekker-cat]

I use the cheap jewelry cleaner from wallyworld. Drop it in, let it soak, brush a little.
The stones look as if they could be old moonstones. Would be nice if they turned out to be star sapphires, though.
When held in the sun, do you get the starburst effect from them?

 

[jeff of pa]

interesting !

I dug something like that Many years ago, only in very poor condition.
I took for granted home made pin or charm.

Pretty sure Mine is more Quarter or Half size though


Maybe part of a set.

If I remember I'll see if I can find mine
tomorrow.

 

[Fenway]

Correction, it's a conglomerate of gobstoppers!

 

[bigscoop]

It's still in the cleaning process but not looking good. From what I can tell so far, the stem is silver and rest of it is junk. The only thing holding some of the stones in place was all the buildup, as they are falling out pretty steadily.

 

[jeff of pa]

It's still in the cleaning process but not looking good. From what I can tell so far, the stem is silver and rest of it is junk. The only thing holding some of the stones in place was all the buildup, as they are falling out pretty steadily.

Yea Mine reminded me to a bunch of petrified jelly beans glued together

 

[dewcon4414]

You best get your own jewelry cleaner...... my wife gets a little DISTURBED finding my questionable jewelry in hers. Hey.... but it works great with a tooth brush.