Here are some of my treasure finds. The purpose of this album is not to brag, but to prove that the treasure is out there. Now, I want you to go find some for yourself. Remember to send us your pictures and stories to inspire other people to do the same.
Read the story about finding this velvet jewelry box filled with 17 sterling silver earrings, 3 sterling silver charms, 1 pair of white gold earrings, 1 pair of 14 K yellow gold earrings, and a 10 K gold pendant in Chapter 4 of "Cheap Gold and Silver". I paid $1.50 for the jewelry box and all of its jewelry.
I found this 14 K whale pendant, which retails for around $2,000. I paid $5 for it. Read the story at the end of Chapter 4 in "Cheap Gold and Silver" about the techniques I used to find it. A lot of people walked right past this gold pendant.
These cute little bow earrings are 14 K gold. I found them at a garage sale. I paid $0.50 for them.
The unique earrings were found at a garage sale at 3 pm. Numerous people passed these little cuties up. They are 14 K gold and cost fifty cents. Would you pay fifty cents for these earrings too?
This pendant was bought from a yard sale for $1. The stone is set in 18 K gold. I had the stone tested at a jewelry store with an electronic diamond tester. It is not a diamond. It is a high quality stone believed to be a moissanite. If I want an exact identification, I will have to take it to a gemologist. Whether or not I get the stone tested further to confirm its identity, I do know it is beautiful and I will enjoy wearing it.
Here's a cute pair of hammered 10 K gold earrings. I bought them at a rummage sale for $1.
I bought this 14 K gold ring at a yard sale one morning. It cost a whole twenty-five cents. With the price of gold, there is definitely more than 25 cents worth of gold in the ring. Or if you go buy one at a store, you will certainly pay more than 25 cents.
Find out how I bought this sterling silver cruet stand on eBay for $26 (which included S&H). There is 12 ounces of sterling silver in the stand. The estimated sterling silver value was $333, using the silver spot price. This doesn't include the fact that it is a historical piece of sterling silver. I share the story in Chapter 5 of "Cheap Gold and Silver".
Sterling Silver: charms, bracelet and apple necklace. These were found at one yard sale. I paid $8 for all of it.
Here's one of my favorites. The back of the "S" acid tested as 10 K gold. The nuggets on the front of the "S" acid tested for 22 K gold. Here's the story: I went to a rummage sale one morning. A jewelry box had a few necklaces hanging in it. I asked if it was a package deal or if they were selling the jewelry separate. They told me it was a package deal. The jewelry box plus its contents were $8. The marked 14 K necklace (pictured below) with the unmarked "S" pendant were included. The left picture below shows how dirty the "S" was, the right picture shows the "S" pendant cleaned up. Look at those little nuggets shine! The back of the pendant shows that is was unmarked gold, but remember it acid tested as 10 K. The jewelry box and the other jewelry made great gifts. It was a win-win situation.
Here's the "S" pendant with the marked 14 K twist herringbone chain.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting,
~Vicki Priebe
Author of "Cheap Gold and Silver"