Maybe you are just beginning your collection of fine silver, or maybe you have been acquiring pieces for many years and are looking to expand your knowledge of the field. In either case, the following books will guide you as you seek to learn more about the world of sterling silver. Encyclopedia of American Silver [...]
How to Gently Clean Your Antique Elgin, Waltham, or Hamilton Pocket Watch
Whether you have a simple antique pocket watch, railroad watch, or an elegant Waltham, Hamilton, or Elgin pocket watch, this post will set out some guidelines for you as you clean your watch at home. For this job, I recommend having Hagerty’s purple silver polish and their dry silver polish in an aerosol can on [...]
How to Date Your Antique Waltham, Elgin, or Hamiltion Pocket Watch
You will need two pieces of information to determine the date of your American-made, antique pocket watch: the name of the manufacturer and the serial number on the watch’s movement. The manufacturer’s name may be very simple to find, or it may require some deeper investigation. If the major components of the watch (the dial, the case, [...]
How to Decipher Bacic Hallmarks on your Antique Gold Jewelry
Have you ever puzzled over the markings stamped on your fine gold jewelry? Depending on its country of origin, age, and maker, your gold item may be stamped with a variety of different markings such as a maker’s mark, a retailer’s mark, a mark to indicate the gold purity, a serial number, or a date mark. [...]
Antique Asian Oriental Japanese Carved Bone and Mother of Pearl Inlaid Panel
Japan is well known for its lacquerware. According to “Millers Antiques Encyclopedia 2008″ “The technique of lacquering involves the application of numerous layers of varnish made from the sap of the Rhus vernicifer tree onto wood, leather, or fabric. When dry, the layers form a hard crust, which can be carved in relief.” Popular materials [...]
