Need help identifying this religious bracelet please

[todaysfancy65]

I found this bracelet at the flea market this Sunday in a mess of boxes with odds & ends jewelry (I LOVE digging for possible treasures!). I looked it up using Google image search but am confused. I saw one for $38 or so and others for over $1000. All on different sites. I cleaned it up and it’s marked 14K Italy both on the back of the main piece and the clasp. Also marked on the back is 595.  Any ideas where/how I can find its true value?  Thanks!!!

 

[thirry]

Sometimes miracles appear at the bottoms of boxes!

You'll need to have the gold content verified before you list it. A good source of quick evaluations are shops that buy gold (they usually have big signs that say "We Buy Gold"). They will test the metal, but be sure to tell them first thing to test in an inconspicuous place. (You'd think they would know but, well... sometimes they haven't figured that out yet. Sad.)  If the person testing it comes back and offers to buy it, be very cautious. The 585 marking means the same as 14k. If it's actually 14k you'd want to get a price based on the bracelet's weight and the current price of 14k gold. They won't offer to buy it if it's not real gold. If they say it's 10k and therefore worth less, you'd probably want to check at another shop to be sure.

If a gold buyer offers to buy the bracelet, be aware that they are offering "melt" price (the lowest price), minus a percentage so they can turn a profit. If the bracelet is genuine gold you'd probably be able to ask more than melt price by listing it at a fair retail price, so you'll be the one making a profit -- you decide what your happy price is and go for it.

The wide range you've seen -- $38 to $1000 should tweak your spidey senses. Someone is mistaken.

I tend to believe that most people in this world are honest and trustworthy, but some aren't. There are items out there that are marked properly according to what they really are. Unfortunately, there are many items that are marked fraudulently. I've been burned by this -- I sold a bracelet here, and it was fully marked -- 18k and 750. The buyer tested it when it arrived and he was very angry when he found that it wasn't actually gold. I returned his money immediately but I'm lucky I didn't get in trouble with ebay.

When I find a marked gold item and subsequently discover that it's fake, I either throw it in the trash immediately or remove the markings so that no one will be fooled. That's my personal preference. If that's your situation you should do whatever satisfies you.

I truly hope you have a genuine 14k bracelet. I wish you the best of luck!

A.

[todaysfancy65]

A.,

thanks so much for all this info!  I did weight it and it’s 45 grams just to see-curiosity and do know a reputable gold/silver place nearby. I haven’t gone in yet but have heard from several people I trust. 
I’ve see times where the same item is listed for such variety of prices and I know some are scams. But I’ve seen things people list that don’t actually know what they have and price then cheap to move it. I completely understand that but I don’t want to lowball it too much 😉 

I will remember that about the testing! Thanks! I found a Cartier Love bracelet I took in to a jeweler to get tested and you’d think they would know how/where to test it but now I have two marks on the edge of the bracelet!  maybe I need to get one of those test kits to do it myself.🤷‍♀️ 
I was just really excited when I cleaned this up and saw the 14K! I showed it to a friend before that and right away she said -looks like brass, old, but brass. 
thanks so very much! I’m learning so much from these threads!  I’ll let you know what happens at the good place

[1940fc]

Fingers crossed it turns out to be the real deal for ya. 

I had one  very similar before..turned out to be fake from Mexico.  Twas a very good fake too! 

[todaysfancy65]

Sarah, 

Thanks! My fingers are crossed!  How were you able to determine yours was a fake from Mexico?  Any telltale signs I can look for?  The clasp is a double locking (one on each side) slide clasp with 14K on the flat part that slides in.  I hope that makes sense.  

[1940fc]

I took to local jewelry & he tested it for me.  That`s the first I`d even heard of the well marked fakes coming from Mexico.

Fingers crossed for ya..be sure & let us know!

[todaysfancy65]

Thanks Sarah!  I'll try to take it today to get tested.  I'm kinda anxious to see what it is!

[thirry]

If that bracelet was genuine silver or gold, I suggest that you take it back to where you had it tested and at least try to buff out as much of the damage as possible. If it's base metal or plated buffing might make things worse. There's no excuse. Turkeys!!

 I'm looking forward to hearing what you find out 

A.