The Jewelry Detective
Learn the secrets hiding in your jewelry box and how to spot a hidden treasure.About this experience
The Jewelry Detective
Learn the secrets hiding in your jewelry box and how to spot a hidden treasure.
Have you ever wondered... Is it real gold? What does that tiny stamp actually mean? Is that stone genuine or just a really good fake? And how do you know whether that intriguing piece at an estate sale is worth a second look?
Join us for a fun, hands-on introduction to understanding and evaluating jewelry. You’ll learn how to look for the clues that can tell you more about a piece from hallmarks and metal markings to stones, settings, construction and other telltale signs.
We’ll also talk about shopping for jewelry at estate sales, antique stores and secondhand shops, what to look for, what questions to ask, which markings deserve a closer look, and how to quickly evaluate a piece before deciding whether it might be a treasure worth taking home.
Along the way, you’ll learn how to tell real from faux, understand common gold and silver markings, use simple jewelry-testing tools, safely clean and care for different types of jewelry, and recognize when a piece needs the attention of a professional jeweler or appraiser.
Bonus: Bring 2–3 mystery pieces from your own jewelry box and put your new detective skills to work. We’ll spend part of the class examining pieces together and seeing what clues we can uncover.
No jewelry experience required, just curiosity, a few treasures you’ve always wondered about, and maybe a new appreciation for digging through that jewelry tray at your next estate sale.
You’ll learn:
- How to decode common jewelry stamps and hallmarks
- Solid gold vs. gold-filled vs. gold-plated
- How to recognize sterling silver and other common metals
- Clues that help distinguish genuine stones from imitations
- What to look for when buying jewelry at estate sales and secondhand shops
- How to spot pieces that deserve a closer look
- How basic jewelry-testing tools work
- How to safely clean and care for different jewelry
- When it’s time to consult a professional
Come curious. Bring a little mystery. Leave a Jewelry Detective.
Your Host
Meet Your Jewelry Detective: Margaret Scott
Margaret Scott is a lifelong jewelry collector, estate sale expert, and experienced treasure hunter with more than 40 years of hands-on experience evaluating and collecting fine and vintage jewelry.
Her expertise is so well known among local estate sale companies that Margaret is often the person they call when they need help evaluating the jewelry they’re preparing to sell. She knows how to look beyond the sparkle and examine the clues that can reveal much more about a piece - from hallmarks and metal content to stones, settings, craftsmanship and condition.
Margaret also knows the thrill of spotting something special that others might overlook. In The Jewelry Detective, she’ll share the practical tips, tools and knowledge she’s gathered over four decades of collecting and evaluating jewelry—so you can feel more confident understanding the pieces you own and knowing what to look for at your next estate sale.
Come ready to learn from someone who knows how to find the treasures hiding in plain sight.