STERLING SILVER TESTING Vintage Jewelry HOW TO 101 Thrift Store & Yard Sale FINDS

[@EFaulkner17]

Thanks for showcasing the metal testing processes - Even a trained eye needs to do their due diligence. 🌞

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Agreed. Thanks for watching!!!

[@vruth23]

the big square ring is probably 800 silver with a gold wash that faded off. It does look like an old world middle eastern piece. The stones are mostly sapphires. That is the real value of that ring!!!

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

It may be 800 silver… I will check for that. Thanks so much for the input. Cheers!

[@fabulousfinds1045]

EXCELLENT info! Finally someone does it 100% easy to understand 😊

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Glad you think so! Thanks a million. Cheers!

[@tinktink7736]

Loved the video, surprising results on that big ring... which is amazing!

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I know! It was unexpected! Thanks for watching Tink!

[@Rachelakalilyworks]

Omg! The square ring with pinks and purples! ❤❤❤

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

It's a good one! Thanks so much for watching. Cheers.

[@rosariolanteri3608]

Hi Sandra. Very pretty ring. It looks like sterling silver but It may be alpaca. Anyway those are semiprecious stones which are used in gold but also in silver or alpaca.

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Thanks for that, it does look like alpaca... Cheers!

[@anadelgado8661]

Hello, learned a few things with your video. Thank you so much for sharing your finds 💞🙏🏽

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Thanks for watching!

[@vruth23]

That ring is AMAZING, and probably really old!

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Right? I love it. ❤️ thank you.

[@maritzagonzalez8382]

Thanks you’re amazing, the way you share your acknowledgment. Thanks ❤

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I appreciate that! Thank you. xo

[@lisacrandall409]

Great video Sandra! It made me realise that some of the 'uncertain' results I get with the 18k acid is due to not scratching enough metal onto the stone. I always do both tests (18k and silver acids) on each end of a longer scratch, just so I can feel confident in the result.

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I'm glad I'm not the only one with unclear results that need to be rechecked sometimes. I also think my stone is getting old and I can't get off some of the old remnants of acid and stuff... Might be messing with the readings somewhat. Thank you and happy jewelry buying!!

[@kathyschoonveld9173]

This was so helpful. Thank you!

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for coming.

[@lindacook9300]

Fun stuff and loving the gold ring.

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Thanks so much!!

[@landonducharme7657]

Hi! I love the blue heart and bow necklace,beautiful!

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I love it too! xo

[@landonducharme7657]

Hi! I forgot to thank you for the very informative video! Was great to learn from one of the best, on line! Actually you are the best to me! I was also quessing as well to see if i was right! Maybe do a gold testing in the future but,im sure you already thought of that! Take care kiddo and a hug for your mom!

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

@@landonducharme7657 THANKS!!!

[@RoamingTime]

Thank you for showing the silver method I couldn't figure it out when I used it so I just gave up and used the gold, but I have extra silver acid left.

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

The silver solution may turn different shade of red depending on the purity of the silver. Your kit may have come with a key, or maybe you can find one online. THANKS for watching!!

[@andreaedwards1968]

I never knew that you could use the 18k acid to test for sterling silver. I thought it was only for gold. Thanks for sharing that. Great video too BTW. 👍🏼

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I hope it's helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@jewelrescue]

Thanks for sharing your method and that ring is awesome!! I’m about to buy acids for my ever growing pile of things I’m not quite sure about 🙈

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Go for it! Thanks for watching!

[@samanthasimental3788]

How do you test for platinum? Is there a possibility that big ring is platinum? Thanks for sharing

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I have acid for platinum, but that ring doesn’t look like any platinum I’ve ever seen. I will check though… thanks for the thought! Hugs.

[@katrienblomme4828]

Nice video again!! The expensive bracelets that your mum bought and are marked ; could they possibly be rhodium plated sterling? I never tested a rhodium plating so I don t know how that reacts but there might be silver underneath. See you in the next video

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Possibly…. Good point! Thanks for your input. Cheers

[@landonducharme7657]

Hi! I dont think you have enough jewelry to test! Lol. Whats that dagger thing ? First piece?

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I actually tested every single bit of it after I turned off the camera! The first piece is a sterling silver nail file… just used as an example…

[@laurarose6829]

What are the other stones on the amber piece? Is it still available? I checked your eBay and didn’t see it

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Hi Laura, that big one that's one the right side of the picture? Please email me at iamthefunkypickle at gmail, okay? Thanks for watching!

[@ccya157]

😊🥰

[@podrosie5059]

I've been doing a lot of testing with items marked 925 and they are not. I wish they weren't allowed to import jewelry that is marked that is not 925 or 14K for that matter. I got a pair of 14K earrings from Thailand yesterday that are not 14K. Glad I didn't pay much for them at a yard sale. Thanks for the video!

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Sorry to hear that. I think there are strict rules about marking pieces incorrectly to deceive consumers, but they are hard to catch. Ugh. THANKS for watching.

[@rosavidaurri1757]

Did you sale butterfly pendant

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I don't think so. Reach out to me at iamthefunkypickle @ gmail.com !

[@strawberryseeds]

What it there’s black mixed in with red while I swipe off the silver testing acid??

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I’m wondering if it’s dirt? Maybe try wiping the piece with a slightly damp cloth and try it again. Thanks for watching!

[@strawberryseeds]

@@TheFunkyPickleThrifter definitely could be thank you for the advice 🥰

[@lisacrandall409]

Maliza I have also found that after a little while, the yellow silver testing acid turns grey on the cotton swab, so maybe that is what you are seeing? The red part stays red however.

[@strawberryseeds]

@@lisacrandall409 not sure. Just thought that if there was a bit of black with the red it meant it wasn’t real but I did the 18k acid test on the silver and it all turned blue.

[@addicted367]

Do you ever purchase jewelry from whatnot?

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I have not, do you recommend it? Thanks for watching.

[@diannacashion2047]

I own a necklace that looks like that ring with the real stones….but it’s not silver or gold….I don’t own a gem tester, but I suspected the stones are real in my necklace. Very interesting…….

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Wow that's very cool!!!! Thanks for watching!!! xoxoxo

[@jjdjj5392]

I tried testing a gold piece...i did 22k acid, 18k acid, 14k acid and 10k acid. It was not 22k, but all the others were positive. So which carat would it be? 18?, 14? or 10k?

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

The carat is as high as the highest acid it can withstand. So your piece would be 18k. I hope that makes sense! Thanks for watching!

[@katarinapeteraj6484]

Hello, some old pieces are only 6 k gold, could be the case.😃

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Interesting. I may have had that before? It was a Russian brooch…. That a good thought! Thanks for your input!

[@landonducharme7657]

Are you playing that piano music?

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I am not. Thanks for watching!!!

[@jjdjj5392]

What would rose gold test at?

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

I don’t know. I would assume it would test like any other gold. It is rose because another metal (usually) copper was added to it. Thanks for watching!

[@veroniquehourany7660]

Your nine srones ring might come from india , they would use real stones , semiprecious unusual kinds.

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

That is good to know. Thanks for that. Cheers.

[@CoffeeOwlll]

A lot of pieces made in 3rd world countries, are made with metals and synthetic corundum that are made to look “antique”. Also, I’m not sure if you are aware, but the tester you are using doesn't make the distinction between natural or lab-grown stones. I have a jeweler test the stones if you’re looking for a definitive answer.

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Hi Voice, it is certainly possible that is a Kuchi ring and one I hadn't considered. About the tester not being able to distinguish, that I DO know. I have a few things to bring to the jeweler, and that's one of them. I will do an update "saw the jeweler" type video after I get it checked. Thanks for your input and thanks for watching. Have a good one!

[@lindaclancy981]

🦋Hello to you and your 🌹Mother. I am wondering how can I tell if amber is real or not? ¿ When you have some free time, maybe you could get back to me with some of your expert information & advice, I would definitely appreciate you doing that for me.....⚘️Thank you in Advance .....Linda Clancy

[@TheFunkyPickleThrifter]

Hey Linda! I check with a small black light flashlight from Amazon - I think they are less than $10. If it fluoresces, it is likely real. Cheers!!!