Buying Tips

CHOOSING THE RIGHT OPAL   When you are choosing your Opal it is VITAL that you know how the Opal will be worn, as some Opal will look brighter when viewed vertically whereas others will show more colour when viewed horizontally. This section sets out the factors used in determining value. There is no governing body which has set the prices for Opal. Opal prices are a result of what the international market is prepared to pay in order to obtain the gem. As with any other commodity, Opal is subject to the laws of supply and demand. The supply...

FAQ How is opal valued? What makes a good opal? What are the different patterns in opal? What faults can opal have that detract from its value? What is the play-of-colour? What should I look for in a good opal? How are opals valued? Why are some opals more expensive than others? The value of an opal depends on many factors. The type of opal, body tone, brilliance, pattern, colour bar thickness, the play of colour, and faults all play important roles in determining the value. Other important factors include the quality of the cut & polish and the size of...

Here Are Some Tricks and Tips, on Collecting That I've Learned Along the Way.   If you are new to collecting antiques and have had the misfortune to have already purchased a "fake" or reproduction that you were led to believe was the "real thing", don't despair. Even the most experienced dealers have, at one time or another, been taken in by good fakes... you're in good company! Train your eye to look for quality. Quality and craftsmanship are the main reasons that Carnival glass values will never equal or exceed that which it tried to copy...Tiffany's Favrile glass! The...

When Looking at Ceramics, the First Thing to do is Determine if the Item is Pottery or Porcelain.   The easiest way to tell pottery from porcelain is to hold the object up to a strong light source (i.e. 100-watt light bulb), if you see "light" coming through the object then it is made of porcelain if not, it is made of some type of pottery. There are two basic types of porcelain, soft-paste, and hard-paste. Soft-paste porcelain is oftentimes somewhat "malformed" or misshapen and with the paste having imperfections (i.e. tiny black specks). When held up to the light...

Clear Glass Prior to the 18th century, is Usually Discoloured Due to Manufacturing Difficulties During the Early Years of Glass Making.    To help Authenticate Clear Antique Glass, try using a small Piece of Modern Glass as a "Control" for Comparison.   Under Ultraviolet Light, the Old Lead Glass will Appear Blue-Purple, Newer Soda Glass will Emit Green-Yellow Light.    The pontil mark on glass can help reveal its age, glass made during the 18thc will have a pontil mark as at that time, there was no known way to remove it, grinding techniques developed in England and Ireland in...