G'day, my name is David Foard F.G.A.A. and as your resident Gemologist and Jewelry Appraiser I would like to welcome you to the 'Ask Our Experts' page at the Insiders Guide.
I would also like to briefly introduce you to a few members of the faculty, so you can judge if there is someone here who can help you, because that's what this site is all about.
Between us we have over 100 years of experience in all aspects of the Jewelry and Gemstone sections of the Industry. Retail and Wholesale, Manufacturing and as Specialty Dealers. If we don't know the answers to your queries - we should at least know where to help you find it. You can contact me on the 'Ask The Gemologist' page.
This is a FREE Service to Members of the Insiders Guide.
I am proud to be associated with such a fine crew.
But the truth is we can't cover everything - so if you have a skill or passion for a section within the Jewelry and Gemstone Arena - then please introduce yourselves in the Members forum or send me an email with details of your experience.
You might become 'Almost Famous' as there is no financial reward, just the satisfaction of giving something back and helping those new to the industry, or collectors just starting out on their journey of discovery.
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The first person I would like to introduce is Manufacturing Jeweler - Christian David.
After seven years running his highly successful retail store, creating custom hand-made jewelry, he knows better than most just what goes into a design and completion of quality items in Gold, Silver and Platinum.
But he also understands the repair and restoration of Antique and Vintage jewelry too.
Members will find a Category Section within the Insider's Guide devoted to Repair, Restoration and Manufacture, and you can usually catch Christian on the Member's Forum. His advice has personally saved me hundreds - if not thousands of dollars over the past decade or so.
Members can reach Christian on his 'Ask The Jeweler' page.
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The next person I am very pleased to have on board is Ann Dennis who has owned and run her Antique Jewelry Business on Two Continents.
Her 30 year experience living and working around the auctions and Markets in Wales and England, will be invaluable those collectors and dealers who often just need a little nudge in the right direction when it comes to Antique and Vintage Jewelry.
Now, after selling her British Home and emigrating to Australia, she has continued her fascination in the pursuit of Period Jewelry to the point of being obsessive. You should see her collection of 20th Century Brooches!
To reach Ann, Members can use her 'Ask The Dealer' page.
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For those of you who have a web-presence, no matter how small, then our next expert will be of great help to you.
While Dan Lucas has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with Jewelry of Gemstones, it's his web site building and general internet experience which should get you off your butt and into improving your site.
Simple things like 'How to set up a Blog' to 'Changing the Templates' or 'Uploading images and sound files' to your eBay Store or website is sometimes lost to we mere mortals.
Thanks to Dan at 'Taffysites' who has created over 2000 websites and 40 WordPress blogs over the past 10 years or so, we currently rank on the first page of Google for many search terms, and his PPC experience can help you to.
Getting your 'Complimentary' text files downloaded and reformatted into your websites or ezines is just one area he can help you with, because he is the WebMaster for all our sites and is responsible for the Uploads and Downloads of Articles and eBooks and images we currently have on all our other sites.
You can usually get hold of him Lurking around the Forums, but if you have a specific question, please contact him through his 'Ask The Geek' page, which he assures me will be somewhere on this site.
He also wanted to mention that his image is a very good likeness 
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Finally; if you have any General Appraisal questions, you can reach me on my 'Ask The Appraiser' page
In the meantime - take care and watch the road.
Kind regards. David Foard F.G.A.A.
P.S. If you know someone else who might benefit from this special service, send them a short email with this address: http://www.online-jewelry-appraisals.com/ask-our-experts/ so they can jump on over and take a look for themselves.
Please Note: Any question which is suitable, may be published here on our website for the benefit of all. By sending a question, it is implied that you accept that. There will be no information passed (other than a first name) which could identify any individuals privacy - 'No Publicity Please' shall be the order of the day 
Thank you once again - and please watch the road. David.
Hi,
I have a ring which is gold in colour, and is hallmarked, BUT… i can’t recognise the hallmarks, ( they aren’t UK hallmarks, could they be foriegn??)
they are as follows: a crown, C.18, and a sign that looks a bit like a euro sign with a line through it!
Thanks,
Toby.
hi. i have dug up an old ring. it has the words mohan written 3 times on the inside and has markings all around the outside. seems to be old and copper coloured.i gather it is indian? has the ring got any value? regards mike king
what does it mean when a bolova watch made in japan says 18K golo and is there a such thing as cheap gold when buying gold jewerly some one said the the neckless that looked gold but it wasnt it was tested but they had the come back that it didnt pass the gold acid test at the pawn shop wasnt accurate because it was cheap gold but its gold and the pawn shop was the quickest way to see if items were gold easy and fast and they said it wasnt
Hi, I reccently purchased a ring& earing set. It looks to be of Scandanavian design with markings8.75/650 or 8.73/650 any idea what this means? no other visable markings
Hi there, great website! I hope you can help, I purchased a ring in Macau earlier this year & although I was assured it was Platinum (it feels the right weight) I wonder if you could confirm? The markings on the ring read “CTF Pt950″
I appreciate your input!
I inherited a ring from my grandmother in 1998. She inherited it from her grandmother. The story is that my great great grandfather made it for his wife when he married her. My grandmother brought it to this country from Germany around 1955.
It is 3 1/2 karats of diamonds, 35 total. The number stamped on the inside are 433 and 200. I have been told the metal is platinum, and also I’ve been told it is white gold. Our ancestors were clockmakers and worked in the castle towers, so it would be fitting that someone could also produce a beautiful ring.
My reasoning is I would like to know if there is a demand for such a thing. My son has just been diagnosed as Mentally Retarded and Autistic and we could really use a little money to get some help for him.
Hi
I recently purchaised a Cameo ring and wanted to know some more about it, year and price.
iIt is gold the shell is orange and the cameo cream, a portrait of a woman
inside there are several marks: SJ, a crown, 375, a shield and an R
Can you give me information about the meanning of the marks, the age of the ring and the aproximate cost?
Do you think it’s a genuine antique piece?
Hi there!
I have this gold necklace and i want it to know what does this marking means 1/20 12K GF ? Is it possible to trace the value of this gold necklace? Also the quality of these gold necklace and what kind of GOLD?
Thanks!!!
Hello Christian and many thanks for your query.
But the news is not good. This item is stamped with the 12 Karat GF mark which means it is ‘GOLD FILLED’ or Gold Plated. The 1/20 indicates the thickness of the plating which is also (while being a standard) not very good in quality.
So it is NOT Gold at all – merely Plated in Gold over another base metal like copper or silver.
Dave
Hello,
I have a ring from my grandmother who died in 1974 (born before 1910) and not quite sure what the band markings mean. There is an “A” with a “star symbol” next to it. Both images are stamped in a small box inside the band. The band has a copperish look to it, however, there is no sign of being tarnished so I imagine the band is made of something else.
The stone settings are two sets of three opals of equal size with 4 smaller stones which possible are pearl in between.
The only other back ground which could be useful was that my Grandmother’s family were German immigrants (pennslyvania Dutch) and my grandfather is of Scottish back ground.
Hello, I have a ring that is around 200 years old, it’s silver and it have engraved statue of goddess Justitia (Rome Goddess of justice). it look like it can also be used as a patent. I would like to know what could be the value of it? If you need a photo of it I can send it to you.
Sorry my english.
Thanks in advance.
Regards.
Hi,
I have a bracelet with markings I would like the meaning of, if possible. It has a padlock clasp that is 9kt. The marks from left to right are what looks like a rabbit in a square, a v in a square and the eiffel tower in a square…unless I’m imagining it.
Any enlightenment would be appreciated.
Thanks,