Identifying & Valuing Your Sterling Silver & Gold-Plated Eye Brooch

Question
Hi, I saw the question on the Internet on an eye broach. I have an eye broach that is sterling silver and gold plated. It looks like a big eye with lashes and the center is filled with diamond looking stones, then light blue then a cent piece in some type of dark blue stone.  It has markings in the center but with a jewelers eyeglass it is difficult to see.  Do you know anything about a this piece.

Answer
Hello Cheryl and thank you for your inquiry. " Eye" jewelry was popular during the late 18th and 19th century and was usually incorporated into mourning or love token jewelry. Some pieces were handpainted on porcelain, others more elaborate. More recent eye jewelry was done in bright enamels with added accents and stones. It would be difficult to assess a particular piece without a picture or hands-on examination so I suggest you have your brooch appraised by an estate jewelry appraiser, especially if you think it is gold or has precious stones. Your local library, jeweler or museum can probably direct you to someone who specializes in jewelry. Eye jewelry is very collectible and a valuation may be in order.  Hope this helps !

Sally
jarrettsjade.com