Pearls! Sterling! Gold! Week of Garage Sale and Thrift Plunder! #thrift #gold #pearl

Got some cool stuff at the garage sales and thrift stores this week. I'm not sure what it all is, but we got some nice pearls, some nice gold, some nice silver, and some oddities that are worth a gander. If you need to see markings, try out this cheap loupe like I show in the video. Works fine (generally, quality control isn't great), but at $7USD it can't be beat: https://amzn.to/4fWPjIy We often employ a cheap magnet of a type you can find here if you need one: https://amzn.to/4hf65nd ($7USD at the time I am uploading this video) The gold test kit I use is this one if you would like to get your own: https://amzn.to/4kugYnt #thrift #gold #jewellery In this video, the creator, Crow-Dragon-Pirate, shares his recent finds from garage sales and thrift stores, focusing on identifying precious metals and interesting oddities (0:04). He demonstrates how to differentiate between silver plate and sterling silver (0:41), providing examples of tarnishing and corrosion on plated items versus solid sterling (1:12-2:00). Key highlights and finds include: Silver Plate vs. Sterling: The creator discusses a silver-plated item (0:41) that he initially grabbed out of curiosity due to its unique maker (2:20). He then contrasts it with a sterling silver piece he found previously (1:24). Unmarked Silver Speculation: He purchased a bell for $6 that he suspects is silver due to its look and tarnish, despite lacking clear markings (2:45). He weighs it, noting its potential value if it is indeed silver (3:13). Unexpected Silver Additions: The creator finds a sterling silver backing attached to a plastic and aluminum-looking pin, highlighting the importance of checking all components (3:41). He also finds a small sterling spoon in a bag of silver plate (5:05). Fake Silver Identification: He identifies a piece marked "925" as a fake due to copper showing through and verdigris (5:47). He mentions his plan to create a future video dedicated to identifying fake jewelry (6:21). Gold Finds: He uncovers several small pieces of 14-karat gold, including a tiny charm (9:11) and earring backs (32:01), emphasizing how quickly the value of small gold pieces adds up (10:29). Pearl Assessment: He examines a strand of pearls, concluding they are likely glass due to a peeling surface, despite their cold feel and sound (12:16). Testing and Verification: The video concludes with the creator setting up to test various items for silver and gold, including the bell, which shows signs of being low-purity solid silver rather than plate (33:12). The creator also mentions his enjoyment of the jewelry community on his channel and how it has encouraged him to explore more such items (14:30).