Jewelry

[panz]

I don't know how to post a pic, but I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me based on a description!

I purchased a pair of earrings on the bay. I'm looking for a pair of sterling/18k to match a JR Two necklace. Although the seller listed them as 18k, I'm pretty sure that they are 14k (I acted too quickly and should have gone with my gut instinct).

They are sort of chubby hoops with the "click lock" closure that open with a hinge at the bottom of the hoop. They have a "braided", ribbed design...in the middle are 2 horizontal gold bars, with DMQ stones in the middle.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Do you remember if they are 18k or 14k? I have my suspicions because the same seller also has 2 of the giant heart enhancers (that was a TSV and came with a long, black cord and a removable bail) that she also claims are 18k, and I know that those were 14k (right?).

Any help would be greatly appreciated. If anyone wants to actually look at the listing, it's item 191160193908.

MAHALO!!!

[depglass]

They will be marked somewhere, either 18K or 14K. If not marked, they are neither. Get out a loupe or magnifying glass.

Edit: I looked and these incidental amounts of gold used for plating aren't marked. But you should find a 925 mark. So judge the earrings on appearance. You either like them or you don't.

[FranandZoe]

You could also take them to a place that buys gold - they can test them.

[River Song]

Panz, I took a look at the listing and I could swear I had a matching ring to those earrings at one time, lol. There is a pic of the hallmarks in the listing but it's blurry and I can't read what it says.

Regardless, I think you can relax because I just compared some RipkaQ yellow clad to a JR2 necklace I have and the color of the yellow gold matches. I'm pretty sure that Judith has stated on-air that they made an effort to match the QVC 14K gold clad color to the 18K gold color in her HE lines.

As an aside, I wish she would bring back those two-tone pieces to QVC.

[bocagirl]

I am pretty sure that all of her clad pieces on the Q, at least the earlier ones, are all 14k. And Susie is right. She has said many times that she worked to get the Q's clad to match green-gold look of her HE pieces.

[smarty]

Judith's items on the Q are usually 14k clad, although there are a very few of them that were done in 18k clad. Either way, you'd have to check the original item listing for that detail because they won't be stamped for the gold other than sterling. In my many years of buying JR from the Q I only recall one item actually being done in 14k...that was a pin with amethyst, smokey quartz and citrine. The citrine was bezel set in 14k.

[River Song]

Panz, I was just looking at the Judith Ripka 'As Is' two-tone earrings in Clearance and the item description does state that the gold-clad is 18K, so maybe the gold-clad on the earrings you purchased is 18K and not 14K. Very confusing.

[panz]

Thank you SO much everyone. I did check my 14k clad pieces and also saw that there's no hallmark (I guess the deal breaker is "clad", since my JR Two necklace does say 18k).

I can appreciate what everyone says about being close with matching, and I know that I'm being WAY too picky, but the color of the 18k is about a shade lighter (and more yellow) than on the 14k clad pieces IMO and it makes me crazy (in the same way that the JR Two Canary Crystal pieces just don't really match yellow DMQ).

The seller agreed to cancel the purchase so let the hunt begin again!

Mahalo once again for all your help!!! It's very much appreciated!

[panz]

On 5/7/2014 Sweet Susie said:

Panz, I was just looking at the Judith Ripka 'As Is' two-tone earrings in Clearance and the item description does state that the gold-clad is 18K, so maybe the gold-clad on the earrings you purchased is 18K and not 14K. Very confusing.

The funny thing is that I had those at one time and returned them because they didn't my my other 14k clad QVC pieces. Oh, the irony....but now I'm in love with the 18K/Diamond necklace and wear it all the time! (still wear all the 14k clad QVC pieces...just on different days ).

[luvsjewels9755]

Panz, I haven't checked out the auctions you are referring to, but I can tell you that the heart enhancer you referred to from QVC with the cord was also made for her JR2 line and there was a small size and a large size. That heart does have 18K gold and diamonds instead of diamonique. I have seen one of eBay that doesn't have the bale(?) and RueLaLa had that in JR2 with a fabric cord, but it was 18K w/diamonds. I returned it because I wanted one with the bale, which I have since purchased. It is really a pretty enhancer. I also have the Q version, but prefer the JR2.

Good luck in your purchases.