About Me

 Hi, I’m Elena Vance.

"Dedicated to the preservation of craftsmanship in a digital world." 

If you are looking for a textbook definition of refractive indexes or molecular density, you are on the wrong site. There are plenty of laboratory websites for that.

But if you are standing at a flea market stall at 6:00 AM, holding a dirty grey brooch under a flashlight, trying to decide if it’s Georgian Cut Steel or cheap 1980s costume jewelry—then you are exactly where you belong.

My Story I started collecting vintage jewelry over a decade ago. In the beginning, I made expensive mistakes. I bought "Bakelite" that turned out to be modern plastic. I paid for "Gold" that was just heavy plating. I trusted sellers who didn't know what they were selling.

I realized that most guides on the internet were written for people with laboratories, not for people with a loupe and a magnet in their pocket.

What This Site Is About I built this site to be the resource I wish I had when I started. My goal is to bridge the gap between "academic theory" and "street reality."

Here, we focus on Visual Forensics and Non-Destructive Testing:

• The "Look": How to spot the difference between a rivet and a glue mark.
• The "Feel": Why cold stone feels different than warm plastic.
• The "Details": High-definition macro photography of hallmarks, stamps, and the "imperfections" that prove authenticity.

A Note on "Expertise" I am a passionate collector and researcher, not a certified appraiser. The tips on this site come from years of buying, testing, testing again, and restoring pieces at my own workbench. My guides are meant to help you make informed decisions, but for high-value appraisals, I always recommend consulting a certified professional.

Welcome to the hunt.