Anyone have any thoughts on this beauty? How can you tell if the stones are real. Full size as compared to an issue set that's full size. Would these had been worn on liberty or a sweetheart pin? Very well made and look sterling. Thanks

Hi Ken, Those look to me to be strictly sweetheart jewelry. I would also guess that those "stones" are not real. In vintage WWII-era jewelry, fake gems that mimic real stones are typically called paste, rhinestones, or imitation/costume stones. These are usually made from finely pulverized lead glass or high-quality faceted crystal, and were frequently foil-backed to reflect light and imitate the rich sparkle of genuine gemstones.

We'll wait and see what others think.

Matt

You can try hitting the stones with a black light. While not all diamonds fluoresce, some will. If none of them do, doesn't mean they are not real, but gets you a little closer to your answer. If one does, theres a good chance. The other way, besides buying a diamond tester is look at the stones under a loupe. You're looking for inclusions of carbon inside the stone. Little black flecks. My thoughts would be they are not real as most diamond settings are not blocked by the metal. Mountings are typically open to allow light to pass through the stone.

Thanks stucky, very informative.

Hi: I have a sweetheart submarine pin just like it….I found it in an antique shop that was closing and the pin was laying out with other jewelry pieces. I recognized it right away…I think I paid $1.

Nice piece