Very often it’s in the very fine details where you discover whether or not your find is an antique treasure or a modern reproduction. Hallmarks and makers marks are often worn or quite small on fine, delicate pieces of silver, pottery or jewelry. This is when a good magnifying glass or, most often even better, a quality jeweler’s loupe …

Gold, silver and other precious metals are measured in troy ounces, not the standard, or avoirdupois ounce.

You’ve started to collect Georgian sterling silver pieces and you read that an auction was coming up and that they had some antique sterling silver items from the late 1700’s that were made by Ann and Peter Bateman. You’re interested.

People bring in the strangest of things to a pawnshop and, frequently, the operators don’t know the antique value of the piece.

… almost always, the person has a passion for antiques and they love to talk about their passion

But where to go to find that unique special antique treasure that you’re on the trail to find?