How to tell an real cronch shell cameo from a "fake" cameo

For the longest time, it was so hard for me to tell the difference between a real shell cameo vs a plastic cameo. Obviously, the cheap ones you get from Forever21 and Hot Topic looks super fake right off the bat, but surprising, there's a number of EXCELLENT plastic cameos that looked good to me. Check out our Facebook, Google+, and our Website for authentic shell/stone cameos!

As mentioned in my last blog, there is no such thing as a "fake" cameo. All cameos are real. However, the material used to carve the cameo is what determine the value of the piece. Cameos can be made from all sorts of materials like sea shell, precious stones, glass, bones, ivory, porcelain, and lava. 

To know how to distinguish a real conch shell cameo, it's important to know how they are made.

The majority of quality cameos are made with Queen Conch Sea Shells where the cameo artist hand carve each image onto the surface of the shell. First the artist cut a shape out of the shell that will act as a canvas for the image. 

Then the artist polishes and secures the shell onto a wooden stick and carefully carve away the layers of the shell to create the beautiful images you see. 

Since the shell is not very thick to begin with, it's super easy to chip and crack the shell while the artist carve. It's really sad to see how fine cameo carving is becoming a lost art as the younger generation don't have the patience to learn such fine craftsmanship, nor the willingness to create something that would take days/weeks to create and get little in return for them. 

The majority of the conch shell comes in a reddish, orangish color. Which is why most of the authentic conch shell cameo comes in a orange background with a white profile. 

                                               Genuine conch cameo available HERE 

 So here's my breakdown on how to find a real conch shell cameo: 
1) Look at the color. Does it have the standard color of a conch shell? If yes, cool! Move on to step 2! 

2) Flip the cameo to its back. A real conch shell cameo will always have a concave curved back. If it don't make sense, take a look at my 1st picture on top. The shell comes in a curved shape naturally, so any conch shell cameo will be curved. 

3) Look out for carve marks on the cameo's back side. At times, artist leave their signatures behind the cameo like a painter does with his paintings. So if you see some squiggles on the back that look like someone vandalized/scratched it, then YAY! You found a really special cameo! *signed cameos worth more in value, by the way* 

4) Flip it to the front again, look at the cameo from the side, see if it has a curve to it as well. (Make sure it has a convex curve). 

5) Now this step might be sensitive depending on your situation. If allowed, gently touch the cameo with the side of your face. Real shell cameos are very cool to the touch in compared to its plastic counterparts. Especially during summer months, a plastic cameo will cook with the heat, so when you touch it, it's very warm. But the shell cameo will always feel cool/cooler. Some people use their wrists, hands, arms, but for me, it's must easier for me to tell temperature differences with my face. 

6) If you have a loupe (aka jeweler's eye magnifying glass), inspect the carving of the cameo carefully. With an authentic shell cameo, there's always going to be carve marks. With profile cameos particularly, you'll see them around the neck area. 

If you are STILL unsure. At this point, please take the piece to a jewelry specialist. They can give you better insights. There is 1 more test you can do, but depending on the material of the cameo, it might hurt it. 

7) Heat up the tip of the needle with fire and gently pin an area of the cameo that's not very obvious. A plastic cameo will melt/crack immediately and you'll see a little hole on the cameo. But a real conch shell, bone, or ivory cameos will be harmless.

Well, that's it on what I know so far with conch shell cameos! I'm sure a lot of you will have your own method of testing real shell cameos, so don't be shy! Leave a comment below! 

Visit, like and share our website Solomon's Treasures, Facebook and Google+ regularly to see what awesome pieces we are putting up for sale! 

Ciao~ 
Angela

First 2 pictures are sourced from: http://www.designerjewelrybyronaldo.com/cameo.html

 

What is a cameo?

To me, cameos always symbolized class, wealth, elegance and taste. As a child, I knew the difference between a “real” cameo vs a “fake” cameo. The prior one always with carved from a shell that has a white face and red/orange background, where as the latter one, made from plastic and can include all sorts of colors.

But it wasn’t until recently that I found out, there is no such thing as a “fake” cameo. A piece of jewelry can contain a cameo as long as it features a raised image (whether a lady’s profile, a scenery, an animal, etc) that has a striking color contrast with the image’s background. So as long as it has a raised image, a cheap piece plastic costume jewelry from Hot Topic and Forever21 can be a real cameo.  

(an example of a plastic costume cameo)

What about the ones you see for sale in fine jewelry for hundreds and thousands of dollars?  What kind of cameos are they? Well, most of the “real” cameos that fine jewelry collectors collect are made with several materials:

   1 Queen Conch Shell: the most popular material used starting in the mid 18^th century.  Conch shell cameos started in Italy where cameo artists would carve popular Greek/Roman gods and goddesses. Eventually, toward the late 19^th century, personal customized shell cameos of individuals became popular amongst the upper and middle class. 

 (an example of conch shell cameo, for sale @ Solomon's Treasures)

2    Semi-precious gemstones particularly with onyx and agate: the art of cameo actually can be dated back to 3^rd century B.C.  Where the cameo artists would carve important figures for the upper class. Often times, these figures can be the royalties, generals, religious figures, and at times, husband and wife double profiles. Each stone cameo is carved with one stone. The contrast in colors is formed by the natural layer of the stone it self. In fine jewelry collection, agate and onyx cameos cost higher than conch shell cameos.

 

 (an example of agate stone cameo, for sale at Solomon’s Treasures)

3  Glass cameos: glass cameos go back to the Roman Empire era in 30BC. This type of cameo is extremely rare and each item can be stunning.  The artist fuses different layers of glass and then skillfully etches different designs on them to form beautiful items such as vases, boxes, and even jewelry.

                                     (The Portland Vase, glass cameo, 5-25A.D)

To me, I find it fascinating that each profile on a cameo is so unique! I was told that starting in the Victorian period (1837A.D), people would have their face carved onto a shell or gemstone just like the way we take modern photographs. Each cameo captures a unique part of history. They give us a glimpse to the lifestyle of people from long ago, their emotions and thoughts. They give you a tangible item that lets you see what type of clothes they wear, what kind of hairstyle they used and what kind of emotions they were experiencing when they were sitting in front of a cameo artist to have their portrait immortalized.

I’m not an expert on cameos and I’m also learning about these beautiful things as I come across them through Solomon’sTreasures. I want to share what I am learning with everyone so you can share my joy and passion for antique jewelries. Beautiful jewelries are timeless, you certainly don’t have to be an old lady or a grandpa to appreciate them! 

Stay tuned for new blogs! I think I'll post the next article on how to differentiate shell/stone cameo from plastic cameo if any of you are interested! Please visit, like, and share our website, Facebook and Google+. Feel free to leave us comments below, I would love to see/share insights with all of you! 

Ciao~
Angela