Wwii Soviet

Wwii Soviet

JEWELS OF THE SOVIET UNION

Dmitry Tamoikin

2009

JEWELS OF THE SOVIET UNION ©

Gold - or, more precisely, gold jewelry - made by the Soviet Union is one of the most promising, yet overlooked, seniority and markets collection today. For anyone who wants to make a highly profitable investment gain or a collection of great value, while the expenditure of an amount relatively little money, jewelry Soviet is a gold mine that should be explored.

Naturally, you ask - why? What is so special about jewelry made by a group of countries that have denounced the lavish lifestyle and rich gold is so perfectly? Well, for starters, it is this Paradoxically, this controversial ideological history, each unique piece of jewelry has Soviet - and no other element has or will ever have. I hope this awakened interest. Let's start from the beginning.

All Soviet jewelry, especially the fact gold has everything that collectors and investors desire and demand. First, it has an incredible and controversial story, known throughout the world. Secondly, provenance is clear. Third, is rare. Fourth, is made of valuable materials (gold, precious and semi-precious stones). Fifth, is a unique design. Sixth, the prices are relatively low, by day Today, with a reduction market quickly, which means higher prices tomorrow. Seventh, has an easy promotion, marketing and commercial terms (the Soviet Union has been a focus of Hollywood for decades). And finally, eighth, there is no downside or disadvantage at all. In Indeed, the Soviet jewelry is even more positive of these eight, but let's continue ...

It is well known that the art market has fought Soviet records for the past 16 consecutive years, with artwork sales of millions of dollars in prominent auction houses such as Sotheby's and Christie's. The less established, but the parallel market for Soviet jewelry has this potential and more, considering that in many ways, is the art itself - but done gold and precious stones!

A question arises: Why, with all this potential, taking the jewelry Soviet priced roughly the same as modern jewelry? Before giving the answer, let me mention that as a buyer I am in favor of the current situation. It allows collectors like me, to buy large number of items at very low prices, and I know for a fact that this will not continue for long. When prices jump - and inevitably - I will have more than enough to sit back, relax and let my assets grow. It's like investing in shares of a new Klondike gold mine lies just next to the White House. Okay, then why are prices so low and why no one has thought of this before? More importantly, what guarantees and there are signs that prices not only increase but increased dramatically?

The answers are found in countries of origin, all the former republics Soviet. Russia is currently in a phase of opening new markets, and a variety of products, including gold and especially jewelry, is widely available throughout the country. Largest manufacturers of jewelry, like Tiffany & Co., are now represented in Russia, and its sales exceed expectations. Moscow has become one of the world's most expensive cities in which to live. Average Russians have begun to emerge from poverty, and long after the middle class has begun to spend money. Quite naturally, do not think about investing in the elements known to have lived for so long - they're buying new, modern products that are considered to have style and class. Russia wants to show people want and can buy better European brands, and many are fully prepared to sell old jewelry that has been in the pipeline for decades, especially with gold prices rising week. In short, "Russia does not want old Soviet Union, wants new and preferably Armani.

A direct result of this mentality is that few people are looking for what is happening to jewelry that is still left - and people doing this have already begun to quietly collect whatever they can get their hands on. These people are not necessarily the Russians. With the help of these small items eBay travel rapidly around the world, mainly the United States.

However, for those of you who are familiar with the ancient market Russian, I'm not saying that is not moving. Far from it! The old market of Russia, despite strict government regulations and uncomfortable, has grown enormously in recent years. Rich Russians around the world are buying everything they can get. They are in London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong ... and rivals with collectors bidding on top of millions of dollars. But look what you buy: Their main focus is anything that was created during the tsarist period, or before 1917, while the second is the age for Europe. Soviet articles to arouse great interest, but only when much higher class.

This brief analysis of the Russian market is given to show the reader what a big mistake, even superior Russian collectors are doing, and is clearly seen in the chosen course by their counterparts, especially the European and American collectors who have far more experience in the market of old. I'm talking about the massive flow of products Soviets of all types of territories of the former Soviet Union countries like the U.S. (# 1 buyer), the entire European Union, China (Hong Kong) Japan, Australia, and many others. It seems, and I am also speaking from personal experience and outside of eBay that everyone wants and will buy anything Soviet. When I say everything I mean everything from the beginning of Soviet technology and memories very rare for a phone jack, average or bottle cap, matters considered and treated as garbage in the former USSR. In fact, much of this "junk" is destroyed in the former Soviet territories by average people who simply have no interest in, or knowledge of its value, the total could easily be equal to the GDP of a small country. And the Soviet gold does not get a better handling, as I will explain shortly.

Now, it is no secret that Russians today are buying higher market prices for Europeans and Americans what decade ago sold for less than a penny, because ten years ago, have considered junk ... and proved Faberge. Of course I'm simplifying the matter, but the trend is the same with elements of the Soviet era. Today nobody cares about them, tomorrow they all want. The best part for collectors is that these ten years are coming to an end, and the Russians not to react again. Well, if not take a bus which is required to take a taxi ... and the result is the same, but just pay more. I am writing this as a warning to collectors who want a nearly-empty, comfortable bus. It is the last of this cheap.

I have included Russia but what about members of the former Soviet Union? Well, the situation is the same or worse. Asian Countries exchanged, sold or melted much Soviet jewelry (gold) for quick profits and the European Union, new or future members of neglecting the Soviet regime, while his right mind (a profit!) is clouded by his personal and political opinions. In any case, former republics of the USSR, do not tend to value their assets historical at all, especially in Eastern Europe, where, for example, do not buy jewelry with ruby red because red is "naturally" associated with the regime Soviet. One can see the happy faces of European, American and Asian tourists, when they buy jewelry Soviet what little is left in pawn shops and jewelry at prices low. It is as if they are winning a million. This is because when they come home in Tokyo or Chicago, they really are.

There are more horror stories of what was and is still done with the Soviet gold, and why there is so little of it left after 80 years of massive emigration of Soviet jewelry. This is what happened. After 80 years of total isolation, Mr. Gorbachev Communist Union collapsed and more than 400 million former Soviet citizens were suddenly free to travel, buy, sell, trade or do whatever came into their minds. Most preferred world dollars rubles, dollars, but were very scarce in the USSR, so that these millions of people flocked to commodities the only one that was accepted by the rest of the world - gold.

Hundreds of tons of Soviet gold in the form of jewelry left the former USSR, go mainly to three countries: Turkey, Poland and China. These were centers of trade in the top of anything and all, when "New Russians", as people of the former USSR is called there, they changed their holdings of gold for cheap clothes and other goods they could sell to return home relatively good earnings. As it happened, Turkey, Poland, China and other countries that received this huge influx of Soviet gold were not enthusiastic collectors, which means that all this gold is melted into bars and reuse - that is still happening today. This is clearly seen in the market for gold jewelry today. Jewelers know that while Turkey, for example, buying modern Russian gold, gold reserves of most Turks are privately owned articles of gold and gold if you can give to this element of nationality, is Soviet.

Gemstone USSR deserve their own separate article, but I'll try to cover some of the key points that collectors and investors should know.

The word on the street is that nearly all Soviet Jewelry has lab-grown stones, and this is true. In late 1950 the USSR began using lab-grown stones instead of gemstone jewelry. However, while the phrase "cultivated in the laboratory, "tends to believe that the stones are almost nothing or more stained glass, these stones are really valuable. Again, this is an incredible opportunity USSR to buy jewelry with stones as more than acceptable prices. Naturally, you ask again - why? Why are lab-grown stones be of any concern to me? Well, if we are talking about modern media or laboratory grown vintage jewelry so I totally agree that yes, the value of these stones is modest. However, a laboratory-grown gem made in the USSR, the picture changes completely.

First, what is the most valuable of all gemstone or metal (apart from platinum, gold, silver, rubies and diamonds, which have physical characteristics that are used in industry)? Of course, is its rarity. If platinum was as common as steel, which probably would not pay top dollar for a platinum engagement ring. Jewels Now, how many of laboratory cultures were established during the Soviet regime? A good estimate is that production would equal maybe a year from DeBeers diamonds. Then distribute these stones USSR (in jewelry) around the world, destroy, lose or change 80% of them, and leave the rest to jewelers game (to be removed as a byproduct gold surrounding the stone), collectors and purchasers of others - and what remains is what it is today. Laboratory of the Soviet Union grew jewels are undoubtedly rare.

The jewels remained in their original configuration and not replaced or reused in modern elements are even more rare, because in most cases, the gold is melted down for some other use, and threw stones into a box to be reused or lost time. The original composition is broken, and so is its history and commercial value.

I have already mentioned the tremendous historical value of all items created by the USSR, and lab-grown gems are no exception ... but let's talk science. The Soviet Union had a lot of natural riches, including a virtually unlimited amount of natural gems, however, opted to develop out of nowhere - neither Tsarist Russia and the USSR after the Second World War had laboratories and technology to grow any type of jewelry on a scale even a modest - any industry that quickly established itself as the world leader. In fact, jewelry Soviet scientific achievements remain true to this day. How, you ask? Soviet scientists were able to match so perfectly all the physical characteristics of the natural gems are hardly analogous to this day, even with modern technology. What is most fascinating is that not only matched but actually enhances the durability of almost all precious stones, making them as strong as they were beautiful.

The next most extreme experiment was personally showed me a jeweler. Take the common Soviet laboratory-grown stone, usually a ruby, make sure it is Soviet and many others would not pass the test. Lighting a blowtorch - Yes, a torch - and direct all 1,500 degrees of heat in the stone beloved. Do not stop there: Heat until the stone passes through all the stages and becomes orange brilliant (such as cast steel), then heat a little more before they finally let it cool. Relax and see what happened to her - absolutely nothing. The jewel, not only returns to its original color, but the structure does not change at all ... can repeat the test if you like. In comparison, a natural ruby of the highest quality would break almost instantaneously.

You may be thinking, why do I care if my stone can withstand a blowtorch? I want to wear a beautiful theme, no nails in the walls bash thereof. I could not agree more, however, accidents happen ... and if the 7-ruby, emerald carat or accidentally fall into a marble floor, the results can be heartbreaking. Thus, the physical characteristics play an important role in the value of precious objects, especially jewelry.

Look at gold and silver: They are not only valued for their rarity, half of its value comes from its ability to conduct electricity better than almost any other metal on earth. Gold does not rust or oxidized. Such qualities make these precious metals in advanced technologies for the aerospace and electronics. Diamonds are one of the hardest materials planet, with the ability to cut almost any metal or other hard substance, which are highly valued in industry. Diamonds and rubies are also widely used in monitoring and clock mechanisms.

When large companies or industries buying these items, they buy in bulk, reducing the availability general of the precious materials and maintain high market prices. Soviet Jewels have a similar story, only to collectors and investors who are making the purchase, and availability is already extremely low. And while you dig into hundreds of kilos of gold and diamonds daily, Soviet gems and jewelry are damaged, or fused destroyed every day. Whatever the left is on the market available to private collections. For those who have already formed a collection that is a very good position for those who do not, chances diminish every day.

In short, the potential of the Soviet jewelry is very high. When the prices of gold USSR were previously based purely on the selling price of gold (sale price of an ounce of gold, multiplied by the weight of an element), this begins to change. The jewelry made by the USSR finally valued for its rarity and uniqueness in the market. This change is only in its initial stage, though, so that collectors still have a chance to buy great items for a good price ... a situation that simply can not last long. Every day fewer and fewer items are available. Regardless of any personal feelings toward the Soviet regime, the historical and cultural importance of jewelry created at the time can not be denied, and its value is destined to go far beyond the simple value of gold.

From the personal analysis of eBay sellers of gold over the last year, I was about 14 to 19 Soviet gold sellers constant throughout the eBay site, with two to five vendors of weekly magazines. Each week appear only three to nine gold jewelry Soviet. For comparison: For each element of Soviet gold similar list is not Soviet 300 articles submitted on eBay every week. Given the more than 7,000 suppliers of all the gold of others, especially modern, these 19 vendors could create a virtual monopoly in the Soviet gold while raising prices to what they see fit, resulting in a flurry of Soviet jewelry purchases. Hypothetically, if that Soviet gold boom happens on eBay, would be forced to expand into markets for gold and other, so do not be surprised if you find a ring of the Soviet Union with a price of $ 2,000 your local pawnshop. Prices from $ 5,000 to $ 10,000 for rings, bracelets and other jewelry of the USSR are totally unrealistic, given its limited availability on the market. People who own these items can only dictate whatever price they see fit.

Of course not going to spend the night - although anything can happen - but in the course of one to three years we will definitely see a jump in prices. It is already happening to some extent, with simple rings Soviet sales of U.S. $ 400-700, and this with little interest shown by the general public. Everything is bound to change. When specific types of objects are becoming rarities hot collection, gain attention and has thus become available to investors, its value quickly jumps from five to twenty times or more. Examples of such events in the ancient market are endless. A day no one even looking at an object, then something happens - a prominent collector buy a similar item high price, or published in a catalog famous - and suddenly people are clamoring for it. A buying frenzy driving the price higher. The question is, why Why wait until that happens? Investing in gold is now a Soviet ideal situation. With gold prices rising week, including the purchase just as gold is a very good investment, but with enhanced possibilities opened on the road. Jewelry Soviet gold is changing average collection of gold and the price jumps are inevitable.

There are a number of key points to look at the Soviet jewelry collection, some of which are the same as for any other age. First, to see the features of Soviet gold. Goldenseal are: "375", "500", "583", "750", "958". Hallmarks of silver are: "750", "800", "875", "916", "960". The features are rarer than gold "750" and "958", representing a better quality of gold and is produced in much smaller quantities than the more commonly used "583" hallmark. "375", "500" are also rare. Despite its purity of gold is lower, it does not necessarily lesser value, because what is lacking in quality wins gold stamp rarity, and therefore collectibility.

Incorporated with or separate from the pure number gold, there is always a government inspection seal, which contains information about the location of the manufacturer (of the city, the factory) and date of creation. There is often an added feature with the number of jewelry guy who has worked on this subject. Can the presence of other brands but these three are the more common. It is important to note that natural gemstones jewelry was an additional identification number stamped on the gold surface.

The stamp represents the inspection mark the change of government through the years, while the purity of gold seal remained almost the same until the collapse of the USSR. From 1927 to 1959 the government inspection stamp was a man (employee) the head with a hat, which has a hammer (mark would then mark as "583" next to it). From 1959 to 1992, the government inspection stamp changed to a five-pointed star with hammer and sickle inside it. Using this information, a collector can quickly determine the age of a subject and therefore its probable rarity - usually the biggest theme is the best.

"583" was the type most commonly used gold in the Soviet Union, while "585" or 14 karat is more common today. The change from "583" to "585" took place after the Soviet Union collapsed and therefore almost no catalogs or books speak of a Soviet "585" hallmark. But it was not actually marked with Soviet jewelry stamped "585" (remember that this property because it is very rare). Two types of Soviet "585" seals there, an official - a sailing vessel sealed by the "585" brand, for export only, since 1989 - and the the second without explanation - the Soviet star with hammer and sickle and "585" next to it. There is little information on the latter type. One theory is that immediately after the collapse of the USSR, 1989 to 1991, the chaos in the governance structure led to confusion in the manufacture of jewelry and some manufacturers regulations began using the "585" hallmark. The official order to use the seal was made in Russia by Boris Yeltsin on 2 October 1992 and was implemented in late 1993, time when the Soviet star was changed to a woman's head and the purity of gold was as follows: "375", "500", "585", "750". This means that until 1992 there was no official order to use the "585" stamp for the internal market of the USSR (the "585" gold in 1989, remember, was only for export).

I have tested the confusion of the theory of myself when decoded a series of gold rings from my personal collection. The first ring I reviewed was dated 1990, which is part of the story, but the next 4 rings dates back to the 1980s and completely contradicts the theory of collapse. This mystery I leave it to historians, merely pointing out to collectors that the Soviet Union "585" hallmark is a very rare element they possess.

Inconsistencies, irregularities and unknowns in Soviet punching deserve another publication where all possible combinations and rare and inconsistencies could be discussed. This is a very big issue, but I can clarify the general issue in a statement: "The contradictions, irregularities and the uncertainties present in the jewelry, the most valuable and interesting than the jewelry is, period. "This is because to USSR characteristics are fairly well documented, so that any irregularities that point to the history of new, previously unknown and tend to be very rare, probably have been produced in very small quantities.

This rule applies to all antiquity. A good example of the "rule of the rarity" is a 1918 postage stamp U.S. called "Upside-down Jenny" which sold for U.S. $ 825,000 in an Internet auction in 2007. In 2005, an "Upside-down Jenny" sold by U.S. $ 525,000, and that same year a block of 4 stamps was sold for U.S. 2.7 million U.S. dollars. Such high prices for a stamp is simple thanks to an error committed by the publisher for printing, when the Curtiss JN-4 plane was played backwards. Only 700 stamps were made with this error, and only 100 have survived on this day.

In view of many outstanding Soviet simple without any inconsistencies seal must be at a price of not less than $ 5000 U.S. because there are so few of them left. If these earrings carry a rare hallmark as "585", its value could go even higher. For some this may sound surreal, and yet, those prices have begun to show in the market.

The second key point to consider is the gold-silver jewelry. Let tell you about a ring I bought what I thought was a good price at the time. At a local antique market I saw this interesting gold ring at a low price. I looked for a label, the lighting was poor and the stamp lightly covered but I clearly saw the Soviet star and a "5" at the end. Thinking it was a rare "585" signet ring that I bought and carried out. Only when I got home and inspected more carefully the ring do not think the label was "875". The ring was gold-silver. And for the money I felt I had paid a little. Of course, disappointed, I started researching the topic and found very little information on the Soviet Union gold plated silver jewelry. Then I talked to other collectors and antique dealers and learned that the gold-plated silver jewelry items are rare, and for collectors is so valuable as gold. Gold plating was common on silver, gold plated silver cigarette cases was widely reported, but gold plated silver jewelry was produced in much more conservative. There are many gold-plated objects, from watches to cufflinks, but most are not plated with real gold plating and rarely precious metal, jewelry, silver plated with both historical and commercial value of gold has risen.

If you looked closely seal numbers I mentioned earlier, you may have noticed quite interesting: Hallmark "750" is the same for both silver and gold. If the silver with this stamp was once gold-plated would be almost impossible gold silver distinguish without scientific knowledge. It is unknown whether the silver label "750" is never golden. If it were, would have a rare and interesting object indeed.

A third important aspect to note is if the jewelry was made by hand or machine. Many of the jewelry was handmade USSR, and its value exceeds Articles produced by the machine. This issue must be addressed before buying or taking the matter to an expert jeweler.

A fourth and final point to consider is the combination metal and other materials. In a number of cases Soviet jewelers combined different types of metals in the work process. For example: red and yellow gold or white gold silver or platinum, silver and platinum. It was also very common in the Soviet jewelry combining precious, semiprecious or even precious metals and stones together. The USSR established this trend long ago and was very popular, especially in their own market. Interestingly, this is a trend in jewelry today, where we see the gold leather, wood with platinum, and so on. Today we are returning to the Soviets had been 20 to 40 years ago, only with a touch of modern style. As the saying goes, "The new is old and forgotten."

Soviet gold market surpassed the higher and more valuable because it is an old made of high quality metals and gemstones with an incredible story behind it.

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