Cameos How to tell if they are authentic

Cameos are beautiful and elegant jewels, with a unique, ancient and noble charm.
Obviously if we are talking about authentic, original cameos, not trivial imitations.
But how do you know if a cameo is authentic or not? We'll explain it to you.

• The material
The original cameos are engraved exclusively on natural materials, such as, for example, shells, agates, dogwood, onyx, ivory, lava, coral, bone and mother-of-pearl.
Non-authentic cameos are made of plastic or resin.

• Cracks and chips
Genuine cameos should not have cracks or chips, which are easy to find in plastic ones.

• The faces
The faces in the authentic cameos have a unique three-dimensionality and the features and curves are very accurate. If you notice a face that is too "cold" and not very vivid and with too sharp lines, it is probably a fake cameo, engraved with the laser.

• The details
The same goes for the inlay details: the original cameos are rich in details, tiny and well-kept, such as, for example, the jewels of the beautiful portrayed ladies or flowers adorning their hair or dresses.
A lack of such meticulous detail makes one think again of a laser engraved cameo.

• Weight < br> The question of weight is a bit particular: you have to pay close attention to the weight of the cameo, however making due observations.
A stone cameo will certainly weigh more than a shell one; but those in inauthentic plastic and resin usually need a base, which is usually metal. So be careful not to confuse the weight of the material of which the cameo is made with any support.

• The opacity
A cameo in real shell is, for the most part, opaque, because the wealth of details of what it depicts prevents the final polishing of the natural material - in rare cases, based on what the cameo depicts, it may be possible.

• The back
This also applies to shell cameos: the back must also be only very slightly concave, since shells naturally are. This is not valid for cameos in other materials.

• Observation in the sun
Again for cameos in shell: observe the cameo in the sun, against the light, or, if you wish , using very strong artificial light. If it is authentic you should see the whole silhouette of the engraving, which is more difficult in plastic ones, which are not so thin.

• The magnifying glass
A good method professional way to check the authenticity of a cameo in natural material is to observe it through a magnifying glass: you should see the slight marks caused by the engraving around the carved parts of the cameo, which follow the lines and curves of the design. br>
• The temperature
Hold the cameo in your hand for a few seconds: the natural materials remain cold enough, while the plastic will heat up quickly thanks to the warmth of your hand.