AN EXTRAORDINARY COLOURED DIAMOND RING
Set with a rectangular-cut fancy intense blue diamond weighing 13.39 carats, to the micro pavé-set fancy pink diamond surround and diamond bifurcated hoop, mounted in platinum and 18k white gold.

A MAGNIFICENT DIAMOND PENDANT
Set with a modified pear-shaped diamond weighing 20.19 carats, surmounted by a line of two cushion-shaped diamonds weighing 0.83 and 4.60 carats, mounted in platinum

Logic plays a major part in authenticating items and the stories from the owners can be relied on to either add provenance to an item or to start backing away from it. If the item you are trying to sell me that was once owned by your great-great-great-great-grandfather who brought it over with him on the boat from “the motherland” is infact a 1950’s piece then either:
a) you are mistaken (usually the most diplomatic answer)
b) you are lying
c) your great-great-great-great-grandfather is remarkably old!

The point I think i’m trying to make is by all means listen to a sellers story but dont use it as fact in helping you authenticate a piece.

Below is an item that is posted on ebay as “Unathenticated decorative moulding from the first class dining room of the Titanic. this item also has John Jacob Astors initials on the back.”

Granted I haven’t heard the story behind the item and it does state “Unauthenticated” but lets take the fact that the starting bid of $1,000,000 means the seller thinks it is authentic. Questions that come to mind are:
- How has the item stayed in such good condition?
- Why would “Titanic” and Astor’s initials be on the back of a piece of molding?
Now I have been known to be wrong before but I just don’t see JJA (who was worth a whopping $37 billion) on realizing the ship was going down, jumping up from his meal, prying off the nearest piece of decorative molding, pulling out his gold pencil, jotting down what boat he was on and his initials, putting the gold pencil back in his pocket, making sure the molding got off in good shape.

Anyway its just my opinion.

For an auction house that specializes in Titanic and White Star Lines memorabilia Henry Aldridge & Son has some great items.

Everything from nipple shields, (wooden for downtown and silver for uptown I guess)

to a German Spermatorrhoea Ring (Anti-onanism devices were intended to prevent activity which was considered amoral as well as being a wastage of bodily energy which would result in physical illness and debility)

Measures 12 1/2″ tall and about 5 1/2″ wide. Exhibits painted ducks in flight on the hat. Tiny taxidermy eyes for coat buttons. Made for Otto Meyer a personal friend of Charlie’s and early decoy collector.

Well for a $12,500 starting bid someone has a sense of humor! sold for $24,500!!