When to Buy a Jewelry Jar from the Thrift Shop!

Описание: In this video we share the magnet technique for determining if you should go home with a jewelry jar or Skip it. We also discuss what these jars are and where they can be found, what is often inside of them, and what to look for when you get your hands on one.

The Loupe I mention in the video ($7 at the time I am uploading this video) is one of these; it's not good (but it works fine), and its basically impossible to beat for the money: https://amzn.to/4fWPjIy

This is the Magnet I mention: https://amzn.to/4hf65nd and I really like the little ones myself, but the assortment is nice because you may find you like larger ones. Also I lose these, a lot. ($7USD at the time I am uploading this video)


We are looking for materials like karat gold such as 10k, 14k, 18k, or even lower karats like 9k or antique gold that comes in old percentages lower than that. These are sometimes stamped in other ways like 10c, 14c, 18c, or 416, 585, 750. We are sometimes lucky enough with a lot like this to find pins made of things like Platinum (PT) or Palladium (PD). We frequently find things made of Silver, usually Sterling, marked often 925. But sometimes other metals like 800 silver, 830s, 950 silver, etc.

Most of these lots will have at least some GF, usually Gold Fill like 1/10 10k, 1/20 10k, 1/10 12k, or 1/20 12k. Less commonly we will find 1/5 10k or other less common mixtures of Gold on the pins.

Most of my videos involve some greek pins, school pins, award pins, gemstones like diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, topaz, CZs, aquamarines, turquoise, onyx, etc. Fraternal pins like Free Masons, Oddfellows, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Rebekahs, Shriners, Improved Order of Red Men, Loyal Order of The Moose (LOTM), Eagles, Rotary, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Soroptimists, Kiwanis, and many others usually show up in these videos.

Jewelry (or Jewellry for folks out of the US) shows up. Necklaces, bracelets, bangles, charms, amulets, earrings, rings, pinbacks, screw on pinbacks, clip on earrings, you just never really know what you will find!


This video provides a comprehensive guide on how to approach and assess jewelry jars found at thrift stores and other secondhand locations. The creator, who specializes in treasure hunting for gold, silver, and other valuables, shares his personal methods for determining if a jewelry jar is worth purchasing.

Key takeaways from the video include:

What are Jewelry Jars? (0:56) - These are jars filled with broken, unsold, or unsorted jewelry that thrift shops often put together when they are overwhelmed or don't know how to price individual pieces.
Pricing and Value Assessment (2:43) - While these jars used to be inexpensive, prices have increased (e.g., from $10 to $30). The creator's rule is to ensure he can see at least $30 worth of gold or silver before buying.
The Magnet Technique (3:04) - The most crucial tool is a strong neodymium magnet. By using the magnet on the outside of the jar, you can observe how pieces inside react:
Strong Reaction: Indicates ferrous metals, likely plated or costume jewelry (7:01).
Weak Reaction: Could be worth a closer look, potentially high nickel content silver (7:08).
No Reaction: These are the most promising pieces, as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium do not react to magnets (4:37, 17:12).
Using a Jeweler's Loupe (4:42) - For items that don't react to the magnet, use a jeweler's loupe through the glass to read markings (like "14K GE" for gold electroplate, meaning it's plated) (5:27).
Identifying Valuable Items (7:57) - The creator looks for specific indicators of precious metals, such as:
Greek pins with staked-in stones: These often indicate solid gold (8:00).
Broken gold chains: Common find in these jars (9:53).
Marked silver: Look for "925" for sterling, or other marks like "930" for specific silver alloys (21:55, 36:29, 42:03, 43:31).
Old Freemason or fraternal items: These can often contain older, unmarked gold (33:50).
Sorting and Untangling (16:09) - After purchasing, the process involves dumping out the jar and using the magnet again to sort through the tangle of jewelry. Pay attention to clasps and markings.
Common Finds to Discard: The video shows examples of plated items (14:52, 20:47, 25:56), brass (28:16), stainless steel (18:17), and "alpaca" (nickel silver) (27:16).
The video emphasizes that even if you don't find high-value gold, these jars can still be a fun and rewarding experience for jewelry enthusiasts.