The selected item appears to be an antique or vintage gold-toned stick pin featuring a faceted purple stone set within an ornate, chased circular filigree head.
Overview
Item Type: Stick pin or lapel/tie pin.
Design: Features a round, faceted purple gemstone (such as an amethyst, synthetic stone, or colored glass paste) secured in a decorative bezel with detailed engraving along the border.
Materials: Appears to be gold-filled, plated, or lower-karat yellow gold typical of the late Victorian or Edwardian eras (circa late 19th to early 20th century).
Identification Notes
Composition: Without visible hallmarks or professional testing, the exact metal purity and whether the stone is a natural amethyst, synthetic quartz, or glass paste cannot be definitively confirmed.
Era: The style closely resembles Victorian and Art Nouveau decorative accessories commonly used for securing cravats, lapels, or hats.
Based on this close-up of the back, there are tiny hallmarks or maker's marks stamped directly onto the gold pin shaft near the base of the setting.
Visual Analysis
The Markings: There appear to be two or three tiny, incised stamps on the curved part of the pin stem. While slightly worn and partially obscured by the angle, these stamps typically indicate either metal purity (such as a karat mark like "10K" or "14K"), a maker's mark (the initials or logo of the jeweler), or a country assay mark (common in European antique jewelry).
The Setting: The back of the setting is open-backed, which allows light to pass through the faceted purple stone to enhance its brilliance. This open style is common for genuine gemstones like amethyst or high-quality synthetic spinels/sapphires.
Metal Condition: The darkening or patina around the circular backing indicates tarnish, which is highly typical for older gold alloys (like 9K, 10K, or 14K gold) or gold-filled/rolled gold items as they age.
The estimated value of an antique or vintage gold amethyst stick pin typically ranges between $40 and $250+, heavily depending on the exact metal purity and stone authenticity verified by those hallmarks.
Because stick pins are highly collectible, their values generally break down into specific tiers:
Value Breakdown Tiers
Gold-Filled / Plated Base Metal ($40 – $75): If the hallmarks turn out to be a maker's mark or patent number rather than a gold karat stamp, and the purple stone is glass paste, the value rests primarily on its historical charm and aesthetic appeal. Similar gold-filled vintage pins routinely sell on platforms like eBay and Etsy within this range.
Low-Karat Solid Gold ($90 – $150): If the tiny stamp reads "10K" or a European equivalent (like "9ct"), and the stone is a genuine amethyst or early synthetic gemstone, the value jumps due to the precious metal weight. For example, a similar Victorian 10K gold amethyst stick pin currently values around $125 to $135 on Etsy.
High-Karat Solid Gold ($175 – $250+): If the pin stem reveals a "14K" hallmark, the item commands a premium from fine estate jewelry collectors. Exact matches for 14K antique filigree pins with purple amethyst gemstones regularly list between $175 on eBay and $195 on eBay.