Vintage Mid Century 1940's 925 Sterling Silver Vermeil And Tigers Eye Brooch

Vintage Mid-Century 925 Sterling Silver Floral Brooch featuring a cluster of tiger's eye cabochons set over gold-washed metal leaves. Because the brooch has a distinct golden color, this means it was finished using a jewelry technique called vermeil (gold-plated sterling silver). Over time, the outer gold layer on vintage vermeil jewelry naturally wears down or develops a dark, smoky patina, which perfectly explains the deep tarnish and darkening visible along the edges of the leaves. Value and Identification Factors Gemstones: The five smooth, round beads in the center are natural tiger's eye, a quartz-based gemstone prized for its chatoyancy—the lustrous, light-shifting bands resembling a cat's eye. Estimated Age: Pieces combining sterling vermeil bases with tiger's eye clusters were highly popular during the 1940s to 1950s retro era.