Started in 1977, Roberto Coin is a comparatively young fine jewelry brand but it has quickly become an international sensation. This boom in popularity, however, leaves Roberto Coin’s ornate and intricate designs vulnerable to counterfeiters. Here are our six key tips to pick out real Roberto Coin jewelry from the fakes.
1. The Signature Ruby Inset
In 1996, Roberto Coin began using a completely unique and unprecedented designer signature: a hidden ruby. This tiny stone was set on the inside of every piece in step with the ancient believe that wearing a ruby close to the skin lead to a long, happy and healthy life.
Many—but not all—Roberto Coin pieces have a small ruby set on its inside or under side. The brand began production in 1977 but did not introduce their ruby signature until 1996. Therefore, alleged Roberto Coin vintage styles pre-dating 1996 that include a ruby signature are forgeries.
It’s also worth noting: Since adopting this signature, Roberto Coin has switched to using synthetic rubies in an attempt to end the use of rubies of conflict such as Myanmar (formerly Burma).
2. Hallmarks and Gold Content
Roberto Coin sources its gold and produces its jewelry in Vicenza, Italy. Vicenza, known as The City of Gold, produces some of the world’s highest quality gold. Most European jewelry has a fineness of .750, or a 75% purity or 18 karats. To mark its high quality gold, Roberto Coin jewelry is stamped with an 18K or 18KT and less frequently a 750 inside of it.
When examining your jewelry, be sure to check the maker’s mark, a unique stamp to distinguish Roberto Coin jewelry from other jewelers’ work. Robert Coin’s registered mark is 1226VI and should always be stamped into the jewelry.
Because Roberto Coin’s stamps and registered mark are known by any forger, the gold content and 1226VI mark are not definitive signs your pre-owned piece is genuine. The stamps should be very clear and precise. Sloppy stamps or misspellings are immediate indications the item in question is counterfeit.
4. Quality
Roberto Coin uses only high-quality and precious metals like gold and platinum and, to a lesser extent, sterling silver. If you’re able to handle the supposed Roberto Coin item, you should feel the weight of these metals in the piece. Forgers will typically cut corners by using plated metals which are lightweight compared to their authentic counterparts. Similarly, if you see any metal visible beneath the gold or silver, the piece is a gold- or silver-plated fake.
5. Price
Roberto Coin jewelry has high-quality craftsmanship and, because the brand has been operating for only a few decades, his work is not old enough to have suffered significant wear or be classified as true vintage pieces. Therefore, any Roberto Coin pieces for resale should be in good condition and fall within a price range, depending on the item you’re interested in. Establish a general market value by cross-referencing the listings for that particular style across different retailers. If you see a piece of pre-owned Roberto Coin jewelry that is priced significantly lower than the minimum, it’s a good indication the item is a fake.
6. Seller Location
If you’re shopping for pre-owned Roberto Coin jewelry online, it’s important to research the seller’s location. The overwhelming majority of counterfeit goods in circulation come from China so proceed with caution if a seller is based there. You also want to investigate their website to see if the site includes terms and conditions, an About Us page, and a way to contact the seller directly. Scope out other sites for reviews on the seller; steer clear of any seller with questionable reviews that are terse, vague, repetitive, or sound like they were written by the same person, if not the seller themselves. If there is no information on the seller, it’s better to look elsewhere to purchase your Roberto Coin jewelry.
If you have any questions about shopping for authentic pre-owned Roberto Coin jewelry, our concierge associates are here to help. Contact them here.
Photo Credit: designscene.net /