Would you hand over $100 for two jars of tangled, mystery jewelry from the thrift store? The resellers behind @h_media_ did, then carried them home, made breakfast and tore into them on camera.

Their verdict at the end was simple: “For 100 bucks, it was a good day.” By their math, the metal alone came to about $445 before any of the stones had been tested.

@h_media_

Two Jars, One Magnet And A $100 Gamble

The setup was a classic reseller bet. They paid $60 for the bigger jar and $40 for the smaller one, which makes the $100 total. Neither jar had been sorted, so everything inside was a surprise.

Their method starts with a magnet. Anything that sticks is not gold or sterling and goes into the bulk pile. Anything that does not stick gets a closer look, which is where the treasure hunt really begins.

The First Jar Gives Up 10 Karat Gold And A 585 Stamp

The smaller jar paid off early. The first keeper was a 10 karat chain, which they called very nice. Next came three interesting pendants, plus one more they were not sure about.

Then they found a pendant that was not marked karat or 925. Instead it carried the number 585, which means 14 karat gold, or 58.5 percent pure. That went into the gold pile next to the 10 karat chain.

The sterling started rolling in too. One chain had a glass pendant with the word “daughter” on the inside, and its beads were stamped 925. Another was tangled around a flower and had to be carefully freed. By the end of jar one they had five pieces of silver and two pieces of gold.

A Handy Clue: The Little Octagon Clasp

Here is a tip worth keeping from the video. Whenever you see a little octagon shaped clasp, they say, you probably have something good. They did note that it is not always the case, since one sterling chain had a plain circular clasp.

Those small clasps are hard to read, and the stamps on tangled chains can be tiny. That is why they sort slowly and look at every piece before it goes in the bulk pile.

They also set aside pieces that were not magnetic but not stamped either. One looked really nice but was broken, with the clasp snapped right off. Those need testing before anyone knows what they are.

The Bigger Jar Brings A Mystery Pearl Necklace

The second jar started with a standout. One necklace had pearls that looked real, but the back carried a stamp the reseller did not recognize, reading EA. He asked viewers to weigh in on whether it was gold or silver, and said it would be tested.

There was also a huge necklace stamped 925 with a striking pattern. Beyond that, the second jar was quieter, with a pile of pendants that looked and felt like pewter, plus a brooch, a stamp pin, seashell pendants and an Aztec style piece.

Still waiting are pieces with stones. One is a sterling base with a flower in the middle, and another has what he thought might be jasper.

How They Got To $445 Before The Stones Are Tested

Now for the math. They priced the 10 karat gold at about $55 a gram and the 14 karat gold at about $75 a gram, which put the gold at roughly $225.

Sterling, they say, is worth about $2 a gram. Once the silver was added, the running total reached about $385.

Then came the $60 piece, which pushed the figure to $445. That is before whatever the stones turn out to be worth. They usually sell their bulk costume jewelry at about five bucks a pound, and the stones still need research and acid testing.

The lesson is that a jar of tangle can hold real value, but you only find it by sorting patiently. Nobody pulls out a fortune every time, and the second jar proved that.

It is a patient, almost meditative way to spend a morning. Chains get untangled one link at a time, stamps get checked under good light, and every small piece lands in its own pile. By the time the jars are empty, the pile of bulk is big, but the pile that matters is small and shiny.

That is also why a haul like this makes good video. Viewers get to guess along with the resellers, and the finish line is a number everyone can follow.

What To Check If You Find Jewelry At A Thrift Store

Look for stamps. Marks such as 925 mean sterling silver, and numbers like 585 point to 14 karat gold. A magnifying glass or a phone camera zoom makes tiny stamps readable.

Bring a small magnet, because gold and sterling are not magnetic. A sticky piece is not precious metal, though a non magnetic piece still needs proper testing before you count on anything.

Weigh before you dream. Metal value depends on weight and the price of the day, so a delicate chain is worth less than a heavy one even when the stamp matches.

And take your time, as these two did. A jar on a thrift shelf is a gamble, but with a magnet, a sharp eye and a little patience, $100 can turn into a very good day.

More Stories You May Like

• Before You Buy Furniture At A Thrift Store, Check These 13 Midcentury Brands
• These 10 Old School Board Games Are Still Worth Checking Before You Donate The Closet Full Of Games Nobody Plays Anymore
• 9 Things From Your Grandmother’s Jewelry Box That Deserve A Second Look Before Anyone Drops Them At Goodwill