Vintage Glass Suncatcher

Yes, some vintage glass is worth something. Collectors are often on the hunt for pieces produced by certain makers, such as Blenko, the Culver Glass Company, Dorothy Thorpe, Libbey, Georges Briard and Arcoroc. In addition to who manufactured it, the style, type, age and condition of vintage glassware all impact the potential value. For assistance with the valuation process for pieces in your collection, enlist the help of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of vintage glassware.

To tell if your vintage glasses are gold, look on the nose bridge and the temples for a purity mark. Makers often stamped their solid gold pieces with “12K,” “10K,” “14K” and other markings to identify their gold eyewear. You can research all of these markings using trusted online resources. Should you locate a "GF" mark, it is likely that your glasses are gold-filled rather than solid gold. This means that the frames are predominantly a less expensive metal but do have a thin layer of genuine gold alloy as a finish. Another mark that indicates your glasses contain some gold is "RGF." The mark stands for “rolled gold filled.” Glasses bearing this mark feature a gold-plated finish that is thinner than what's found on traditional gold-filled frames. For assistance identifying your eyeglass frame material, consult a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. Explore a selection of vintage glasses on 1stDibs.

To tell if Murano glass is vintage, it's usually necessary to conduct some online research using trusted sources. Start by looking for a maker's mark and then cross-referencing it with images published online to determine who made your piece. By learning more about the manufacturer and what they produced over the years by reading histories and exploring product catalogues, you can estimate the rough age of your piece. For Murano glass to be considered vintage, it must be between 20 and 99 years old. Older pieces are classified as antique. If you need assistance with dating your glassware, seek the help of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Explore a range of Murano glass on 1stDibs.

To tell if vintage Cartier glasses are real, first look for the brand's logo on the outside of the arms. It should be spelled correctly and in the French luxury fashion house's iconic gold-toned italic font. Because some vintage pieces may lack serial numbers and other markings used to identify contemporary eyewear, you may wish to enlist the help of a licensed appraiser or knowledgeable dealer for assistance with authentication. Explore a selection of Cartier glasses on 1stDibs.

The easiest way to tell if a bead is glass or plastic is to feel it. Glass beads will be cooler to the touch, whereas plastic beads will be closer to room temperature and warm up quickly in your hands. Another test you can perform is to listen to the sound. Glass has a distinctive ring since it’s harder whereas plastic is softer and has a duller sound. Shop a range of vintage glass bead pieces on 1stDibs.