DATING PASTE JEWELRY

Paste jewelry was first made in about 1767. You can tell 18th- and 19th-century paste from gemstones using these clues: Paste is warmer than gemstones and more easily scratched. Old paste was cut to fit the setting--the stones were not a consistent size. Settings for paste are usually closed at the back to protect the foil backing. The settings can be silver or pot metal, and they're rarely marked.