Treasure Hunters Get Broach Appraised

Sunday afternoon David Darter and Jason Palmer had no idea Lake Hefner would offer up a buried treasure these red-dirt pirates could only dream of. Hidden under sooner soil, a fantastic piece of jewelry.

"What you could see is the stones which were real bright with the sun shining on them. So that let me to think this might be a piece, said Darter.

Monday afternoon, we gathered at Samuel Gordon Jewelers to get answers for their many questions.

Our first question - how old is it?

Armando Godinez, a master jeweler, says its very old. Perhaps even 80 years old.

Our next question what is it?

Nicole Lozier, whos also with Samuel Gordon Jewelers, says its a pendant.  Women would put a necklace through the bell and hang it from their neck.

To find out what its made of, we tested the surface.

"It's silver... it is sterling silver so it is a solid sterling silver piece, said Lozier.

And it was made in Italy or Spain.

"So it's probably a one of a kind piece that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else.

Before we get to those stones, we have some advice for others who find buried treasure.  Lozier says you should first look for stampings.

A 925 would indicate sterling.  A 585 would indicate 14k gold

There's an old wives tale that you can rub it on your cheek and it turns black.

No that's not true, says Lozier.

As for stones, Lozier says you have to take them to an expert.

"It's not something you're going to be able to look at and determine."

Now, back to the stones on the necklace.

"I tested my diamond and that's the beep is the sound we want."

As everyone leaned it, Lozier touched the machine to one of the stones on the necklace.

"We are not getting that beeping sound. So the stones are not testing diamond.

Nicole says the stones are white zirconia and pre-date CZs which make this necklace not worth a lot of money.  But it remains priceless to the Oklahoma treasure hunters.

"I've never found anything that big and although it's not worth much, it's a neat find," said Darter.

Treasure Hunters Get Broach Appraised

Posted: Tuesday, January 22 2013, 10:08 AM CST