Marquise Cut Cubic Zirconia Stud Earrings

A pair of contemporary costume jewelry stud earrings featuring colorless, marquise-cut faceted stones. The stones are synthetic cubic zirconia, as indicated by the retail display card. These gems are secured in a four-prong setting made of a silver-toned metal, which is likely silver-plated brass or stainless steel common in moderate-priced fashion jewelry. The marquise cut is characterized by an elongated elliptical shape with pointed ends, designed to maximize perceived size and brilliance. Each earring is mounted on a dark green flocked velvet-style rectangular display card with a gold-toned border at the bottom. The gold border features the text 'Cubic Zirconia' in a black, stylized serif font. The condition appears to be new or like-new, with no visible signs of tarnishing on the metal or scratching on the stones. The overall craftsmanship is consistent with mass-produced retail jewelry intended for daily wear.

I have performed a visual examination of this pair of marquise-cut stud earrings. The items are identified as costume jewelry, featuring synthetic cubic zirconia stones set in a silver-toned metal mounting. Based on the retail presentation card, which is characteristic of mass-market fashion brands, the materials are likely non-precious or plated. The condition appears to be excellent or 'new without tags,' showing no signs of oxidation or gemstone abrasion. The marquise cut is well-executed for the material, intended to mimic the appearance of diamonds. The market for this type of jewelry is highly saturated, with low rarity and high availability in department stores and online retailers. Comparables for such mass-produced items typically range from $10 to $35 depending on the brand name and retail outlet. These earrings lack the intrinsic value associated with precious metals like gold or platinum and natural gemstones. Limitations of this appraisal include the inability to perform a streak test or acid test on the metal to confirm the absence of silver content, or to use a refractometer to verify the specific gravity of the stones. A physical inspection would be required to rule out the presence of hallmark stamps (such as .925) which could slightly increase the value. No provenance was provided; however, for items of this classification, documentation rarely impacts the secondary market value significantly. For a definitive authentication, a metal composition analysis would be recommended.