Gold-tone leaf-style brooch

This item is a brooch designed in the likeness of a single, elongated leaf, featuring a warm yellow metal finish. One half of the leaf's surface is textured with diagonal linear incisions to represent the veins of a real leaf, while the other side appears smoother, offering a subtle contrast in luster. The piece is constructed with a curved tip and a small stem at the opposite end. On the reverse, a standard pin-back mechanism with a hinged pin and safety clasp is partially visible. The metal bears an embossed marking that appears to read in part ".925 STERLING", suggesting the base material may be silver with a gold-tone plating, also known as vermeil. The overall aesthetic is consistent with mid-to-late 20th-century costume jewelry. While the craftmanship is detailed, the identification remains a hypothesis as the image is slightly out of focus, making some text difficult to read with full clarity. These markings must be physically inspected to account for potential later applications or misinterpretations of the metal content.

I have examined the digital image of this gold-tone leaf-style brooch. Based on what I can see, the piece features a botanical design with textured and smooth finishes. The presence of a marking that appears to read '.925 STERLING' suggests a hypothesis that the item is gold-washed sterling silver (vermeil). However, I cannot verify from a photo if this hallmark accurately reflects the metal content or if it was applied later; physical inspection and possibly a non-destructive acid test or XRF analysis would be required to confirm the metal's purity. My value estimate is based on the assumption that the item is mid-20th-century vermeil costume jewelry in good condition. Typically, items of this type see moderate demand from collectors of botanical and modernist jewelry. If the marking is found to be accurate and consistent with recognized manufacturers of the era, the value sits in the $40 to $85 range. Should the item be found to be a base-metal reproduction or if the gold plating is significantly worn, the value would likely decrease to $10 to $20. To provide a more precise valuation, I would need to perform an in-person examination to check for maker's marks, verify the integrity of the safety clasp, and confirm the weight and metal composition. For now, this estimate represents the market value for a vermeil piece of this aesthetic and hypothesized material composition.