Gold-tone cameo screw-back earrings

This pair of vintage screw-back earrings features hand-carved shell cameos depicting classical female profile silhouettes, bezel-set in gold-toned metal settings. The carved cameos display a creamy white relief set against a darker natural background. The hardware consists of standard screw-back mechanisms used primarily for non-pierced ears, showing visible threading and adjustment paddles. There are noticeable condition issues, including significant verdigris, green oxidation buildup, and tarnish along the bezels and mechanical joints, along with surface wear to the gold-toned plating. There are no clearly legible maker's marks or metal purity stamps visible in the provided image. The visual characteristics are consistent with mid-20th-century costume jewelry production, often spanning the Art Deco revival through the mid-century period. The identification is based entirely on the visual presence of carved shell cameos and screw-back findings. The owner has supplied an unverified note that the pieces are 12k gold filled, but this claim cannot be confirmed from the photograph alone without physical inspection and stamp verification.

Based on the visual evidence in the photograph, I have evaluated this pair of vintage screw-back cameo earrings. Per user submission, the pieces are claimed to be 12k gold filled. Based on what I can see, the earrings feature hand-carved shell cameos with classical female profiles in bezel settings, paired with standard screw-back mechanisms typical of mid-20th-century costume jewelry. However, I can't verify from a photo whether the metal is indeed 12k gold filled, as no hallmarks or stamps are legible. I also note significant condition issues, including visible verdigris, green oxidation buildup, and tarnish along the bezels and joints, alongside plating wear. Assuming the owner's claim regarding the 12k gold filled nature is correct, an estimated market range for pieces of this type in worn condition is $45-75, driven by moderate collector demand for vintage shell cameo costume pieces. If physical inspection reveals the metal is merely base metal with gold-toned plating rather than gold filled, or if the items are later reproductions rather than mid-century pieces, the value would likely decrease to the $15-30 range. To confirm authenticity, metal purity, and age, an in-person physical inspection, hallmark verification, and professional acid testing or nondestructive testing by an expert appraiser would be necessary.