Top 5 Most Expensive Antique Instruments

Occasionally, a musical instrument that represents a piece of history is sold at auction at incredibly high prices. Here are the five most expensive antique instruments ever sold.

When it comes to musical instruments, factors such as the quality, craftsmanship and prestige of the instrument are important to determining price range. Whether you're a full time musician or simply play an instrument in your spare time, you know that some instruments are more or less expensive than others. Some may cost $10 while others cost $1000, but no prices can compare to the five most expensive antique instruments ever sold at auction.

5. Violoncello by Gennaro Gagliano

Before being sold at auction an auction at a staggering $362,500, experts had to conduct several studies to confirm that the violoncello was crafted by Gennaro Gagliano. The piece was crafted in 1765 and sold in 2009.

4. Viola by Gasparo da Salò

Gasparo da Salò, one of the earliest viola manufacturers known, only has 80 works that still exist today. Due to the rarity of Salò's pieces, one of his violas- which was crafted in 1575- was sold at an auction for $542,500 in April of 2010.

3. OM-45 Deluxe Guitar

Once owned by Roy Rogers, the OM-45 Deluxe Guitar was exhibited in a Missouri Museum before it went up for auction and sold for $554,500. Crafted by C.F. Martin and Company in 1930, this guitar only fifteen others of the model were manufactured making the OM-45 Deluxe Guitar truly unique musical instrument.

2. "Blackie"

"Blackie" is a Fender Stratocaster once owned by the legendary Eric Clapton and only three of its kind were crafted in the 1950s. Clapton bought the rare Fender Stratocaster in the 1970s and in 2004, it was sold at $959,000 at an auction held by Christie's.

1. The Hammer Violin

In 1707, an Italian luthier by the name of Antonio Stradivari crafted the Hammer Violin. Stradivari, of course, is the most famous luthier in the world so his violin turned quite a profit at a Christie's auction in 2006. The bidding only lasted five minutes before a Swedish collector bough the Hammer Violin at an impressive $3,544,000.

So, not only does the quality, craftsmanship and prestige factor into a musical instruments price, but the age, rarity and manufacturer also plays a big role in how much an instrument will cost. Some instruments are perfect for playing, while others are incredible, and historical, enough to be standalone works of art.

Visit this website for more information on selling antique goods in Vista.

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When selecting your pawn shop software system, one must initially determine the following:

• Do your local police authorities require you to report electronically?

If “yes,” you may not have any choice but to begin your pawn shop software selection search. If “no,” please see the next point......read more

What is the Meaning of Karat?

When it comes to buying jewelry, it is true that you get what you pay for. Don’t sell yourself short, it is highly important to know the basic terms of jewelry in order to fully understand what you are buying. For example, Karat is a term which is used to describe the purity for gold alloys, instead of weight.

It is not to be confused with the term Carat, which is a unit of mass used for weighing the pearls and gemstones. Karat and carat are often used interchangeably within certain countries, so it’s important to know which is which. The word Karat derives from ancient Asian bazaars in which carob seeds where used to balance scales to measure the weight of gold.

Since gold is a relatively soft metal, mixing it with other alloys creates stronger jewelry whereas pure gold, 24 Karats (kt), is highly susceptible to damage. Since the purity of a ring does not affect its weight, it is easiest to test Karats with acid or electronic testing kit- though acid will inevitably damage the gold.

So how much gold is in your ring? Well, one Karat gold unit is 1/24 part. In the U.S., the minimum Karat is 10 (9kt in the U.K.). A 10kt ring is gold mixed with approximately 60 percent of other metals. Certain gold mixtures have different colors. Colored gold can range from white and yellow to red and even green.

Visit this website for more information on selling your gold in Vista.

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What Is the Difference Between Platinum and Silver?

In appearance, and to the untrained eye, platinum and silver can seem almost identical. Due to their color, shine, and ubiquity worldwide, it is not surprising that mistakes are made in telling them apart. This can be dangerous and costly, as platinum is actually much more valuable than silver (and even more valuable than gold). Here are some ways to tell these two common precious metals apart.

1. Weight

Platinum and silver can be identified through their unique densities. If you are curious about an item, determine the water displacement and the weight of it. You can then come up with an equation that tells you the approximate amount of platinum present. Silver will be approximately 10 grams/cc, whereas platinum will be almost double at about 18 grams/cc.

2. Color

Despite having a similar appearance, there are slight variations between platinum and silver pieces in terms of color. Platinum has more of a white tint than silver. This whiteness gives it a unique, luminous sheen that is missing from silver. Silver has a duller color in comparison. It also will show a scratch from a fingernail, because it is softer than the other.

3. Durability

If you take care of your platinum item, it will keep its white bright appearance and will resist tarnishing. It has a very high melting point and will deflect cracking and corrosion. Take good care of your metal jewelry, whatever its worth, and you’ll cherish it for years. To learn where to buy jewelry in Vista, please visit this website

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