After finding a few of these Victorian or Edwardian Brooches and pins in the ground, it got me to thinking, was there a way to really date them or not…
Have a look at the way the pins fasten into the catches on the back of brooches, tie clips etc-etc… & hopefully this post will point you in the right direction of maybe getting an ID…
If you don’t want to read the blurb, scroll down for some of the pictures & diagrams…
Dating Brooch Fasteners between the dates – 1850 to 1910
By Mark Chervenka
One of the best ways to avoid reproductions and fakes is to know and understand how originals are made. Reproductions are rarely made the same as originals due to changes in materials, labour costs and modern production techniques. When looking at brooches, you can get a good idea of the age of the piece by studying the catches, hinges and pins (Fig. 1).
Definitions
For the purposes of our discussion we are going to use the words “brooch” to mean the decorative, ornamental piece. The word “pin” will refer to the pointed piece of metal that pierces the clothing. The “hinge” is the assembly that allows the pin to pivot. The “catch” is the piece or mechanism that holds the fastener at the pointed end opposite the hinge. Pins, hinges, catches and other non-decorative pieces such as jump rings, latches, etc., are collectively called “findings”.
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Northeast Detectorist 
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