Found these two items in a lot with wide range of items from 1800s to 1980s. Can someone give me an idea of approx age of each and what the red one may have been? Much appreciated!
That did help indeed... The red stone one looks like a brooch, I'd say late 1800s to early 1900s, quite Victorian in style. A lot of Victorian jewelry was gold plated (they called it rolled gold) and had glass (paste) stones. The pearly brooch looks more like 30's to 40's would be my best guess.
One other thing on the pearl one, it's kinda hard to tell from pics but it looks like it may be rhodium plated pot metal, which would match with that age range also. I'd bet that one was a sparkling stunner when it was new.
And do not get too excited if it is ruby as synthetic ones have been in existence since the 1890s. A gemologist can tell you if it is a natural or manmade ruby...or glass.