Snow Drop - Vintage 14K Gold Cultured Pearl Pendant & 14K GF Chain (VP249)

Snow Drop - Vintage 14K Gold Cultured Pearl Pendant & 14K GF Chain. This lovely pendant is crafted from 14K yellow gold, hallmarked 14K inside the bale. Whilst the chain is hallmarked 1/20 14K GF, for 14K gold fill. Featuring one genuine cultured pearl, classic vintage styling, and quality craftsmanship. This beautiful lustrous pearl is white in color, displaying a slightly pinkish/champagne overtone. The pendant features a  'V' style bale,  so a chain can be put through smoothly. The chain is a belcher design , which looks perfect with the simple and elegant pearl pendant. The chain has a spring ring clasp, which is in perfect working order. This vintage pendant would make a wonderful versatile gift , or a classic addition to any fine jewelry collection. 

History: Pearls were presented as gifts to Chinese royalty as early as 2300 BC, while in ancient Rome, pearl jewellery was considered the ultimate status symbol. So precious were the spherical gems that in the 1st century BC, Julius Caesar passed a law limiting the wearing of pearls only to the ruling classes.

Gold was generally used for a couple thousand years solely to create things such as jewelry and idols for worship. This was until around 1500 BC when the ancient empire of Egypt, which benefited greatly from its gold-bearing region, Nubia, made gold the first official medium of exchange for international trade.

The history of gold-filled jewellery traces back to early 19th century England, where this technique was patented to create semi-precious and better-quality custom jewellery during the Victorian Era.

As long as gold filled pieces are well cared for, they can last a lifetime. Gold plated pieces, on the other hand, can last up to a year if kept away from water, wear, and heat. It's also worth mentioning that gold filled pieces with lower karat weight (9-14k) may be more durable than pieces with greater gold content. Victorian gold filled jewelry can last for centuries. 

Measurements: Pendant (Including the bale) 11.00 mm x 6.00 mm     Chain 18"

Stone Size: Pearl 6.00 mm 

Weight: 1.60 grams 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: America         Chain: Ireland 

Date: Circa 1980