Sparrow's Treasure - Vintage 18K White Gold Cultured Black Pearl Pendant & Chain (VP288)

Sparrow's Treasure - Vintage 18K White Gold Cultured Black Pearl Pendant & Chain.  This gorgeous pendant and chain is crafted from 18K white gold, hallmarked 18K and 750 (European hallmark for 18K gold), and tested. The pendant features one genuine cultured black pearl, vintage classic styling, and quality craftsmanship. The surmount on this pendant is simple and classic, which showcases a beautiful black pearl securely dangling from it. The chain is a vintage belcher design, which features a secure spring ring clasp in perfect working order. This vintage pendant would make a perfect gift for that special someone, or a wonderful addition to any vintage fine jewelry collection. 

Comments: A wonderful classic and versatile piece. 

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.

Although the origin of white color gold dates back to 1710, where it was discovered by two alchemists in Germany, it wasn't used widely until much later. White gold as we know it today was really popularised in the 1920s. Although it might seem strange, this luxury material came to popularity in wartime.

Measurements: Pearl Pendant 16.00 mm x 8.50 mm     Chain  18" 

Stone Size: Black Pearl 10.00 mm x 8.50 mm 

Weight: Pendant & Chain  2.86 grams 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: Europe 

Date: Circa 1990