~It is our pleasure to offer a range of Quality Antique & Vintage Jewellery on eBay~
We are passionate collectors of a variety of jewellery from the Victorian, Edwardian & Art Deco eras and beyond in both solid Gold and Gold Filled, and occasionally Sterling Silver and costume jewellery. Only pieces we would be proud to own & wear are offered for sale. Of course some show varying degrees of use in keeping with their age but many are in remarkable, almost-new condition. Along with our knowledge as collectors we also research the jewellery's makers to be able to accurately present each piece.
About Us Our business was established online in August 2005 but we have been avid collectors for much longer than that. We have a passion for Antique Gold Filled jewellery because it is so special. Its construction makes it strong and durable enabling it to wear like low carat jewellery of today. Due to the gold rushes of the 1800s and early 1900s, there was an abundant supply of gold so even the less wealthy people could afford quality jewellery that looked and felt like solid gold at a fraction of the price. Quality antique & vintage pieces are very sought after for this reason. The fact many pieces remain as beautiful as the day they were crafted is proof of that. Quality pieces are highly collectible.
About Gold Filled Jewellery
Antique & Vintage Gold Filled Jewellery has the quality look & silky feel normally only associated with solid carat gold! It was crafted to such high standards it was, and still is, classified as Fine Jewellery by many. In fact, it can be very difficult to determine whether a piece is solid gold or gold filled they are so similar in appearance.
The gold creates a “shell” over the base or frame - the added bonus of a base metal or metal core means it makes it far less fragile than comparable Solid Gold jewellery. The base metal offers strength & durability making denting less likely & coupled with the quality workmanship of a bygone era, Gold Filled jewellery wears comparably to the low carat solid gold pieces of today.
Gold Filled refers to the process of producing jewellery by bonding a sheet of solid carat gold to a precious or semi-precious base metal like brass, copper or sterling, by the process of heat & pressure. It is similar to or the same as Rolled Gold but generally of superior quality, in our opinion.
The mark indicating a piece is Gold Filled is 1/20 meaning the gold is 1/20th by weight of the item. Antique pieces often had a higher gold content prior to legislation. Some are marked 1/10 meaning they are a Higher Grade Gold Filled or Gold Shell, a term commonly used for both 1/20 and 1/10 constructed pieces.
The Gold Filled process is very different to Gold Plating. Modern gold plated items have a thin spray of gold, today referred to as electroplating, which can wear easily due to a number of reasons including oils in the skin, perfumes & soaps. Antique gold plating is usually thicker & of superior quality. Generally speaking, the layer of gold for gold filled pieces is up to 100 times thicker, if not more, compared to gold plating.
Interesting History of Gold Filled Jewellery
Gold Filled is NOT the same as Gold Plating and prior to 1907 was usually not marked or stamped as such until legislation (The Stamping Act 1906) requiring jewellery of Gold Filled construction to be stamped/marked or hallmarked or identified. Even after this time, a piece could be presented in a box or with a tag stating it was Gold Filled. We use an electronic gold tester, a jeweller’s loupe and research of each maker & the types of jewellery they were known to produce, so we are able to accurately advise exactly how each piece is constructed and the era it was produced. If there is any doubt, we will consult a jeweller for their opinion. We will never file into or damage a piece to determine its construction.
After Something in Particular?
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We may have it in stock or will endeavour to source it for you. Contact Me
