Vintage Gold Jewelry

If you receive an item you are not satisfied with, you may return it for a full refund. Email us at help@perlin-jewelry.com within 30 days.

Note: Gold jewelry (Assorted) can be found on subsequent pages.

The word gold, used alone, means pure gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24k is soft, it’s usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.

The art of the goldsmith was widespread in the 1^st third of the 19^th century, when the techniques of combining different colors of gold and carved designs were perfected for use in seals and snuff boxes. In the 1840s delicate wirework was passed over in favor of repousse’ and die stamped decoration. Jewelry made in this way looks solid and heavy but is in fact light and hollow. Archeological revivals in the mid-century resulted in a vogue for classically inspired gold work techniques, such as granulation. Styles became increasingly ornate.  By the 1880s a fashion developed for plainer gold jewelry with unusual textures. With the introduction of platinum at the turn of the 20^th century the popularity of gold decreased. Demand picked up again in the 1940s and has remained strong ever since.

Ancient gold is unalloyed - as near to 24 karat as gold naturally occurs - and was so soft and delicate you could bend it with your finger. Gold has been treasured since ancient times as the ideal metal for jewelry. Its rarity makes it desirable, and its color is rich and becoming. It is soft enough to work easily, and in its pure state will never tarnish. In England before 1854, “gold” meant high karat gold – 18 karat or better. In that same year, 15,12 and 9 karat gold were legally recognized, and - in 1932 - 14 karat gold replaced 12 and 15 karat.

White gold is created from yellow gold alloyed with white metal. All white gold is Rhodium plated to create a bright white finish. Rhodium is a shiny, white metal that is extremely hard. White gold was originally developed to imitate platinum during World War II (during this time in the U.S., platinum was considered a strategic material and its use was prohibited for most non-military applications like jewelry making).