Victorian 22K and 14K Gold Rush Era Nugget Necklace

An incredible Victorian era gold nugget chain necklace. This piece is a collection of small gold nuggets with small jump rings attached.  The nuggets become the links to the chain. They are spaced with a small oblong link between each nugget. There are 31 small nuggets that make up the chain.  Suspended from the center are 3 larger gold nuggets with a beautiful dark patina in the cervices. This necklace is a one of a kind beauty.

The nuggets would have most likely have been a collected by a miner and made into a souvenir piece of jewelry from the California or Alaska gold rush. Due to their natural formation, each of the gold nuggets are uniquely shaped and vary slightly in size. The small nuggets are similar in shape and are well matched and make a beautiful delicate organic chain.  The chain is 15 3/4" long with the average smaller nuggets being 10mm x 4mm. The largest nugget drop is 15mm x 6.5mm with the two smaller nuggets measuring around 11mm x 6.5mm each. The total weight is 14.3 grams.  The nuggets test at 22 karat with the clasp and oblong spacers testing at 14 karat.

It's amazing to see gold in its natural state and to notice the poetic, organic dimensions when unaltered. Nuggets are formed as a consequence of the concentration of gold by free flowing water and time.

Victorian circa 1880