California Gold Rush Nuggets
Retrieved (and drilled) in California by an original ‘forty-niner’. Little nuggets of American history (that just happen to be made of solid gold).
52 in total, these came to us with an old (kind of gross) piece of hemp-fibre cord, and it looks like they were strung up in bunches of ten - presumably to keep them safe while travelling. Were they a ‘49er’s pension? The old timer pocketing one nugget a week for a rainy day? Or the spoils of one helluva morning's prospecting? We’ll probably never know...
The Californian gold rush of 1849 transformed America. It directly injected tens of billions of dollars (today’s money) into a faltering economy, drew over 300,000 people from all over the world, and propelled California towards fully-fledged statehood. The story, on many levels, encapsulates the ‘American Dream’ - although many who participated in the rush, known as ‘forty-niners’, left with little to show for their graft. The going was notoriously tough, and large nuggets like these were relatively scarce after the first couple of years.
Priced by weight
Approx. 90-99% purity (23/24 carat gold)
Full appraisal document provided with each item
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable)
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain)
Shipping
Express shipping is free of charge and carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
UPS Express (International)
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
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Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£35 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
A 25% deposit will be taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved, often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
More Questions?
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alex@lostowl.jewelry