nuggets of truth? nuggets of wisdom? nuggets of history? each nugget in this chain feels like it tells a story. it's absolutely a piece of gold rush era history, and has a profound, rich presence that has to be felt to be truly understood. It's hard to know if these nuggets were from Alaska or California, as each were producing this style of watch chain simultaneously.
will you wear it as necklace? wrapped as a bracelet? hang pendants or fobs from the dog clip? adorn it with pendants with bails large enough to slide over the nuggets? Invest a little more and have diamonds set in the nuggets to create the ultimate, rustic tennis necklace?
this piece has NOT been polished, so it features time-earned patina
it's a true investment piece in every sense of the term, not the least of which is the symbolic meanings you assign to each link and the sum of its parts
solid 14k + 21k
M E A S U R E M E N T S
measures 18.25" long
nugget links vary in size considerably and range from 3 to 6mm wide
dog clip is ~21mm long including bail
weighs 21.3g
C O N D I T I O N
in good antique condition
this chain is a true antique and may have originally had a spring ring clasp at the end of the chain that doesn't have a clasp, and if so, that clasp is long gone and it's hard to know if it was removed because it was broken, or removed so that the chain could be used to hold pendants with larger bails — either could be possible. the bail at the end of the chain is larger than the other bails on the nuggets, so it's possible that this chain came as-is. when the dog clip is connected to the end bail the clasp will lay 'flat' on the chest, so the link with the end bail will be perpendicular (not flat) — if this is bothersome the solution is to add another bail at the end. this could be done for you if prior to shipping at your request
the nuggets are not pure 24k, which would be too soft for everyday wear, they XRF at 21k and have a very high karat hue with some dark areas — honestly not sure what the dark areas are, but they seem to be common in high karat gold rush era nuggets, so they likely have a story that points to their earthly provenance
each nugget is finished with two bails and then connected with a smaller ring — they're all soldered shut, original, and intact, and have a slightly rosy hue. some may have a tiny bit of thinning where the rings make contact with one another, but none are thinning to the point where they'd warrant repair
the dog clip is a larger dog clip with a rosy hue that matches the hue of the connector rings throughout the chain. the clasp does swivel, is marked, and is in great condition. there's a tiny bit of thinning to the clasp's bail where it connects with the chain
this is an antique item and will show surface scratches, dents, dings, dulling, wear, patina, and signs of having been worn and loved
please carefully review all photos as they are considered an important part of the description of the item’s condition
S H O P A G R E E M E N T S
please read the 'shop policies' section to understand this shop's shipping & exchange policies
S K I N S E N S I T I V I T I E S
please read the ‘FAQs’ section before purchasing an item if you have a history of skin sensitivities to metals of any kind, and/or a history of skin reactions like dermatitis or eczema. Send us a message if you have additional questions.
