Antique Natural Alaskan Gold Nugget Pendant

An antique gold-rush souvenir pendant circa 1900, and certainly the largest natural gold nugget pendant I've personally ever seen. Decorated with an applied set of mining tools and the word "Alaska" in 14k rose gold, as well as an approximately .40 ct old mine-cut diamond in the center of a rose gold star, the stone's chunky facets perfectly in sync with the raw nature of the nugget.

Details: The nugget itself measures approximately 1 3/8" high by 1 3/8" wide across the bottom, with the attached 14k bail and large jump ring the drop is 1 3/4". Gold nuggets usually contain between 85 percent and 95 percent pure gold, depending on the other naturally occurring metals in the vein. The pendant weighs 23.7 grams total.

Condition: In excellent condition, the nugget has been polished so the contours and edges are smooth.

History: The term "gold-rush" refers to a discovery of gold ore that brings about a massive onslaught of potential miners and fortune seekers to the area. That the pendant references Alaska dates it to the end of the 19th century; the gold rush there began in 1896-97 when gold was discovered in the Klondike in Canada's Yukon Territory.

Gold rush souvenir jewelry was quite popular, for both those at home and those who traveled to mining regions, and came in the form of shovel and pick brooches, rings and lockets set with gold quartz specimens, or pieces such as this which were possibly custom-made for a mine owner or wealthy tourist to the area.