The Rare Beauty of Gold-N-Quartz Jewelry

We first came across this unique jewelry while on a cruise to Alaska. We saw the brochures at the purser’s desk and I decided I needed to see this. Our first stop was in Skagway, Alaska and I immediately started checking the numerous jewelry stores for my first look at the real thing.

Gold-N-Quartz jewelry is quite simply, jewelry made from cabochons cut from white quartz containing stringers of gold. There are not many hard rock mines that can produce a high enough quality ore to cut the stones from. The first, according to my research, was the Sixteen to One Mine in Northern California.  Some is also produced in Alaska and Canada but the majority still seems to come from California mines.  To find the high quality gold bearing ore, miners follow quartz stringers into the mountains and carefully high grade the ore that comes out. Most goes on to a refiner to be ground and have the gold extracted, melted down and turned into jewelry or electronics. A small percentage is hard enough and has the dispersion to cut beautiful, one of a kind, stones for setting into jewelry.

The first jewelry store that we walked into had some of the Gold-N-Quartz jewelry in the case. As glamorous as the photos were, they didn’t hold a candle to the real thing. I didn’t see quite what I was looking for so we moved on. Finally, at the store where the owner showed us the huge gold nugget, there was my ring. Due to its uniqueness and beauty, Gold-N-Quartz jewelry is not cheap. I did not, however, feel that the pricing was outlandish. I chose a men’s ring with a square stone with the gold even spread over the entire stone.

Gold-N-Quartz jewelry can be purchased in men’s and women’s rings, pendants, earrings, and few other more obscure things like money clips. It is very durable, something I was concerned with. I have banged my hand (can you say klutz) on door jams and countertops while walking by without harming the stone.  I would warn everyone, however, about purchasing it on line or by mail if you are not seeing a photo of the exact piece that you are purchasing. Many of the pieces that we looked at did not have the gold throughout the stone but instead may have had it concentrated on one side or, especially with the earrings, just a small spot of gold in a large sea of white quartz. I chose a piece that highlighted the gold but you can get settings with diamonds and other gemstones also. In addition, one very attractive design has the center stone set in a setting with small gold nuggets or flakes accenting both sides. If you are choosy, you will come away with a piece of jewelry you can enjoy forever.

Hope you get a chance to check it out and enjoy it forever.

Stuart

Treasured Pasts