Posted 8 years ago
Sarahopal
(2 items)
This is one of my favorite pieces in my collection. I think the metal is copper the stones are opal and there is a gold chain on it but I don't think it originally came on it. Don't know the history but I'm assuming it's an older piece. There is a mark on it, it looks like a backwards c next to a normal c. Not sure of maker. The length is 7" in.
whatever it is, its beautiful
Yes it is and unfortunately it's a hair to small for my wrist.
Gorgeous!!
I think you may find this is 9ct (9k, 37.5%) gold. The stamp looks like 9c with part of the 9 either rubbed, or else lightly stamped.
9c was an early stamp (hallmark) often used in Australia in the early 1900's. I would think your bracelet is Edwardian to Art Deco era, maybe as late as the 1940's. It has nice colourful crystal opals.
It was possibly brought home to the States as a gift for a loved one by a Serviceman returning from WW2 in the Pacific. Many had R&R in Australia.
The reason it will look like copper is that 9 carat gold has a high copper content which can tarnish. Give it a light polish with some silver polish and a cloth and a soft toothbrush to get into the edges. Then rinse it off in cold water, using the toothbrush to get rid of the polish residue.
Do not put it in a silver dip as the opals don't like chemicals.
I'll be interested to know if you discover a nice gold bracelet under that tarnish.
I thought the same as you Kiwipaul .....9c for 9ct/9kt gold!!
Oh, I am still crying seeing this bracelet. My mom gave me this bracelet that her brother gave her when he came home from WWII. Some kids broke into my house more than 30 years ago and stole it. I still have the wooden box it came in. I'm sure mine was a solid silver setting though. The littler opals were darker, more purple and orange. Just seeing it again has brought back all that love I had for it after seeing it the whole time I was growing up and then her giving it to me. I searched all over Portland for that when it was stolen, went to all the pawn shops and I found nothing. It is the exact design though and I had to have the clasp turned around because it was put on backwards. Then I read KiwiPaul's post and there it was "a gift for a loved one by a Serviceman returning from WW2." I just want you to know how special that really is and I hope you get many, many years of wearing it. I only got about 5.