Black Hills gold and silver jewelry was first created in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where many people arrived in 1874 to prospect for both metals.
Characteristics of Black Hills Gold and Silver
Black Hills gold is not a type of gold like yellow gold, but it has components of it. It is traditionally a lower karat gold ranging from 10 karats in the base to 12 karats in some of the decorations.
Black Hills silver necklace and ring jewelry starts with a base of silver and can have gold decorations added to it.
If the jewelry is not manufactured in South Dakota, then it is not genuine.
Designs in Black Hills Gold and Silver
The traditional designs are what make Black Hills jewelry instantly recognizable. No one is sure how these designs were decided upon; one suggestion is that they were seen in a dream.
No matter how the design was first thought of, it is still being used today and consists of leaves, grapes and stems. In most cases, the decorative parts are manufactured separately and then soldered onto the gold base.
Colors in Black Hills Gold and Silver
Probably the most interesting aspect of Black Hills jewelry is the colors. The base is either yellow gold or silver and the decorative leaves and other elements are either pink or green.
Yellow gold mixed with copper makes the distinctive pink color and the concentration of the copper determines the intensity.
The green color is a mixture of silver and gold. Silver jewelry usually has just the green decorations, not both green and pink.
Black Hills jewelry was once only purchased by travelers to South Dakota as a souvenir. Now it can be found on the internet, but ask for a guarantee that it was made in the Black Hills before you buy.
