Antique Locket and Guard Chain in Rolled Gold and 9ct Gold
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An antique locket and guard chain, The oval hinged locket with engraved and chased decoration in rolled gold, suspended from an oval link guard chain crafted in 9ct gold with steel inserts, total weight 47.7gms, total length 1400 mm.
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- Guard Chain - In the 19th century and early 20th century, a guard chain was attached to a watch, and also an item of clothing, such as a buttonhole or a waistcoat to prevent the loss of the watch. For ladies, the guard chains were used to hold the ladies fob watch securely and sometimes were long enough to be wrapped around the neck a number of times and worn as a necklace.
- Rolled Gold - A type of gold plating devloped in the early 19th century, similar to Sheffield plating of silver, where the the gold is fused under pressure and heat to a base metal, usually brass, and then rolled into sheets of the required thickness.
The thickness of the gold plate can vary. In Britain the thickness of the gold is measured in microns. A micron is one-thousandth of a millimetre and 20 microns of gold is considered good quality. In the USA a differnt method is used that takes account of the total weight of the object.
Also, the purity of the gold, measured in carats can vary, with 24 carat being the purest. The gold in most rolled gold objects will be between 9 and 14 carats.
There are other chemical and electroplating methods of applying gold plate to a base metal, but rolled gold is considered a superior plate to a "gold plated" object.
Depending on the country and date of manufacture, the object may be stamped "Rolled Gold" or similar, but if there is any doubt as to whether an object is solid gold, or some type of gold plating, it is preferable to have it tested by a jeweller. - Chased Decoration - Chased decoration on silver and other metal wares refers to a technique used by silversmiths in which designs are created by hammering or incising the surface of the silver to create raised or recessed patterns. This technique is often used to create intricate and detailed designs on silverware, jewellery, and other decorative items.
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