A rare and highly collectible little ring sought after for their rarity, these ‘gold bearing’ or ‘gold in quartz rings are becoming increasingly hard to find.

This little treasure dates to around the Edwardian era, perhaps a little later, and is crafted from 10ct rose gold.

The star of the show is the oblong greyish white quartz with its embedded rich yellow gold veins throughout which sparkle enchantingly in the sunlight.

The quartz is bezel set to a further stepped down shoulder, and to the shoulder band an engraved motif which we believe could be a cultural emblem however we simply cannot identify, however we firmly believe the ring to be American, Canadian or Alaskan in origin.

A dainty ring perfect for those with enviable slender fingers, if you have been searching for a gold bearing antique quartz ring then you’ve hit the mother load!

STONES
‘Load bearing’ (gold) in quartz

MEASUREMENTS
1.0cm x 7.7mm
Rise - 3.7mm

WEIGHT
2 Grams

MARKS
None
Tests as 10ct gold

SIZE
M 1/2 or 16.9mm diameter US 6 1/2
Could be resized up 2 down 2

CONDITION
Very very good vintage preowned condition. No chips to quartz, natural inclusions and of course the gold veins throughout. Quartz is secure and well set. No thinning to gold, this is a dainty ring and relatively light in weight but shows no thinning due to age.

WHAT IS 'GOLD-BEARING' GOLD QUARTZ?

Gold Quartz, also known as gold-bearing quartz, refers to quartz stones naturally infused with gold veins. The color variations of gold-bearing quartz span from yellow, rose, purple, grey, to black, with white being the most prized due to its stark contrast with gold.

White gold-bearing quartz is categorised as gem-quality or jewellery-grade. This exquisite stone remains a rarity, often unseen by many, particularly first-time visitors to Alaska, given its scarcity and the limited expertise of jewellers in handling this unique material. Questions regarding its authenticity are not uncommon; however, it is indeed genuine gold and constitutes one of the rarest forms of natural gold.

The formation process of gold-bearing quartz dates back hundreds of millions of years when intense heat fused gold and quartz under hydrothermal pressure, creating liquid lava streams up to 3,000 feet beneath the Earth's surface. Subsequent cooling of these lava streams, coupled with seismic activity, led to the amalgamation of gold and other minerals within the quartz. This amalgamation of gold within the quartz is what gives rise to gold-bearing quartz or gold quartz.

Over time, erosion exposed the striking gold veins within the quartz. As these gold deposits found their way into rivers and streams, the turbulent waters caused them to interact with rocks and sediment, gradually shaping them into gold nuggets. This process occasionally resulted in the separation of gold-rich pieces from the quartz, showcasing the intricate and fascinating formation of these prized gold specimens.

Please note boxes are for display only unless otherwise stated.