Carnelian Charm Bracelet
I am looking to see if anyone can give me any information on this charm bracelet. I have only learned it is carnelian intaglio. I am also having trouble deciphering the marking on the clasp. I am including photos which still haven't helped me to figure it out. Hopefully someone can enlighten me. Thank you for any help and have a great day.
1 comment
idealgems1
·1 year agoCool piece! The clasp says something that I can't decipher, except the 12K GF part, indicating that it's gold filled.
Gold filled is a heavier-weight outer layer of gold. Usually, it's what is referred to as 1/20 GF, indicating that 1/20, or 5% of the actual weight of the piece is the outer gold layer. Gold plated, on the other hand, is a very thin layer that wears through quickly. Solid gold means that the karat purity of the gold is the entire piece, even the middle if you chopped through it. Gold filled jewelry is designed to last a lifetime; solid gold will last several lifetimes.
The outer gold layer is usually 14K in purity, but in your case, it is 12K in purity. 14K is about 58.3% gold and the rest alloy metals. 12K is 50% gold and 50% alloy metals.
It is rare, but sometimes you may encounter a gold filled clasp put on a solid gold piece. It's always a good habit on a piece like this to test the gold for each charm and the bracelet itself before jumping to the conclusion that the entire piece is gold filled.
Hope this helps!