In the exciting year of 1850, post gold rush, California proudly became the 31st state of the United States, and San Francisco, once a ghost town, blossomed into a bustling city with 25,000 residents.

By the end of 1850, the easily accessible gold was mostly depleted, leading to the development of new techniques to extract more elusive veins of gold nestled in quartz. In 1851, "hard rock" mining became the go-to industry in Northern California, a task most gold seekers weren't prepared for, leading to a rise of medium to large companies undertaking the gold industry because they held the resources necessary to keep the gold flowing, marking a new era in the gold mining business.

This an utter outrage of a brooch is my first stunning encounter with black Gold-In-Quartz, an enamoring stone. This brooch exemplifies the bold stylization of post-Civil War American aesthetics, particularly the trend-setting designs coming out of San Francisco, which began the East Lake movement shortly after California acquired statehood on September 9th. Gold-in-Quartz jewelry was often created and acquired by those traveling to the region in the second half of the 19th century. Geometric and exceptional, this brooch will be a crown jewel.

Materials and Features: 14k gold, Black gold in quartz

Age/Origin: American, c.1860

Measurements: 13 grams, 8mm in length

Condition: Excellent condition.

Please view and inspect any photos closely. We endeavor to fully disclose all condition information clearly and concisely, however, please note that what qualifies as excellent condition for historical jewelry differs from modern and contemporary pieces; please take the age of the piece into account when examining the piece. Minor age wear is typical and to be expected for antique and vintage jewelry. Unless otherwise stated, gemstones have not been officially graded for color, clarity, or treatment by GIA; any information provided is our own educated, professional assessment.