When you looked into a jewelry case full of Black Hills Gold jewelry for the first time, did you immediately fall in love? I know I did. I immediately wanted to begin collecting as much of it as I could because it was so different than anything else I had. There are many types to choose from, including Black Hills Gold rings and Black Hills Gold earrings, to name just a few. Before you jump into a full-fledged Black Hills Gold jewelry collection, take a look at this:
Black Hills Gold is truly American, through and through. Gold was first discovered in the Black Hills of present day South Dakota in 1876. General George A. Custer was sent there on an expedition after missionaries reported meeting Indians in the area who had gold, and said that they had found it in the Black Hills. When General Custer sent word back to Washington that there was gold to be had there, a gold rush began that lasted for most of a decade. Because of the excessive mining done at that time, there is only one mine remaining in the Black Hills today, near the town of Lead, South Dakota.
Black Hills Gold rings and other Black Hills Gold manufactured today must be designed and manufactured in South Dakota to be considered to be genuine. It must also have a tri-gold coloration, with a grape leaf motif worked into the design of the piece. A court ruling in 1980 declared that those were the conditions for jewelry to be called Black Hills jewelry because in the previous decade, many companies were making jewelry in other states, using copper and calling it “Black Hills Gold” even though it wasn’t made anywhere near South Dakota.
Because gold actually mined in the Black Hills is now scarce, most Black Hills Gold jewelry is made from gold mined elsewhere. The colored gold used in it is made by using 24K pure gold and mixing it with different proportions of copper and silver to achieve the beautiful rose and green colors used in the designs. After mixing just the right colors, it is rolled into sheets, stamped and cut into the grape-leaf motifs. These are applied to 10, 12 and 14K ring shanks and other gold “base pieces” to create Black Hills gold earrings and pendants, as well as Black Hills Gold rings that we see in stores today.
One last tidbit: If you are a cost-conscious jewelry shopper, look for Black Hills Silver. It is made with strict manufacturing guidelines just like the gold version is, and just might fit into a tight budget. If you are like me and have a jewelry box full of one-color cubic zirconia rings and other fairly plain jewelry, and now that you know a little bit about the history and manufacture of Black Hills Gold jewelry, it seems like a great time to head out and do some shopping, doesn’t it?
Related posts: