Black Hills gold is some of the most sought-after jewelry available today due to its unique design and rich history. Although most people have at least seen this jewelry, they may not know a lot about its history and what makes it unique.

Manufacturer’s Marks

Every piece of Black Hills gold jewelry has a manufacturer’s mark. For example, Landstrom places an L that looks similar to a British pound sign on its jewelry, while Mt. Rushmore Jewelry places “RGC” on its pieces. You may need a magnifying glass to find the small maker’s mark on your piece of jewelry. Just look on the inside of Black Hills jewelry ring bands or on the back of pendants and earrings.

Uniqueness

Black Hills gold jewelry is unique, so much so that it is easily distinguished from any other jewelry type. Green, gold and pink leaves and grapes adorn every piece of jewelry. Some pieces also have roses and other features. Although many overall designs exist, the design of the grapes and leaves has remained the same for more than 120 years, since the late 1800s.

True Black Hills gold jewelry can only be produced in South Dakota a law passed in 1980.

Raw Materials

All Black Hills gold jewelry is made from gold mined in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The gold and silver used in first pieces were sourced from a mine in Lead, SD, which was the largest mine in the western hemisphere at the time. However, any other metals, such as silver, that is used in the jewelry can be sourced outside of South Dakota.

More Than a Label

Black Hills gold is more than a brand or a label. Instead, it is a signature design of stamped or hand-cut and soldered grapes and leaves. This design was created French jewelry maker Henri LeBeau from Paris who got lost in South Dakota on his way to California during the gold rush.

Manufacturing Process

Some manufacturers still create hand-crafted jewelry, and each hand created piece is created using up to 40 unique steps. For example, they may create wax molds and plaster casts. Then they pour molten hot gold into the casts to form the jewelry base, such as the ring or pendant base. Then, individual grape leaves and clusters are pressed or stamped out of thin hammered sheets of gold. These delicate pieces are then engraved and soldered onto the jewelry bases, creating a unique piece of art.

Although some manufacturers now use machines to produce some of the common parts, such as the leaves, they typically require hand finishing, so each piece is unique. For example, the veins on the leaves are hand engraved.

If you are looking for a unique piece of jewelry or souvenir, consider Black Hills gold jewelry.