14K Yellow Gold Antique Chinese Pendant (Hand Carved) w/14K 24" Chain

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My family lived and traveled throughout eastern Asia, what used to be called the orient but I guess that is not the "PC" way to say it now, although I'm not sure why. My Father was born and grew up in Shanghai and I was born in Kuala Lumpur. I have a small collection of jewelry and art from various east and southeast Asian countries that I will be auctioning off. This pendant/medallion was appraised in 1993 for $600 for the pendant alone. It features the Dragon and Rooster and a sphere that represents the heavens in the classic Chinese mythical tale. If you are not familiar with the tale I won't tell you because I think it's more fun to look it up and read it for yourself. It is hand carved out of 14 K gold and weighs 27 grams and is 60mm in diameter or about 2 and 1/2 inches , is approximately 2 mm thick at the outside edge while the sphere is about 5mm in diameter. The craftsmanship is beautiful and you can see how the maker used various amounts of one metal or another to produce slightly different colors on different parts of the pendant. ( Gold can be made various colors such as red, green or even purple depending on which metals it is combined with. Most yellow golds we see contain gold mixed with approximately equal parts of copper and silver. Add more copper and you get more reddish color and if you use just silver you will get white gold. Zinc in small amounts is often added to help harden it and other elements used include nickel, manganese, palladium, rhodium, aluminum, indium and gallium. It is important to remember that the actual gold content must remain the same for it to be called 14 karat or 18 karat; it's just the amounts of the other metals that change.) This piece was probably made sometime in the early to mid 1950s in Hong Kong but may have been made earlier in Shanghai. The sturdy rope effect chain is also 14K and weighs 13.1 grams for a total of 40.1 grams or almost one and one third troy ounces . Which means the gold value alone is worth about $1000. I am asking about two thirds of what it is really worth. A good deal any way you slice it. Because of it's age you can expect small superficial scratches (nothing a professional polishing wouldn't take out) but there are no major flaws. To me this piece represents jewelry, art and cultural history. This is a piece to be worn with pride and it may just bring you good luck and longevity; but only if you believe! Please don't buy this if you are only interested in the gold. However, because of the increase in gold prices since 1993 it's gold value has tripled and so it is worth more today on that basis. But that is not the basis for jewelry pricing; there are several factors are involved. I believe the price I have listed is quite fair all things considered, so please don't ask me if I will accept a lower price. After eBay and PayPal take their cut I won't make much. This is for sale in the US and Canada only . No APO/ FPOs. POs only if well established on eBay . South Carolina residents must add 6% sales tax. I will accept returns within 14 days but only if they are undamaged, in exactly the same condition as when I shipped them and with explanation. The buyer agrees to pay for returns (including insurance) and assumes all responsibility while in return transit. If you use PayPal then I will ship promptly after payment is received and with insurance that will require an adult signature. I sell a fair amount of coins on eBay and elsewhere and have not had a dissatisfied customer yet. I am sure someone with style and good taste will appreciate this beautifully crated pendant. I do prefer PayPal. Any other form of payment would require the buyer to wait for the funds to completely clear and be deposited in my bank account . read more

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