gold? bracelet with cameo, help interpreting marks needed

[LRP]

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff32 ... ays540.jpg

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff32 ... ays542.jpg

this is a lovely bracelet with cameo feature, don't know anything about it -
wondering if anyone can help? it seems to have written on it:

V20 12?? (08?) CECC or GEGG or something like that, hard to read,...thanks everyone, Louise :-)
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[kerangoumar]

this is a pretty collectible.

the characters 1/20 12k gf
means that 5 per cent of 12/24kt gold is "filled" vs rolled

in other words, 5 per cent of 50% gold, or 25 parts out of a thousand, is incorporated into the metal to give it cachet. the manufacturer might have claimed that this made it more "golden" - mostly a marketing gimmick which many people might consider dangerously close to deception.
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[LRP]

this site is fantastic, the knowledge and help is brilliant. Learning something new every day... cheers
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[JLDoggett]

1/20-12k GF means that 1/20th of the thickness is an outer layer of 12kt gold. The metal is processed by soldering a thin sheet of gold atop a thicker sheet of (usually) brass in the ratio the article has been marked. Then the metal is rolled to the desired thickness. The two metals stretch at the same rate so the ratio stays the same. This produces a sheet of metal with one gold surface and one of brass. Wire is also made wherein a gold tube is soldered over a base rod of brass, then drawing it to the desired thickness. In modern manufacture the gold is often electro-deposited on the base before rolling or drawing. The finished pieces are often gold-plated to cover the brass base and any solder joints.

This metal is much less expensive to work with than solid gold (it is usually in the price range of sterling) and is used in upper end cotume jewellery and a lot of art jewelry. Products made with this gold-filled wear much better than gold-plated.
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[admin]

mostly a marketing gimmick which many people might consider dangerously close to deception.

Hi K,
Can't say I see anything here that even approaches "close to deception", especially as it is clearly labeled in order to give you the precise specifications as to what you are getting - an item sheathed in gold to the level of 5% of its total weight - providing you with the knowledge that it will wear far better and longer than a gold electroplated piece.
Regards, Tom

ps. recently became aware that the 5% content is enough to warrant the buying up of gold filled items, by some precious metal scrappers, in order to recover it.


Here is the definition and the legal standards from a US Government website:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2003/16cfr23.4.
(3) An industry product or part thereof on which there has been affixed on all significant surfaces by soldering, brazing, welding, or other mechanical means, a plating of gold alloy of not less than 10 karat fineness and of substantial thickness may be marked or described as "Gold Filled," "Gold Overlay," "Rolled Gold Plate"or an adequate abbreviation, when such plating constitutes at least 1/20th of the weight of the metal in the entire article and when the term is immediately preceded by a designation of the karat fineness of the plating which is of equal conspicuousness as the term used (for example, "14 Karat Gold Filled," "14 Kt. Gold Filled," "14 Kt. G.F.," "14 Kt. Gold Overlay," or "14K. R.G.P."). When conforming to all such requirements except the specified minimum of 1/20th of the weight of the metal in the entire article, the terms "Gold Overlay" and "Rolled Gold Plate" may be used when the karat fineness designation is immediately preceded by a fraction accurately disclosing the portion of the weight of the metal in the entire article accounted for by the plating, and when such fraction is of equal conspicuousness as the term used (for example, "1/40th 12 Kt. Rolled Gold Plate" or "1/40 12 Kt. R.G.P.").
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