The Encyclopedia · Metals & marks
Silver-topped gold
Silver on the front and gold on the back, the standard setting for diamonds before platinum.
Before platinum, diamonds were set in silver, whose white color flattered them. Because silver tarnishes and marks clothing, jewelers backed it with gold: silver on the front, gold behind. Silver-topped gold is the metal of Georgian and Victorian diamond jewelry, from rivère necklaces to star brooches.
What to look for
The silver darkens naturally with time, which is part of the look. The join between the two metals should be intact.
In the collection
Silver-topped gold, available now
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