Black Hills gold: what the three colors mean and how Landstrom's makes it

Black Hills Gold is easy to recognize. Leaves, vines and flowers are picked out in more than one color of gold, usually yellow, rose and green, on a single piece. Our Landstrom's collection carries the style in necklaces, earrings, rings and a bracelet. This guide explains what the three colors are, where the name comes from, and what the listings tell you about how each piece is made.

Where the name comes from

The style takes its name from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Gold was found there in the 1870s, which set off a gold rush, and jewelry in this leaf-and-vine style has been made in the region for well over a century. The grape cluster and leaf are its best-known motifs. Landstrom's is one of the best-known names in Black Hills Gold.

What the three colors are

Pure gold is yellow and too soft for most jewelry, so it is mixed with other metals. Those metals set both the hardness and the color.

• Yellow gold is the familiar warm gold color and usually forms the base of the piece, such as the vine, the band or the frame.
• Rose gold, sometimes called pink gold, gets its warmth from a higher share of copper in the mix.
• Green gold is a pale, soft green that comes from a higher share of silver.

The colors are not a code with fixed meanings. They are used the way a painter uses color, to draw the design. Green and rose leaves stand out against yellow, so a leaf or a rose reads clearly even when the piece is small. That is why the style is called tri-color gold, and why the listings in our collection describe most pieces as "10K tri-color gold".

10K gold, with 12K accents

Karat measures how much of the metal is pure gold, out of 24 parts. 10K gold is 10 parts in 24, about 42 percent gold. 12K gold is 12 parts in 24, or half gold. Every piece in our Landstrom's collection is listed as 10K gold. Several also list 12K accents, which means some of the colored details are in 12K gold. One example is the 10K and 12K tri-color Black Hills Gold ring. Others are the hummingbird necklace with 12K accents and the locket with 12K accents, which hangs on an 18-inch 14K gold-filled chain.

Lower-karat gold has more of the harder alloy metals in it, so 10K gold holds up well to daily wear. That suits rings and bracelets, which take the most knocks.

How the pieces are made: what the listings show

We describe these pieces from their own specifications, and the details are consistent across the collection:

• Diamond-cut texture. Many pieces list a diamond-cut texture. These are fine facets cut into the gold, which give the leaves a bright, faceted look. See the Black Hills Gold diamond ring, which tapers from 2mm to 6mm across the top.
• Solid construction. Many of the necklaces and earrings, and the bracelet, are listed as solid, including the Black Hills Gold cross necklace on its 18-inch chain.
• Rings with closed or open backs. Ring tops are listed with closed backs, or in the case of the Black Hills Gold Claddagh ring, an open back. Bands are fine, from 1.5mm, and several rings are marked resizable.
• Stones as accents. Some designs add small natural diamonds, garnet, mystic topaz, onyx or a freshwater cultured pearl. The leaf heart garnet dangle earrings set a garnet among the leaves.

The listings record materials, measurements and finish. They do not describe Landstrom's workshop methods, so we won't guess at them here.

Choosing a piece

For a first piece, a pair of earrings or a pendant shows the colors well at a small size. The Black Hills Gold post earrings are 12.7mm across, with push backs. The Black Hills roses bracelet carries six rose stations along a 7.5-inch chain. For a gift with meaning, the collection includes crosses, a crucifix, hearts and a Claddagh ring. Hummingbirds, butterflies and a dragonfly are there for someone who loves the outdoors.

A ring needs its size settled first. Pieces from stock can be returned within 14 days of delivery, but a ring resized for you is final sale.

Caring for Black Hills Gold

Wipe the piece with a soft, dry cloth to bring back the shine on the colored leaves. Store it apart from harder jewelry so the diamond-cut facets don't get scratched. Take it off before swimming or cleaning with household chemicals.

Browse the full Landstrom's Black Hills Gold collection, or see more gold cross pendants and necklaces. US orders over $250 ship free.