Featured Virginia Gold

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by daveydempsey, Aug 6, 2018.

  1. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    I don`t mean the horse race or the tobacco.

    7 inch chain that had a old cheap watch hanging on it.
    I know the photos are not very good but it says VIRGINIA GOLD on the fastening clasp and VG on one link.

    Acid test for gold is inconclusive.

    Any ideas on Virginia gold?

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  2. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    I'm pretty sure it means I am the rightful owner and it should be shipped to me promptly!

    EDIT - Maybe it was a Virginia Gold tobacco promotional item?
     
  3. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    Probably along the lines of "Nevada Silver", "Alaska Silver", "German Silver", "Brazil Silver", etc
     
  4. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    That's what I was thinking. It might be gold-filled or something similar.
     
  5. say_it_slowly

    say_it_slowly The worst prison is a closed heart

    Don't know anything about your chain (sorry:() but I live in Virginia so I'll give you a little bit of info on that. It might not be related to your chain in any way though.

    Virginia has had some gold mining. There even is a gold mining museum in the county where I live though I don't think it was a big operation. I have a friend who goes gold panning and does find a bit.

    Just up the road is a rather well known steeplechase, the Virginia Gold Cup, so just thought I'd throw that in just in case there is any possible connection (assume that's the race you mention). It's been going on since the 1920's. You never know when someone might stick that on something.
     
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  6. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Is anything written on the watch?
     
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  7. DragonflyWink

    DragonflyWink Well-Known Member

    Ellis Newton of Birmingham registered the trademark for 'Virginia Gold' in 1883. Sounds like he was quite a character - according to an 1886 Australian article, Ellis Newton was an American, born in "Boston (U.S.A.)" in 1843, he left home at 15 to become a travelling minstrel, left that to become " America's wondrous auctioneer", lived in England for eleven years, moved to Ireland, opening a large establishment in Belfast, and becoming a Master Mason, apparently leaving for Australia six months prior to the article being written, and in that short time managed to make both friends and enemies. Included in the article was this paragraph:

    "Mr. Newton guarantees his watches are
    what he represents, either solid English ailver
    or Virginia gold, which latter is a mixture of
    certain metals, for the manufacture of which
    he holds a registered certificate. With regard
    to this matter, Mr. Newton figured some time
    ago at the High Court of Chancery, in Lon-
    don, in an action before Justice Chitty, in
    which the Canadian Gold Company were the
    plaintiff, and Mr. Newton—sole manufacturer
    of the Virginia gold—defendant The action
    was brought on in 1879, and the Canadian
    Gold Company sued Mr. Newton for £4000
    for refusing their gold, which Mr. Newton
    found out was not "good enough." Mr.
    Newton took up with him 41 witnesses on
    three occasions to London to prove that the
    Canadian gold was not as was represented,
    and after the case bad been spun out for three
    years, Justice Chitty gave a decision against
    the plaintiffs, and it cost the Canadian Gold
    Company—which is formed of Jews—£3000."

    Link to the article: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/84382721

    ~Cheryl
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2018
  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Justice Chitty gave a decision against
    the plaintiffs, and it cost the Canadian Gold
    Company—which is formed of Jews—£3000."

    Really.....I'm lost of the relevance ....save for a racist lilt...:wideyed::wideyed::grumpy:
     
  9. DragonflyWink

    DragonflyWink Well-Known Member

    Ya think!?!

    ~Cheryl
     
  10. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Makes you wonder how the case would have gone if they'd been Gentiles.
     
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  11. DragonflyWink

    DragonflyWink Well-Known Member

    Have to wonder if the story was even true - sounds like the writer (if it wasn't Newton himself) just basically put down what he was told by a bit of a braggart. But there is official record of him being issued the 'Virginia Gold' trademark in 1883...

    ~Cheryl
     
  12. James Conrad

    James Conrad Well-Known Member

    Neat! my mothers family are in Virginia, Occoquan & Manassas area.
    Yeah, I am with SIS on this chain, not a clue here :sorry:
     
  13. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    The watch is in the bin, cheap broken junk , just a poor marriage with the chain.
     
    James Conrad likes this.
  14. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Too bad. As in too bad it wasn't an 18k case on a junk chain! I've found similar combinations a few times. Sometimes you get lucky and someone checks the marks on the chain and not the watch/pendant.
     
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  15. say_it_slowly

    say_it_slowly The worst prison is a closed heart

    Just west of there in Fauquier County:).
     
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