What Is California Gold?
California Gold has shaped our state’s history, culture, and landscape for over 175 years. From the rivers in the Sierra Nevada foothills where we source it, this gold remains a rare and dinstinctive material — valued for its high karat composition, distinctive coloring, and deep connection to place.
A Material Steeped in History
California Gold is inseparable from the story of the state — both its triumphs and its costs. The discovery of gold in 1848 sparked the Gold Rush, driving economic growth and migration, but it also caused widespread environmental disruption and displacement of Native communities.
Gold mining continues around the world and in many cases without oversight, continuing to cause significant harm to people and ecosystems. Our California Gold provides a traceable alternative. It mined with adherence to strict environmental regulations and land reclamation plans to ensure the impact is known and managed.
This approach allows us to honor the land and the communities connected to it, while preserving the state’s local mining legacy responsibly.
Mined by us in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California
Raw river gold is 20K and has a distinct greenish gold hue
Each ring is handcrafted in our Santa Monica studio just for you
A symbol of your love and values, made to last for generations
Our Traceable Source
Traceability is rare in gold. Our river claim, gold mine operation and close partnerships in Northern California allow us to follow the journey of the gold from its place of origin to our studio in Santa Monica. Unlike mass-mined gold, this traceable source connects our California Gold to a specific, known location, preserving the story of where it came from and the care involved in its extraction.
Symbolism and Connection
California Gold carries significance beyond its physical properties. It embodies place, heritage, and continuity, linking the wearer to the state’s history, its landscapes, and the communities that have shaped it. Our California Gold jewelry collection is a way to connect with that story, grounding personal milestones in a material that is deeply tied to the Golden State–whatever your connection to it may be.
Unique Qualities of 20K Gold
California gold is naturally high in purity, averaging 20 karats, with a subtle greenish hue from the naturally occurring metals in the alloy. This composition gives it a distinctive color and preserves intrinsic value, reflecting its geological origin. Its rarity, high-karat content, and unique tone make it a material unlike standard commercial gold, celebrated for its character and depth.
Handmade in Santa Monica
Each wax is hand-shot and every ring is hand-finished. Our soft-hammered matte finish is inspired by the look of raw gold nuggets worn by eons of flowing water and tumbling rocks. It takes at least 1,000 hammer strikes to achieve this organic, natural texture.
Lastly, the ring is stamped inside with our California grizzly bear hallmark to denote its 100% California Gold composition. The grizzly bear has graced our California state flag since the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 and is a long-standing symbol of strength. Visit our studio in Santa Monica.
Let’s Connect!
Whether you are just starting to shop for wedding rings or are far along, we’re here to personally support you in finding the one that is right for you! Connect with us however you like – phone, email, or personal consultation virtual or in our Santa Monica studio!