18ct Gold Medal
An 18ct gold medal is a precious pendant or charm that carries intricate devotional, botanical or commemorative imagery, worn as a personal talisman.
18ct Gold Medal
When you search for an 18ct gold medal, you encounter small wearable artworks that function as pendants, charms or lockets. Most examples on this page originate from France and span the late nineteenth century through to the mid-twentieth century. The selection leans heavily towards religious subjects, including the Virgin Mary, Madonna and Child, and various saints.
Beyond devotional pieces, the category encompasses secular designs such as zodiac starsigns, Maltese crosses, floral wreaths and medical blood group charms. These items were frequently created to mark significant personal milestones like first communions or anniversaries. They combine sculptural metalwork with utilitarian charm loops or pendant bails designed for daily wear.
Materials and Craftsmanship
The foundation of these pieces is 18K yellow gold, occasionally complemented by white gold or rose gold accents. Artisans shaped this precious metal through stamping, casting and piercing techniques to create high-relief figures and openwork borders.
Colour is introduced through vitreous enamel, including vibrant red enamel and translucent plique-à-jour work that lets light pass through the design. Selected pieces incorporate organic additions such as mother of pearl panels and tiny seed pearls set directly into the gold surface.
The inventory spans from the 1890s through to the 1960s, dominated by French religious and decorative pendants.
Assessing Quality
The distinction between standard production and exceptional work lies in the crispness of the medallist's engraving and the depth of the relief. Pieces designed by named artisans exhibit superior facial expressions, drapery folds and lettering compared to unsigned or mass-produced alternatives.
Quality also manifests in the complexity of secondary elements, such as hand-painted enamel, intricate piercing work or combined gold colours. Pieces that integrate delicate gemstones or multiple gold tones demand a higher level of bench skill.
Monier·Pageli Perriat·Emile Dropsy·Sellier·Ovide Yencesse·Mazzoni·Perroud·Becker·Charl·Grun·Arnault·Augis·Serraz
The 18ct Gold Medal Glossary
- Pendant
- A piece of jewellery that hangs from a necklace or chain. These objects are primarily worn suspended around the neck.
- Charm
- A small decorative trinket attached to a bracelet or necklace. They often commemorate specific personal interests or events.
- Enamel
- A glassy substance fused to metal through firing for decoration. It provides durable colour highlights on the gold surface.
- Plique-à-jour
- A vitreous enamelling technique where the enamel has no backing, resembling miniature stained glass. This method allows light to shine through the transparent coloured areas.
- Medallion
- A large medal created for ceremonial or commemorative purposes. In this context, they serve as substantial wearable pendants.
18ct Gold Medal: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an 18ct gold medal?
An 18ct gold medal is a small wearable object fashioned from high-purity gold, traditionally worn as a pendant or charm. These pieces often feature religious iconography, floral motifs or symbolic imagery.
Created primarily in France during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, they combine miniature sculpture with personal adornment. They serve as both devotional items and decorative jewellery.
How were these medals worn?
These pieces were typically suspended from chains around the neck as pendants or attached to charm bracelets. Their integrated loops and bails made them suitable for daily personal display.
Many were given to mark significant life events such as first communions, functioning as keepsakes close to the heart. Their dual utility as pendants or charms allowed for versatile styling.
Who made these medals?
Many pieces were produced by skilled French medallists and workshops during the Art Nouveau and mid-century periods. Master craftspeople signed their miniature works with tiny maker's marks or signatures on the metal surface.
Noted creators include Emile Dropsy, Becker, Sellier and Perroud, whose artistic relief work defines the category. These signatures help historians attribute the pieces to specific Parisian and regional studios.
How do I identify the period?
The period is generally identified through stylistic cues such as Art Nouveau floral tendrils, Belle Epoque elegance, or mid-century geometric forms. Hallmarks stamped onto the gold provide official timestamps and regional origins.
Subject matter and engraving techniques also shift over time, moving from elaborate naturalism towards streamlined modernist representations by the mid-twentieth century.