9K Solid Gold 7 Bar Wide Heavy Gate Bracelet with Heart Padlock - UK Hallmarked 1977 - 7 inch 25.3 grams

SKU# FG0041

Materials/Markings:  9ct gold (.375)
Weight:  25.3 grams
Size:  approximately 17.7cm  (7 inches) inside circumference  and 14mm (9/16 inches) in width.
Condition:  Very Good Vintage, very minor wear and damage (see photos)

A beautiful gate bracelet in 9 karat gold. With seven rows of sturdy links, it weighs a heavy 25.3 grams! The bracelet is in excellent shape with only a few links very slightly indented. It is clasped with a scrolled heart padlock charm which is stamped to the reverse with full UK hallmarks for 9ct (.375) gold, London, 1977 and with the makers mark "S&K". 

Gate bracelets have a wonderfully romantic history, becoming popular during the Victorian era. They were often given as tokens of love and devotion, particularly during periods when a couple would be separated for an extended time. The heart-shaped padlock symbolized the wearer’s heart being kept safely by their beloved, with some examples designed to be locked with a key that was kept by the giver until their reunion.

They are thought to be named for their distinctive links, which resemble the gates and railings found around British country estates and manor houses.