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Giving a gold nugget as a gift: ideas and tips

A natural gold nugget is a one-of-a-kind gift: no two are alike and each carries millions of years of history. Here is how to get it right.

Occasions it suits

• Golden wedding anniversaries and other anniversaries: the most symbolic gift for 50 years together.
• Births and christenings: a keepsake to hand over when the child grows up.
• Graduations, retirements and other milestones.
• Mineral collectors and anyone who loves geology or gold prospecting.

Choosing one for your budget

Price depends mainly on weight. Small nuggets of 0.1 to 0.5 grams are an affordable gift that looks stunning under a good loupe. From one gram upwards the piece is easy to appreciate with the naked eye and has real presence. Beyond weight, look at the shape: nuggets with unusual forms or traces of quartz tend to be the favourites. To understand how prices are worked out, read How much is a gold nugget worth?

The origin is part of the gift

Telling the story of where the nugget comes from makes it more special. A nugget from Alaska recalls the last great gold rushes; one from Australia’s Golden Triangle comes from the region of the world’s most famous nuggets, and one from Lapland comes from the rivers of the Arctic.

How to present it

• In a clear capsule or a small collector’s box, so it can be admired without handling.
• In a small glass vial, the way prospectors used to keep their gold.
• As a pendant: a jeweller can set it without melting or altering it.

Add a note with its weight and origin: that is the nugget’s story.

Buy ahead of time

Auctions run for several days and then there is shipping. To avoid a rush, start looking at least two or three weeks before the date.

At Gold Nuggets Minerals we auction nuggets of different sizes every week, each with its exact weight, origin and macro photos.