Past Master 1929 N. Dakota

This is the classic shape and design of a Past Master Jewel.  This one is from North Dakota in 1929.  It belonged to a Br. S.E. Aurthur.  This one is a little strange in that it doesn't indicate which lodge it came from.

A little bit of explanation...  It used to be the custom of a Masonic (or other) lodge to give the presiding officer a 'jewel' for his service to the lodge.  As times have changed, this has become somewhat rare now a days.  Many of these jewels were from catalogs and were custom engraved by the local jeweler.

The catalogs I mentioned above carried items that were made by a 'manufacturing jeweler'.  This jewel is in a case - very nice and leather - that indicates it came from a manufacturing jeweler. 

This jewel is 2.75" by 1.5" and weighs 14 grams.  It is 14k gold.

relative amount I paid for this - low

As of 2/9/14 the gold scrap value works out to about $330

However, none of these are for sale.