B.A. Ballou Vintage B.A. Ballou & Co. 12K gold sailboat pin/brooch

B.A. Ballou & Co., a historic American jewelry manufacturer founded in 1876 in Providence, Rhode Island. The company is highly regarded for its precision findings, safety catches, and high-quality gold-filled estate jewelry.1-20-12K-GF: This denotes 1/20 12 Karat Gold Filled. This means that at least 5% (1/20th) of the total metal weight of the pin consists of a solid layer of 12 Karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal core. This is far thicker, more durable, and more valuable than standard gold plating or gold flash.