The jewelry we call Berlin iron was produced as part of the gold-for-iron campaign that began in 1813 in what is now Germany. To fund the Prussian effort to repel the forces of Napoleon, citizens were urged to donate their gold to the state and were given a piece of lacquered iron jewelry in return. The drive for gold was quite successful, so much so that not only were the Prussian war chests filled, but also the wearing of gold jewelry became a social faux pas - unseemly and unpatriotic. As a result, Berlin iron jewelry became very fashionable and high street jewelers began to retail the distinctive black jewelry to satisfy demand for the style. These Berlin iron earrings feature neoclassical cameos on polished steel plates within gold wire frames. Berlin iron is quite rare, this is due, in part, to the fact that iron is prone to oxidation and rust. This means that you should take care not to get these earrings wet and store them in a cool, dry place.