Antique Necklace with Approximately One Carat of Diamonds, Germany, c. 1910

This necklace hails from the elegant world immortalized by Giovanni Boldini and John Singer Sargent in their portraits of the great ladies of the Belle Époque. Parisian gowns from the Callot Soeurs atelier skimmed the silhouette; a whiff of rose perfume wafted from cut-crystal bottles; fine powder was applied with a swan’s down tassel, and when the gas lights—and later the electric lights—shone in the evening, pearls and diamonds completed the picture of elegance. This necklace is a quintessential example of that era. Its slender Y-shape is among the most popular jewelry designs of the Belle Époque and elegantly draws the eye to the décolletage. The curved upper section of this showpiece, suspended centrally from a delicate chain, is defined by flowing lines that transition on both sides into a delicate bezel setting with a shadow gap. At its center sparkles a diamond in a historic old-cut style. Below it is a movable pendant whose hidden hinges allow the pendant to follow the wearer’s movements with grace. The dazzling finishing touch is another old-cut diamond weighing about half a carat, which is also set in a delicate shadow gap and reflects light with a vibrant fire. In total, the necklace features about one carat of vintage diamonds and captivates with its balanced proportions as well as its exquisite craftsmanship. We discovered this elegant piece of jewellery in the Rhineland. It has been preserved in remarkably good condition and retains the carefree elegance of the Belle Époque to this day.

Estimate:$2,687.66

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