Elegant Bracelet With Diamonds & Topaz, Art Deco ca. 1930 and Later

When news reached Lisbon in 1768 of the discovery of the rich topaz deposits of Ouro Preto in Brazil, the Portuguese court under Joseph I threw a great party. Rumours had been circulating since 1751 about a Brazilian ruby, a new type of gemstone from Brazil that would give the royal house new financial reserves and prestige. The stone that was celebrated here, the Imperial Topaz, still delights gemstone lovers. This special topaz, with its sherry-brown, sometimes pinkish hue, is still only found in the Ouro Preto region in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. It is still the most expensive and rarest variation of topaz. For many generations it was reserved only for the nobility of Europe, so small were the quantities mined. At the end of the 19th century, the deposits were even considered to be completely exhausted - until 1908, when more stones were found at a greater depth in the same place. The present bracelet makes such a stone its highlight. Once, the graceful bracelet was originally a watch for the wrist; in later times, the stone was cut to fit and now fits perfectly into the piece of jewellery. A total of 194 diamonds weighing a total of around 4.18 ct provide the topaz with a dignified setting and set the entire platinum surface. With its cool, elegant geometric design, the bracelet is a typical piece of jewellery from the heyday of Art Deco. At the time of its creation, fashion-conscious ladies liked to wear several diamond bracelets at once with a short-sleeved silk dress - but the bracelet is also a precious focal point on the wrist when worn on its own. We discovered the bracelet in London and it comes with a detailed appraisal by the German Gemstone Valuation Society.

Estimate:$17,194.27

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