Elegant Diamonds & Pearl Necklace, Belle Époque, c. 1910

Elegant, elongated pendants in shimmering white, set with diamonds and pearls, adorned women's décolletés in various designs in the first decades of the 20th century. The design language changed with the fashions, from Garland style to Art Déco, but the basic shape remained the same for a long time. This necklace is a beautiful example of this type. An elongated, multi-piece pendant is firmly attached to a fine chain. Diamonds in various old cuts set the surface. The highlight of the design is an oval frame into which a creamy white pearl is pendant-set. It is a blister pearl, i.e. a naturally formed pearl, which had grown on the shell of the mussel. It is therefore not fully round, but set on the back of a silver shell. This type of pearl is particularly suitable for pendants and necklaces: This is because the piece of jewelry sits well on the skin and does not tilt. The pendant is made of silver. In the 19th century, silver was the usual material for all diamond jewelry. At the turn of the century, platinum slowly became the alternative for shiny white jewelry. However, silver remained an equivalent alternative for a long time, remaining in use for some time even after the invention of white gold around 1913. Based on its design, we therefore date the pendant to around 1910. The white gold chain was replaced at a later date. We discovered the necklace in southern Germany. It is in very good condition.

Estimate:$2,462.75

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