Garland Style Pendant with 1.85 ct Diamonds in Platinum, c. 1910

In the world of jewellery, the so-called Garland Style is considered one of the most elegant stylistic developments of the Belle Époque. Inspired by the garlands, bows, and laurel wreaths of late 18th-century French Classicism, the great Parisian jewelers c. 1900 created pieces of jewellery of almost weightless elegance. Platinum made this development possible in the first place, as this light yet strong precious metal allowed for the finest settings—ones that remained nearly invisible and created the impression that the diamonds were floating freely on the most delicate chains and in barely perceptible settings. This pendant was created c. 1910 and is a charming example of this style. Its design is characterized by perfect symmetry and a delicate balance of open and closed forms. Like a precious garland, an oval wreath of diamond roses encircles the freely moving main diamond, weighing 1.31 ct. Above it, another old-cut diamond connects the two elements. Delicately graduated settings with smaller stones draw the eye upward, where curved volutes lend the pendant that lightness which continues to make the Garland Style so distinctive to this day. Despite its rich design, the piece of jewellery does not appear heavy; rather, it seems to consist entirely of light and sparkle. Particularly impressive are the two large old-cut diamonds, which together weigh over 1.60 carats and possess a beautiful fire. Their hand-cut facets create that soft, warm sparkle unique to historic diamond cuts, which differs markedly from the fire of modern brilliant-cut diamonds. We have added a matching platinum chain, allowing the pendant to be worn securely and naturally without altering its historical character. Thus, this piece of jewellery showcases the elegance of a design that, even more than a century after its creation, has lost none of its lightness and grace. This exceptionally beautiful piece of jewellery came to us here in Berlin.

Estimate:$6,724.77

View all items fromHofer AntikschmuckorJewelry & Gems