Diamonds glitter, emeralds gleam...

Magnificent Emerald & Diamond Necklace in SIlver & Gold, c. 1880

€ 11,900.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Magnificent Emerald & Diamond Necklace in SIlver & Gold, c. 1880

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

"Among the most brilliant and dazzling displays in the Vienna Exhibition is that of Jewellery. [...] in its highest development there is parure, diadem, or circlet to deck queenly brow, necklets to encircle fair necks, earrings to hang from exquisitely-formed small ears, rings to span delicately tapering fingers. Associated with the above-named objects are gems of incalculable value, and of the "purest water": diamonds glitter, rubies shine, emeralds gleam [...]." This was the admiring report of an eyewitness who had seen the latest, precious designs of the goldsmith's art at the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873. In 1869, large diamond deposits had been found in South Africa. At the same time, the growing purchasing power of the middle classes brought other precious stones into the realm of possibility for the first time. This laid the foundation for the richly glittering gemstone jewellery of the Belle Époque, which could now even be worn by the wealthy bourgeoisie. It would take a few more years before these precious pieces reached the market in large numbers. However, from the 1880s onwards, jewellery production in the Western nations picked up strongly: The Belle Époque was to become the most gemstone-rich, sparkling era in jewellery history to date. This necklace is a comparatively early example of jewellery from this magnificent era. It is based on the type of close-fitting fringed necklace that had been fashionable in gold for some time, but only came into fashion in the late 19th century when it was set with diamonds and colored stones. We are showing a comparative piece from the French design work "Le Bijou" from 1882 (see illustration). Wonderfully clear spring-green emeralds, in parts from distant Colombia, form the precious main setting of the necklace. Large diamond roses sparkle around them in prong settings. The necklace itself consists of ornamentally shaped wires, so-called "knife wires", and therefore does not appear too heavy despite its rich setting. This technique allowed the metal to recede sparingly and yet elegantly into the background, so that precious stones now took center stage in the designs instead of shiny gold surfaces. The use of silver, less dominant in color than yellow or red gold, also serves to showcase the gemstones. Only the back of the necklace is made of gold, as is typical of pieces from this period. The above quotation from W. C. Aitken, Report presented to the Council of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, on manufactures similar to those of Birmingham, represented in the Universal Exhibition, held at Vienna, 1873' (Birmingham: Chamber of Commerce, 1873), p. 35.

Size & Details

Diamonds glitter, emeralds gleam...

€ 11,900.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

Learn more

Diamonds glitter, emeralds gleam...

Chains & Necklaces

Privacy settings