Antique Victorian Diamond Necklace, Silver on 18ct Red Gold

From the first glance, it seems obvious that this frivolous red gold-backed necklace fits just elegantly around the neck as a garland of six larger flowers alternating with six smaller ones. As three more flower pairs with dangling triplets drape from this blooming aura, an abundance of foil-set rose-cut diamonds encrusted in silver shimmer illustriously.
However, there's more to this intriguing piece than meets the eye...

Every antique jewel exudes history, but on top of that, this enchanting necklace from around 1850 has also a modern story to tell about what jewellery can symbolize for a family.

We were honoured to purchase this jewel from the heirs of a jeweller, who crafted this unique necklace out of his personal collection of four pairs of antique Flemish earrings. To find one complete pair of this type of earrings is incredibly rare, let alone having four pairs. Furthermore, all of his daughters were truly shining on each of their wedding days while wearing their father's creation.

Although it isn't a custom of ours to offer redesigned/remodelled pieces, the way this jewel came to be is uttermost charming: initiated by a passion for antique jewellery, fueled by the vision and craftsmanship of a jeweller and truly ignited by the love of a father.

Antique jewellery object group: necklace

Condition: very good condition

Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of Belgian origin.

Style: Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.

Style specifics: The Romantic Victorian Period - Experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria, also called The Victorian era (1837 - 1901) into three periods of about twenty years each; The Romantic Victorian Period (1837 - 1860), The Grand Victorian Period (1860 -1880), and the Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period (1880 - 1901).

We consider this to be of the Romantic Victorian Period. This period covers the coronation of Victoria as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and her marriage to King Albert and their love, their devotion to their marriage and to their country are the sources of inspiration for this period. The jewels of this period are made of intricate carvings, special techniques where the enamel is subtly worked. These techniques allowed to give the jewel a certain opulence with less precious metal needed. As precious metals were really rare at that time. Highly favoured (semi-) precious stones in this period are amethyst, coral, garnets, seed pearls and turquoises. The connotation is obviously sentimental, symbolic and romantic with reminiscent Gotic and/renaissance patterns and abundant use of motifs like anchors, birds, branches, crosses, hearts and snakes.

Period: ca. 1850

Material: Silver on top and backed with 18ct red gold.

Technique: The rose cuts are set on foil. This is a special technique that was used to bring the lustre of the diamonds to its best quality.

Diamond(s): Many rose-cut diamonds and senailles. A senaille is a simplified rose cut diamond, a small diamond chip with perhaps a few polished facets. We do not have the weight of the rose cuts diamonds nor the senailles which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cut diamonds and senailles.

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.

Hallmarks: No trace.

Dimensions: total length 41,50 cm (16,34 inch)

Weight: 66,40 gram (42,70 dwt)