A fantastic antique German sentimental gold necklace, ornately decorated with turquoise and seed pearls, circa 1840.

This necklace is an excellent example of German mid-19th century ‘Biedermeier’ jewellery, with its sought after combination of silvery seed pearls and ‘robin’s egg’ turquoise cabochons of varying sizes. Turquoise jewellery first gained popularity in Great Britain around 1830, eventually spreading across continental Europe. The stone was thought to possess various protective qualities, shielding its wearer from harm and symbolising true love. Its vibrant colour, similar to ‘Forget-me-not’ flowers, made turquoise jewellery a popular gift, intended to keep the giver close to the wearer's thoughts. The necklace is constructed of scrolled links,  whilst the central panel adjoins to two decorative dangle drop ornaments, each one 5cm long.

The necklace has been cleverly crafted to maximise the use of the gold, since all of decorative gold links are hollow. The hollow design has been hammered into place - technique known as ‘repoussé’. In the Georgian and early Victorian periods, this was a particularly popular method of making a little amount gold go a long way, particularly in times of gold shortage. The necklace is crafted in 15K gold and weighs 9.18 grams in total.

Condition: Despite its hollow structure, the necklace remains in excellent condition. Apart from the small gold spring-bolt clasp, which is a later replacement (and in 9K gold), all of the necklace parts are original and all the stones are securely set.

The elegant drapery shape exemplifies the predominant form worn during the period with areas of both sectioned and interlinked components designed to move, swish and glisten more beautifully in candlelight. The long chain also accommodated the early 19th century preference for low necklines, leaving a visual gap to be filled by a statement necklace.

The necklace measures 42cm in length. The gem-set central panel measures 4.5cm x 3cm.

A truly gorgeous mid-19th century statement piece!

The Victorian era was a period of great change and innovation in the world of jewellery. Spanning from 1837 to 1901, the era witnessed an explosion of styles from romantic and sentimental to Gothic and grotesque. The use of jet, onyx, and coral in mourning jewellery became popular after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The discovery of diamond mines in South Africa in 1867 led to an increase in the use of diamonds in jewellery, as well as the popularity of more elaborate gemstone cuts such as the cushion, rose, and old mine cuts.

Victorian jewellery was also notable for its use of complex symbolism, such as snake motifs that represented eternal love or the use of flowers to convey hidden meanings. The jewellery made in this era featured the finest materials and was made by highly skilled craftsmen, making it some of the most desirable antique jewellery for its unique charm and fine quality.

DELIVERY

We are pleased to offer free worldwide shipping on all our orders. We dispatch all items via a secure and trackable delivery service providing full insurance for your item. You will receive a shipping confirmation email after purchase with your tracking number so that you know your order is on its way. We aim to dispatch all items within 1-2 working days after payment has been received.

For UK delivery, we send with Royal Mail Special Delivery, arriving by the next working day. For International orders over £1000 we use DHL Express International, and for orders under £1000 we use Royal Mail International Tracked and Signed. All items are sent fully insured.

You can find more information about our shipping policy here.

RETURNS

We understand that purchasing antique jewellery online can be a daunting task, which is why we offer an easy, no-hassle returns policy. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply get in touch within 14 days of receipt for a full refund, no questions asked. We want our customers to feel confident when buying from us, and our returns policy is just one way we ensure this.

Conditions: Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. All items are to be returned in their original condition and packaging. Buyer damaged items and items bought on layaway are ineligible for returns. Items over £2500 can be returned for store credit only.

You can find more information about our returns policy here.