A French late 19th-century bracelet crafted in rich 18K gold, featuring a central panel of three large purple glass paste stones. The bracelet is stamped with the French eagle head hallmark, confirming its Parisian origins and 18K gold purity.

Paste jewellery, or "strass," was first developed in France in the mid-18th century by Georges Frederic Strass. This type of jewellery is made from flint glass, carefully cut and polished to imitate gemstones such as diamonds and coloured stones. Strass, a jeweller to the King of France, began crafting paste jewellery in Paris after moving from Strasbourg in 1724. When it first appeared, paste was extremely sought after due to its brilliance and versatility and was often more expensive than natural gemstones due to novelty and expensive process to create it.

Paste jewellery became a favourite among the upper classes, including royalty. Queen Marie Antoinette and Madame de Pompadour are notable figures known to have adorned themselves with exquisite paste pieces. Today, paste jewellery is highly collectible, especially when preserved in superb condition, as seen in this bracelet. Its vibrant purple paste stones and elegant design make it a striking addition to any collection of antique jewellery.

The delicate gold bracelet links are 4mm wide, and the bracelet weighs a comfortable 8.9 grams. It measures 16.5cm, making it ideal for a smaller wrist. The central panel measures an impressive 4cm x 2.5cm, with the largest paste stone measuring 15mm x 12mm. Despite its significant age, the bracelet reminds in superb condition and all the stones are securely set.

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.