Precious Belle Époque Pendant with Diamonds in Platinum, c. 1910

“People also wear very delicate, thin platinum chains with a large pendant. The characteristic shape of the pendants is always round, some of them quite large, and always pierced” wrote the Deutsche Goldschmiede-Zeitung in 1910 in a “Fashion Report from Monte Carlo” (Issue 17 (1910), p. 145). Here, on the elegant boulevards of the French Riviera, bohemians and the aristocracy alike spent carefree days and flaunted the latest jewellery creations. These large, round pendants were called “plaques” or “disques” and were crafted in numerous variations of the filling’s design. The pendant presented here corresponds to this type and is particularly delicate, as its form dissolves into filigree bridges, almost reminiscent of textile lace—an association further enhanced by the bow at the top edge. The pendant is unusually lavishly set. More than 4.80 ct of old-cut diamonds lend the piece of jewellery that seductively white sparkle so beloved at the beginning of the 20th century. The largest stones are set on the platinum filigree bars in such a way that they almost seem to float. Numerous beautiful examples can be found, for instance, in a catalog by the Paris-based firm Bansse, which can be viewed online here. We’ve reproduced a page from the catalog that shows the many different ways this “Disques tout Platine” motif could be used. The piece is of exceptionally fine quality and reflects the artistic sensibility and high level of craftsmanship of its time. In our workshop, we replaced the pendant bail and added the chain. We discovered the pendant in the Rhineland.

Estimate:£7,561.56

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