Precious "Lavallière" Necklace with Natural Pearls & Diamonds in Platinum

Europe around 1910: We are at the height of the Belle Époque, the "beautiful era". The bourgeoisie had already been reveling in great wealth for several decades, and more jewellery had been produced during this period than ever before. This jewellery was an expression of good taste as well as social status. In the evening, diamonds were worn to the opera, the grand dinner or the ball. And those who kept up with the times were not closed to the modern lines of Art Nouveau: This new style had already made its way into the most precious evening jewels. The first woman to wear this necklace thus also communicated wealth, elegance and the spirit of the times. Winter was, as it still is today, the season of balls. After the summer retreat at the country estate, the cooler months were spent in the big cities and were seen at important parties. The necklace also reflects these cool and elegant days. Frosty glittering diamonds, icy platinum and snow-white shimmering natural pearls have been combined here to create a lavallière necklace, a typical form of jewelry of those years. The materials used to create the necklace are as refined and sophisticated as the craftsmanship. At the time, platinum was the most expensive metal that could be purchased from a jeweler. It was only recently that solid platinum jewelry was produced at all. The diamonds are largely fine white with only very small inclusions (G, vsi). And the large, drop-shaped natural pearls were a particular luxury at the time: Because the cultured pearl was not yet available on the market, and each individual pearl was salvaged from the bottom of the sea. Finding two pearls of such similarity in shape, color and size may have taken weeks or even years. We have had an independent appraisal carried out on the necklace to confirm the quality of the materials. A wonderful, wearable souvenir from an era that is rightly referred to as the "beautiful era".

Estimate:£9,245.65

View all items fromHofer AntikschmuckorJewellery & Gems