Vintage Pendant with Colombian Emerald & Diamonds, c. 1955

Cocktail parties, opera balls, movie premieres, and grand receptions: With the end of the immediate postwar period—the years of scarcity and early reconstruction—social life in Europe also regained its momentum. Along with it, the joy of wearing magnificent jewellery returned. This pendant from the late 1950s is a beautiful example of the elegant and decidedly lively aesthetic of that era. Stylistically, jewelry design changed significantly during this period. The heavy, sculptural goldwork of the retro style gradually gave way to lighter, more fluid designs. White gold and platinum provided a subtle setting for diamonds and intensely brilliant colored gemstones. Naturalistic motifs were particularly popular. Flowers, leaves, and entire flowering branches were transformed into stylized, three-dimensional jewelry forms, whose effect was largely determined by the play of light on gemstones of varying cuts. Famous jewelry houses such as Van Cleef & Arpels and Bulgari developed this design language into magnificent floral and leaf compositions in the 1950s. This exquisite pendant from the 1950s also follows this design language. At its center is an emerald with an intensely vibrant green luster. The gemstone, which originates from Colombia, has been cut into a round cabochon, which beautifully accentuates its colour. Stylized leaf motifs, densely set with white diamonds in octagonal and brilliant cuts, surround the emerald. The contrast between the deep green of the cabochon and the lively sparkle of the white diamonds defines the piece of jewellery’s unique appeal. In total, diamonds weighing c. 2.32 carats adorn this elongated design. The pendant is in excellent condition and can be worn immediately with its matching white gold Venetian chain.

Estimate:£8,400.86

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