Antique Déco Diamond Necklace in Platinum on Gold, c. 1925

Imperial jewels, diamonds weighing dozens of carats and natural pearls of the same weight lie behind steel and glass in museums today, as silent witnesses to a bygone era. Yet it was not these pieces that once shaped the image of eras far removed from us today: it was the smaller, wearable but no less beautifully crafted jewels that shaped the taste of an era. The kind you might give to a young mother, wear to her debutante's first ball or save up for for a long time to finally adore your beloved. These necklaces, rings and bracelets were loved and worn; they were seen in the salons of the upper classes, at balls and on festive occasions. With this in mind, the Deutsche Goldschmiede-Zeitung wrote in 1904 that "where else but in private ownership are the living witnesses of the beauty of our time and its aspirations to be preserved?" (DGZ 1904, P. 154). The present necklace is such a living witness, as if taken out of time. It is finely and delicately crafted and was already a precious piece of evening jewelry at the time; yet it is discreet enough in size to be wearable as well as a collector's item. The necklace is designed with a fixed Y-shaped pendant that swings beneath a fine platinum chain. A transitional-cut diamond of around 0.15 ct shines in the center of the drop-shaped pendant, radiating fire with every movement. Frosty, glittering diamond roses and fine milgrains make the entire arrangement appear like a composition of light. According to its design and workmanship, the necklace was created in the wild 1920s. It came to us in Munich.

Estimate:£1,180.7

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