Antique Negligé Necklace with Diamond Drops in Platinum, c. 1910

This necklace was created on the proverbial morning of the 20th century. Its design presents two beautiful drop-shaped diamonds. The two gemstones, which together weigh over one carat, are fiery and brilliant with a delicate, slightly warm hue. They swing in platinum prongs under an entwined ornament on two platinum bars of unequal length, which lie softly and snugly on the décolleté thanks to small joints. This type of necklace is known in Germany as a lavallière, but internationally it is more commonly referred to as a negligé necklace. The latter term is derived from the French word for "careless" and alludes to the unequal lengths of the pendants, which lend the otherwise formal design a touch of lightness and laissez-faire. The impression is made all the more elegant by the resulting asymmetry. The necklace was presented for assaying in Moscow in the second third of the 20th century, but it was certainly made earlier – we keep discovering old pieces that were probably originally unmarked and had to be presented for inspection for resale. This beautiful necklace found its way to us from Frankfurt.

Estimate:£3,380.73

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