Gump's Jade Necklace, circa 1960s

Name: Gump's Jade Necklace, circa 1960s
Brand: Gump's San Francisco
Price: 1850 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

The luminous untreated jadeite jade beads that compose this 20" necklace are so faintly light green, that they appear white. Well, but not white; not really, because they are far too fascinating to be merely white like a piece of paper or a sheet. It is as if an apparition has assumed bead form and settled around the neck. These gorgeous, succulent beads seem filled with a reserve of light they have gathered during the day in order to release back into the night like a whisper. If you like pearls but wish for something denser, more grounded in the material world, these may be for you. They do look like pearls from a distance, a pristine strand of vintage cultured Akoya pearls. But then, up close, what are they? White sapphires? What could they be? Most people, of course, have no idea jade is anything other than green. The individual beads measure approximately 8.5mm for a clean, unified presentation around the neck. I am a second-generation collector of jade and have loved Gump's jade jewelry all my life. Gump's was an iconic San Francisco department store that was founded in the 19th century and awed the world with their remarkable and unique pieces until 2005 when they were sold. Gump's never used any dyed or treated jade in any of their jewelry, so they remain one of very few brands that you never need to have tested; vintage Gump's jade jewelry will always be natural and untreated. Even Tiffany now treats at least some of their necklaces, sadly. This gorgeous and exceptionally rare necklace is still on its original string. And under the microscope, we can see that the beads are still quite tight and un-relaxed. This tells us that the necklace has seen little wear. Making it an exceptional treasure. The 14K yellow gold clasp features the Gump's Double Happiness symbol as well as their 1960s-era maker's mark.

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50 g

Dimensions:

Length: 20 in (508 mm)