Gump's San Francisco Beaded Necklaces

Elegant and finely detailed 12mm Bead Necklace. Hand crafted in 14 Karat Yellow Gold. The Necklace epitomizes vintage charm, taking you from day to evening effortlessly. The Necklac...

This is rare Gump's nephrite jade necklace from the Midcentury (circa 1960s) in an exceptionally translucent light chartreuse green. Indeed, the hand-carved and polished beads are so highly translucent they look to be made of glass. In fact, "Glassy" jade is a term usually reserved to describe only the finest jadeite jade -nephrite jade's rarer and more expensive cousin- and the word is only rarely applicable to the nephrite variety of jade, due to its different mineral structure. The 16 ¾" necklace is composed of 40 9.30mm untreated nephrite beads that are most likely from Siberia. These beads are a fine, evenly-toned chartreuse green, and they display the high translucency of the only finest jadeite. Most Gump's jade necklaces were available in 18" and 24" lengths. This 16" necklace is far less common, and the large size of the beads in combination with the brief length speaks to the scarcity of the beads themselves, their genuine preciousness. The 14K yellow gold clasp is marked "Hong Kong" and "Gump's." All original Gump's jade jewelry...

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...

Finely detailed estate Gump's double strand aquamarine necklace finished with a 14k yellow gold clasp. Tumbled aquamarine beads measure (average) 15mm x 5mm. The aquamarines are i...

A Gump's jade necklace from the 1960s, still on its original string. Such a find! The multi-colored jadeite beads average 9mm and there are 59 of them all together, so the necklace measures 23". The muted tones are so perfectly modern today. Gump's was an iconic San Francisco store (the new Gump's has different ownership) founded by a legendary lover of fine jewelry, especially jade. Gump's jade jewelry...

This gorgeous, ethereal Midcentury jadeite jade necklace was created by the iconic San Francisco retailer, Gump's, circa 1970. The luminous, translucent fog-toned jade beads measure approximately 8.83mm and are on their original silk string. The necklace is finished with the classic Gump's 14k yellow gold clasp, that features both the metal fitness mark and the Gump's logo. Gump's never used treated jade in any of their jewelry; all authentic Gump's jewelry is natural and untreated "A" jade. These extraordinary beads are in soothing tones of soft, soft violet and the palest yellow. The palate here may be neutral but the impact certainly is not. The beads are so light-filled they seem to float, hovering over the fabric upon which they are draped. Vintage Gump...