Cut Steel More Necklaces

Victorian bohemian garnet necklace. This piece is set in low carat gold with pretty garnet flowers and smaller drop flowers. Circa 1870-80, ...

A highly original and stylish single row necklace or torque style collar, made from clear resin 'pearls' , encased in a fine very flexible stainless steel mesh, with a hallmarked ste...

18k gold and stainless steel Tondo Taurus pendant by Bvlgari, on a brown leather and 18k gold cord necklace. Necklace is 15"is 32mm in diameter . Ma...

This necklace is a WOW! A real statement piece! Over 150 carats of F/G color VS clarity diamonds set in platinum. This necklace features a 2.50+ carat dr...

0.10 Carat Diamond Moon and Star Pendant Necklace in 14 Karat Gold Shlomit Rogel Shine bright in this youthful yet elegant pendant necklace. Crafted from 14k white gold, the dainty ...

A crowning glory of design, this cut steel necklace shimmers like diamonds, in available light as it did originally in the early 1800's. Serves dressy occasions or denim shirts and b...

Cut steel jewelry was at the height of fashion from the mid 1700s well into the 19th century. Originated in the 1700s. Popular from the Georgian through the Victorian eras. To make cut steel, melted horseshoe nails were formed into tiny faceted beads. Those small steel gemstone-like studs were then riveted one-by-one onto a base plate. It was an English invention that quickly travelled throughout the world. Each stud could have up to 15 facets, and in general the finer and older the piece the more facets the studs will have. Improvements in candles meant that grand events and entertaining could take place at night. As diamonds are diamonds and not available for everyone, and everyone wanted to shine, the popularity grew. Cut-steel provided a stylish and popular new jewelry material that could be enjoyed by everyone at all levels of society. It grew beyond a simple imitation to an art in its own right. The manufacturing was complex and the workmanship that was required highly skilled. These were not mass produced objects. The studs were made from decarbonated cast steel, which was case-hardened, then the studs were faceted by cutting against a pewter wheel. Next were then polished with first fine emery and a hard brush, and then by hand with a special putty. Finally they were riveted onto pierced base plates which had to be drilled and cut by hand, too. The main place of cut steel production was Birmingham, England. And there, one manufacturer stood out from all the rest: Matthew Boulton. He had been born in 1728 into the industry — his father manufactured small metal products. But the younger Boulton had a special talent for marrying the latest technology with the latest fashion. He also was continually expanding — he even founded a mint. He wined and dined with dignitaries and advocated for his steel products. Fortuitously, he became quite close with the Russian ambassador to Catherine the Great. When the ambassador toured the mint, Boulton made sure to send the Empress some of his cut-steel necklaces. In 1759, Louis XV “encouraged” the nobility to donate their gold and gemstone jewelry to help fund the Seven Years War. The popularity of cut steel in France may in part have been due to these sumptuary laws which limited who could wear precious metals and diamonds. Either you complied with the law and gave up your family jewels to be melted down for the war chest...

The central pear-shaped rose-cut diamond within a surround of further rose diamonds, in open claw mount, beneath rose diamond surmount, length 3.7cm. x 2,1cm Weight: 4.6gr.

Important exquisite grand diamond floral necklace platinum, high jewelry circa 1950's. 354 total diamonds, approximately 60 carats total. 146 r...

An antique 19th century 1890's garnet necklace set with a 14 karat gold cannetille work clasp. The design of this round hollow openwork clasp is ma...

Exquisite Russian necklace, featuring flat Baltic amber beads in a gorgeous dark orange tone, with smaller alternating spacer beads. Circa mid 20th...

Sensational signed Guy Laroche Necklace featuring prong-set, sparkling Marquise clear crystals and round facet cut Jet stones in a unique Demi-Lune design; Silver finish; approx. 27...