Neoclassical Link Necklaces

An 18 carat golden soft rounded curb link chain, signed and numbered: Cartier, French assay marks and master mark, model Bargame, 1988. weight: 93.3 grams dimensions: 44.5 x 0.9 cm

Finely hand carved in high relief with exquisite detail, this pre 1900 high art Italian made shell cameo brooch displays the pose of a Contessa with beautiful flowing hair elegantly ...

A gold necklace and micromosaic. The necklace is composed of seven micromosaic medallions set in dark blue glass. Two gold strands support the micromosaics between them. The subjects...

A lovely 14k gold link choker from the Victorian era, fitted with a period gold-filled cylindrical clasp. 19th century 16 1/2 ( cm) long; the links 1/8 in. ( cm) wide.

Beautifully rendered carving of the bust of a helmeted soldier in sardonyx on one side. The opposite side is a carved monogram in black onyx. Hand chiseled gold frame surrounds the...

Chain in 18 karat yellow gold and 9 karat yellow gold clasp. Lovely antique chain it is composed of alternately chiseled oval links and is retained on the front by a heart-shaped cla...

This is an incredible example of a 19th century piece of jewelry. This antique 14 karat gold pendant brooch is embellished with many seed pearls. The pendant features an engraved sur...

Alfred Phillipe for Trifari Moon Shell Jelly Belly demi parure consisting of a fur clip and matching ear clips. Of rhodium plated base metal, crystal rhin...

This is an antique 19th century 14 karat gold brooch created with fine cannetille work. The oval-shaped brooch is embellished with cannetille work, stars and a crown on top. The broo...

One-of-a-kind Vicki Orr 14k yellow gold Bohemian necklace with 23 unique pieces including vintage and antique cameos, freshwater Pearls and white Di...

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 height of fashion in the early 19th century, this beautiful watch pin is a spectacular example of a ladies fine timepiece from the period. Crafted in fou...