New Zealand Necklaces

We acquired this extraordinary pendant from an antique jewelry dealer in New Zealand. Sort of a hybrid between a garland and a wreath, it boasts at least 1.7 carats in old cut diamonds plus eight pearls, all meticulously set from its hinged bale to its hinged diamond "tail." The enhancer bale is split in the back so that it can be worn with pearls. To that end, we're including a gorgeous 16" strand of 5.5 to 6mm Akoya saltwater pearls. We had these pearls strung specifically for this pendant, and to give the necklace a more contemporary feel, the pearls have been fully knotted in black silk, which we think really pops with the oxidized face of the pendant. The closure is a 14 karat white gold pearl clasp. WEIGHTS & MEASUREMENTS: Pendant Length: 2" Pendant Width (at widest point): 1-1/8" Pendant Weight: 7.15 grams Necklace Length: 16" (See below for more information about these pearls) Total Weight (pearl necklace + pendant): 17 grams Diamonds: 54 stones ranging from 1.2mm to 3.9mm for a total estimated diamond weight of 1.73 carats. More information on the diamonds is provided below. Pearls (Pendant): Eight pearls ranging from 3.5mm to 5.6mm for a total estimated pearl weight of 0.59 grams (0.157 momme). More information on the pearls is provided below. METALS & PENDANT AGE: We think this pendant probably dates from the late 19th or very early 20th century. While the pearls and the diamonds provide clues, the big tipoff is the fact that the stones are set in a thin layer of silver soldered onto 14 karat gold. This technique -- a thin layer of white metal (platinum was also used after around 1870) -- was used until white gold came into general use in the mid- to late 1910s. The distinctive black metal finish is nothing more than generations of the silver's natural oxidization. THE DIAMONDS: The diamonds on this piece predate the proliferation of bright white and clean South African diamonds...

Bowenite is often mistaken as Jade. Bowenite is a hard, compact variety of the serpentinite species antigorite. It has been used for tools, weapons, and jewelry by the Māori in New Zealand (it is also called Tangiwaite or Maori Greenstone), and this gemstone was used for jewelry by Fabergé. Bowenite is also the state mineral of Rhode Island in the USA. It typically ranges in color from dark green to light olive green and in shades approaching yellow. Bowenite was named by James D. Dana in 1850 after George T. Bowen, who analyzed it in 1822. This is Bowenite from the New Zealand company of Tuarangi Jade Jewellery. The Maori classification system for pounamu describes four varieties: Kahurangi, Kawakawa, Inanga, and Tangiwai ((Bowenite) is the type of serpentine). This beautiful, elegant, long necklace is made of high-quality natural Bowenite. The bowenite beads are top quality, pure, uniform, and soft green, and they're sumptuous in how they look and feel. The beads are very old. Each bead was cut by hand and polished by a craftsman. The beads are much older than the necklace. Authentic, natural color. No thermal or other mechanical treatments were used. Even holes in the beads were drilled by hand. Therefore, each bead is not ideal but perfect at the same time. This necklace alternates beads of jade...

This is nephrite from the New Zealand company of Tuarangi Jade Jewellery. The Māori classification system for pounamu describes four varieties: Kahurangi, Kawakawa, Inanga, and Tangi...

These beautiful, one-of-a-kind Maori Necklaces are the creation of the famed Paul Gyde; aka PaulZ, aka Kiwi Keeps. They feature Ranginui, the father of creation and Papatūānuku, the mother of creation. They are carved from sun-dried cattle/beef bone. Each pendant measures 1 1/8 by 2 1/4 inches and comes on a 26 inch waxed nylon string with beef bone toggle. They come in a signed wooden presentation/storage box made from old farm fence...

A Māori axe-shaped nephrite jade pendant set in capped rose gold. The tapered jade is beautifully sculpted, the nephrite is a deep and rich forest green color. Styled as a Pounamu,...