Early 1900s Necklaces

Opal and diamond negligée necklace. Centrally set with an oval cabochon natural opal in a open back rubover setting with an approximate weight of 3.90 carats, further set with two ov...

This sweet pendant holds seed pearls and colourful opals. The pendant and chain is modelled in 9carat gold. Drop from loop: 30mm Pendant Width: 35mm Chain length: 46cm Weight: 3.8g

A very fine Belle Époque opal, diamond and ruby lavalier pendant. Set with old circular-cut diamonds throughout and in the centre with a rectangular opal plaque surmounted with a circular-cut ruby. The mount, designed as a series of interconnected scrolls, terminates in two pear-shaped diamond drops suspended on a silver-on-gold chain. The pendant measures 5cm alone, the chain 38cm. The ornate decorative motifs of Louis XIV reign were embraced by Belle Époque designers. Swag or garland necklaces strung with pear-shaped pearls and diamond bows were typical. Dog collar necklaces of black velvet were also popular fixed with large diamond clasps. Like 17th century France, the early 20th century was an era of opulence with new found industrial wealth from America marrying British aristocracy...

Antique Edwardian Mourning locket with a hand cut Central Opal Heart (13mm x 10mm) surrounded by eight mine cut natural diamonds (approx 1.5-1.75mm eac...

A stunning, fine and impressive antique 6.76 carat opal and 9 karat yellow gold chain necklace; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stunning, fine and impressive antique chain has been crafted in 9k yellow gold. The antique trace chain is ornamented with ten fine and impressive opals in the form of circular beads, evenly distributed throughout. The stunning yellow gold chain secures with a conventional spring loaded bolt ring fastening attached to the chain via a ring loop. The ring loop is hallmarked with the 9k gold fineness mark (9c). By virtue of its length, this opal chain may be worn as a two strand or three strand necklace. This impressive antique opal gold chain is supplied with an independent diamond grading report card. Condition This antique opal gold chain is excellent quality and an excellent gauge of gold, featuring fine and impressive opals. The chain is in excellent condition with a very clear hallmark to the ring loop. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this fine example of antique opal jewellery...

An Edwardian opal and diamond brooch, the oval cabochon-cut opal measuring approximately 14.3 x 11mm, yellow gold claw-set to the centre of an old-cut d...

This sweet pendant holds garnets and colourful opals. This pendant could be worn as a brooch also. The amount of detail on this pendant is simply stunning. Modelled in 9ct gold and c...

An Art Nouveau opal and diamond pendant, the central oval-shaped cabochon-cut opal weighing approximately 5 carats, set within a cluster of old-cut di...

A fine and impressive antique Art Nouveau 2.62 carat opal and 15 karat yellow gold necklace made by Murrle Bennet & Co; part of our diverse antique jewel...

A Large Edwardian Silver Gilt and paste locket pendant filled with a triplet black Opals and clear crystals on fancy Sterling Silver chain. English origin...

During the 19th century, the discoveries of ancient archaeological finds influenced what is referred to as "archaeological revival jewelry," or "Egyptian revival jewelry." The initia...

Antique Edwardian Australian Lightning Ridge Harlequin Precious Black Opal and White Opal Brooch / Pendant in 18 Karat Yellow Gold, early 190...

A Georg Jensen silver opal and labradorite cabochon pendant #4 with chain, circa 1904-1908. The foliate silver pendant is set with an oval labradorite cabochon within a beaded border...

18ct gold & silver set Art Nouveau Diamond Opal Pendant/Brooch dated circa 1900 Five round opals with an articulated pear shaped opal drop, very well matched with lively play of colours and iridescence in reds, greens, blues and gold. Set in 18 carat yellow gold claw collets Two main transitional cut (old mine) diamonds 0.70ct. Mix of old mine and rose cut diamonds in an 18 carat yellow gold with “silver Set” channel setting , approx 1 ct total. G/H/I, VS2-SI2. Total diamond weight: approx 1.7carats Setting diamonds in gold with a thin layer of silver, “silver set”, was a technique used in the Georgian/Victorian/Art Nouveau period as white coloured gold and platinum were not yet available. A very thin layer of silver was applied to the gold, on which the diamonds were set, to show them off to their best advantage (as the yellow would reflect and distort the white colour of the diamonds). The Art Nouveau period was a short lived but worldwide movement which reached its peak at the end of the 19th Century and the first decade of the 20th Century. It had its roots in the Pre Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts movements in Britain in the 1860’s. Artists, such as William Morris, took their inspiration from the flora and fauna of nature and rejected the mass industrialisation and mechanisation of the Victorian age. Art Nouveau continued with this theme and has a distinctive appearance with soft, curved shapes and lines and often depicted natural designs such as flowers, birds and the female form. Before the Art Nouveau period, the emphasis had been to design pieces with an emphasis on gem stones, diamonds, rubies emeralds etc. However, during the Art Nouveau period, jewellers adopted the idea of using other semi–precious stones “from nature” such as agate, garnet opal, moonstone, aquamarine and experimented with a wide variety of new techniques e.g. enamelling. The “New Art” style became a worldwide movement encompassing all disciplines of the arts, and world class artists as far afield as Gaudi with his “modernisme” architecture in Spain, Louis Comfort Tiffany in New York with objects, Galle Glass in France and the Liberty & Co Archibald Knox designs in Britain, Jugendstil in Northern Europe and Faberge in Russia. The movement flared brightly but briefly and by 1910 it was already going out of style to be replaced by Art Deco. Detachable 18ct brooch...

18ct gold & silver set Art Nouveau Diamond Opal Pendant/Brooch dated circa 1900 Five round opals with an articulated pear shaped opal drop, very well matched with lively play of colours and iridescence in reds, greens, blues and gold. Set in 18 carat yellow gold claw collets Two main transitional cut (old mine) diamonds 0.70ct. Mix of old mine and rose cut diamonds in an 18 carat yellow gold with “silver Set” channel setting , approx 1 ct total. G/H/I, VS2-SI2. Total diamond weight: approx 1.7carats Setting diamonds in gold with a thin layer of silver, “silver set”, was a technique used in the Georgian/Victorian/Art Nouveau period as white coloured gold and platinum were not yet available. A very thin layer of silver was applied to the gold, on which the diamonds were set, to show them off to their best advantage (as the yellow would reflect and distort the white colour of the diamonds). The Art Nouveau period was a short lived but worldwide movement which reached its peak at the end of the 19th Century and the first decade of the 20th Century. It had its roots in the Pre Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts movements in Britain in the 1860’s. Artists, such as William Morris, took their inspiration from the flora and fauna of nature and rejected the mass industrialisation and mechanisation of the Victorian age. Art Nouveau continued with this theme and has a distinctive appearance with soft, curved shapes and lines and often depicted natural designs such as flowers, birds and the female form. Before the Art Nouveau period, the emphasis had been to design pieces with an emphasis on gem stones, diamonds, rubies emeralds etc. However, during the Art Nouveau period, jewellers adopted the idea of using other semi–precious stones “from nature” such as agate, garnet opal, moonstone, aquamarine and experimented with a wide variety of new techniques e.g. enamelling. The “New Art” style became a worldwide movement encompassing all disciplines of the arts, and world class artists as far afield as Gaudi with his “modernisme” architecture in Spain, Louis Comfort Tiffany in New York with objects, Galle Glass in France and the Liberty & Co Archibald Knox designs in Britain, Jugendstil in Northern Europe and Faberge in Russia. The movement flared brightly but briefly and by 1910 it was already going out of style to be replaced by Art Deco. In fitted period box. Detachable 18ct brooch...

A stunning antique 2.88 carat opal and 0.84 carat diamond, seed pearl and 15 karat yellow and white gold pendant with 9 karat yellow gold chain; part of our diverse antique jewelry collections. This stunning, fine and impressive pearl has been crafted in 15k yellow and white gold with a 9k yellow gold rolo chain. The articulated kite shaped frame displays a feature 2.88Ct kite shaped panel, bezel set to a 15k yellow gold frame. Two articulated concentric kite shaped frames surround the feature opal, the inner 15k white gold frame embellished with thirty-three pavé set old mine cut diamonds The outer scalloped edged 15k yellow gold frame is ornamented with thirty-five seed pearls, graduated in size. The opal setting and surrounding frames suspend and articulate via a 15k white gold vertical linear setting, embellished with a further nine old mine cut diamonds. The pendant suspends from a 9k yellow gold 20" rolo chain via a shaped ring...

Illustrated in our book: Beatriz Chadour-Sampson & Sonya Newell-Smith, Tadema Gallery London Jewellery from the 1860s to 1960s, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart 2021, cat. no. 155 Signed verso: ‘JHMB’ artist’s monogram An unsigned design drawing for this necklace is in the Artificers' Guild archive belonging to the Goldsmiths' Company. It differs slightly from the finished necklace but pencil annotations on the sketch show the addition of the rubies and confirm that the opals belonged to the client. We feel this piece can easily hold its place alongside the other great Artificers’ Guild jewels by Edward Spencer...

A Belle Epoque opal and diamond pendant in platinum and gold, featuring an oval cabochon white opal claw-set on a platinum open-back scalloped collet, suspended from a rose-cut diamo...