Platinum, 18K, Rock Crystal, Diamond and Onyx Vintage Sautoir.
Vintage sautoir, earlier to mid twentieth century composed of frosted rock crystal, moonstone, fancy cut onyx and diamonds. This long necklace suspends an approximately 3.5 inch pendant from two 19 inch lines of carved frosted rock crystals each of which are interspersed toward the pendant with 18 polished fancy cut onyx rondels all strung on 18K gold chain.
The clasp of the piece is circa 1920 and probably a later addition. It is platinum with 10 bead set diamonds weighing approximately 0.34 cts. At the other end of the piece is a pendant, the flexible top of which is a carved frosted rock crystal circle that connects with 18, weighing approximately 0.015 ct., rose cut diamonds, bead set with black enamel on 18K gold. The other side of this same circle has a 9 rose diamond line with black enamel on 18K gold which connects with a combination of old European cut diamonds, 6 in number, weighing approximately 0.14 cts., all of which connects to a stylized tear drop of frosted rock crystal that has 5 natural moonstones, probably Ceylon as evident of their light blue color. In addition, there are 5 European cut diamonds tube set in platinum.
This vintage sautoir in good condition, weighs 74.3 grams, and has a total length of 22.5 inches. The diamond antique clasp works well.
This is an unusual necklace both with both a modernist as well as a early to mid twentieth century appearance. See the provided photograph of a similar piece from the early 1930's (Victor Arwas ART DECO, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1980, p. 125), and while our necklace has an appearance of pieces done as early as the 1930's it bears no hallmarks or country of origin marks.
All of the metals have been acid tested to confirm both the gold content (18K) as well as the use of platinum (950).
What is especially appealing about this necklace is its playful presentation of white on white forms somewhat interspersed with black accents.
Please note our model is a medium to large size.
All items sold are accompanied by a detailed Statement of Value by our gemologist, as well as all original gemological documentation, if specified in the listing. As always, we guarantee all of pieces to be exactly as represented. Each piece of jewelry arrives in a finely gift-wrapped presentation box.
Over the decades of our stewardship as a small but exemplary purveyor of the jeweler's art, we have strived to offer a fine and authentic selection, in excellent condition, of collectible jewels from all highly sought time periods at competitive prices and even lower prices, if possible. In the process we have had the extraordinary good fortune of meeting remarkable people - some collectors, others just extremely interesting individuals who have taken the time and effort to examine their lives and select things that tend to make them smile, or admire, or just wonder at the exciting endlessly creative and nuanced panoply of jeweled artifacts.