Fiery FOUR Carats 4Ctw Old Mine Cut Diamond Dangle Negligee NECKLACE French Antique 14k Gold & Silver Edwardian

ABOUT:
A striking antique necklace that dangles to catch the light, made special by the four carats of bright white and extra fiery old mine cut diamonds. The diamonds really do stand out as they are quite lively.

Found in Paris, the piece is crafted in 14k gold and silver with eight diamonds fixed in milgrain bezels at the top oval, and seven additional which dangle from independently set components. Each of the dangling stones is set in a bezel with a bar extending from it, that attaches by loop to the next stone and to the top piece - which allows them to move and catch the light for the extra sparkle.

The chain appears to have been extended with a slightly different link at two equal points towards the back. It is stamped with the French hallmark for silver and the loop connecting to the oval part of the pendant is stamped for 14k gold. The back of the pendants have a slightly warmer yellowish glow compared to the tops of the settings.

This type of necklace is called a négligée necklace, characterized by the two parallel pendants suspended at different lengths – asymmetrically. This necklace came into fashion around 1900.

Antique box, props, staircases : ) etc. not included. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures.

MEASUREMENTS:

The necklace is 18 1/2 inches in length end to end. It measures only 12.5 inches to the points where the different chain links were added. It weighs 6 grams. The oval top part of the pendant is 21x14mm and dangles 50mm from the top of the oval pendant to the bottom of the longest dangle.

The five largest diamonds (two at the center of the oval and three at the bottom of the dangles) measure about half a carat each. Two measure 4mm, two measure 3.5mm and two measure 3mm, two at 2.5mm and two at 2mm. I would not remove them for an exact measurement but totals around 4 carats total weight in antique diamonds.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

As mentioned, there is a slightly different chain link on each side towards the back of the necklace. This should be mostly hidden at the back of the neck. The clasp sticks a bit so you have to be sure to manually press it closed but once closed it remains closed. It just can stick open from time to time. There is some weird texture and patina to the vertical edges of a few of the bezels. I don't know if it is just aging to the metal or if it was dipped to remove patina or tested, etc. It isn't really seen while wearing because the stones face up and are the star of the show, you'd have to turn the bezels to the side to detect it.

I don't prefer to grade my antique diamonds with the Four C's grading scale which came about way later for machine cut diamonds with mathematically perfected facets. The scale does not do antique stones justice as they were expertly hand cut in a much more limited supply compared to the millions of carats of machine cut diamonds made each year now. Their uniqueness and quirks are expected and part of their charm, but I will say these stones are better than most in terms of brightness, fire and clarity. Several are eye clean, and even clean under magnification. I don't see any dark or glaring carbon spots. A frosty inclusion, slightly to very slightly eye visible here or there but the four carats of antique diamonds are quite special.

Please note that all my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition. They will have patina, surface wear, a few small nicks. These pieces may also have evidence of a sizing, some build up around the stones and / or inclusions seen under magnification, typical for antique pieces. I have mentioned any noticeable issues above and they are all still wearable and eager to be loved and accepted for many years to come, (the preservation of antique jewelry, even those with signs of their age and history, is important to me. : )
But - Please note due to age, this piece is not in mint condition. Pictures also serve as part of the description and condition report so please utilize the zoom feature which will magnify any wear significantly more than what is visible to the eye while wearing : )

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