Heavy Staple CABLE CHAIN French Antique 20g 18k GOLD Solid 7.5mm Chunky Graduated Oval Link Necklace Wide 17" Victorian Unisex

ABOUT:

Talk about timeless! This graduated cable chain necklace has large gauge links that lessen in size towards the back. It is exactly on trend for today but this one is over 120 years old! Awesome to find such a quality piece with that age that fits in so well as a daily staple today. Sturdy hand feel at 20 grams of 18k gold.

The links are larger scale with the largest center links about 7.5mm gauge, they are about 8.7mm in length to make them oval. They graduate down to 4.8mm gauge on the ends where the links are smallest.

The piece is in solid 18k gold in that it is real gold, not gold filled or plated, but the links have vacant space inside them which is the common fabrication. They are like tubes where the gold curls to an interior seam. They are very sturdy though and do not feel tinny, they do not flex when squeezing, etc. and there are no dings or dents so it is a quality fabrication with a wonderful hand feel and weight while wearing.

I was also excited to see wear between the links - evidence of having them rub together at those connection points for 100 years! These are the things we expect to see and look for when evaluating antiques (we'd have questions about authenticity if they looked too new). Those areas of wear also allow us a clear look at the gold, verifying that it is real gold and not plated or gold filled, as we would see underlying metals in those areas of wear. So we can be confident that it's the real deal antique chain. Despite the wear, where the links have thinned, the chain is still super stable as it would take another 100 years of wear to continue rubbing away at the gold to wear it would weaken.

Found in France. One hallmark remains on the spring ring, it is the French dual hallmark we often see on antique chains, for 18k but also with the boar's head, either serving as a control mark for Paris during that period, or perhaps indicating some inner working of the spring ring is silver, but the entirety of the chain is 18k gold, tested in multiple ways including X-ray. I think there were likely hallmarks on the two end loops as well but those appear to have been fortified with gold added to strengthen the connection point.

Antique boxes / any additional items in displays in photos are not included. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures.

MEASUREMENTS:
It weighs 19.9g. Stretched end to end it's 17 inches. See above for link measurements. The thickness / depth of the tube (if you were to say open one and flatten it out to measure depth) is 1.5 to 2mm.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

Wonderful patina - it has a beautiful sheen and glow. No glaring dings or dents, the links are sturdy and well shaped. Just the wear between links mentioned above, evidence of its age of over 120 years.

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. : ) There are no dark spots to the gold, it was just difficult to photograph because it is so shiny and mirrored that it reflects its surroundings including the green trees out the window.
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 : )

Thanks so much for looking at my items!

SOCIAL:
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All items hand picked by me, one at a time from all over the world. All listings individually written by me, and not AI, after studying each piece to discuss its beauties and its ; ) eccentricities (which I am picky to point out).

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