Antique Necklaces

An antique necklace is timeless, it can be elegant, striking, delicate, stunning or a statement accessory, it can add a twist to an outfit, dressing it up and catching ones eye. There are many styles of antique and vintage necklaces; classic styles include the bayadere necklace, the bib necklace, the choker necklace and the lavalier necklace. An investment piece, an antique necklace is associated with glamour, class and beauty. 

History of the Necklace

Necklaces are one of the oldest forms of jewellery; the first necklaces would have been strings of shells, rocks, garnet and lapis lazuli. Gold may have been transformed into beads to be strung. Necklaces as an item of jewellery have been an integral part of fashion throughout the ages, dating back to ancient civilisations. Thought to have been worn first around 40,000 years ago during the Stone Ages, necklaces have remained not only as pieces worn prettily to adorn the body but have also signified and represented cultural and religious beliefs as items of dress.

Styles of Necklace

There are a huge array of antique necklaces on the market, including drop pendants, diamond tassel bow pendants, precious gems and stones, pearl necklaces, silver and gold necklaces and chains.

Antique Pearl Necklaces

Antique pearl necklaces evoke thoughts of glamorous, sultry actresses; a classic piece a pearl necklace is timeless and stylish. It is possible to purchase a pre 1920’s Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco antique pearl necklace although they are very rare and extremely desirable, mainly due to the fact that pearls used on necklaces from these eras were natural not cultured pearls, as this technique did not become mainstream until 1917. Considerations when buying an investment piece such as an antique or vintage pearl necklace, is its value, age, size and style of pearls. The size of the pearl will affect the antique necklaces value; natural pearls are normally between 3 and 6 mm but they can grow to 15mm.

Antique Diamond Necklaces

An antique diamond necklace will never lose its beauty, a classic statement piece it will dazzle alongside any outfit. Considerations when purchasing an antique diamond necklace are the cut, colour, carat and clarity of the diamonds. Antique diamond necklaces will often have imperfections, the shape of the diamonds may be round, and pear or square, and the whiter the diamond the more valuable it is considered. Dependent on your personal style will determine what size or shape diamond necklace you choose and the length of the chain. A timeless piece, an antique diamond necklace would make the perfect gift for a loved one or simply yourself. 

Antique Gemstone Necklace

An antique gemstone necklace is one of a kind, a bold statement piece it can have a dramatic effect on an outfit. Victorian gemstone necklaces draw influence from Rome and Greece often with a large central gem, during Queen Victoria’s process of mourning for Prince Albert there was a shift in Victorian gemstone necklaces, with namely black onyx and red garnet becoming more popular, indicating her darker mood.
Art Nouveau antique gemstone necklace designs draw inspiration from nature, during this period there is also indicators of Japanese and Asian influences, during the Art Nouveau period there was a move away from diamonds towards semi-precious gemstones and opals. An iconic piece of Art Nouveau jewellery is the ‘dragonfly’, which features frequently at this time.

Edwardian antique necklaces were more feminine and delicate with lighter gemstones. Art Deco antique necklaces incorporated geometric shapes, emeralds, rubies and sapphires, which reflected the use of bright colours from this period, turquoise and coral antique and vintage necklaces are also available.

From the 1940’s onwards-vintage necklaces were reflective of the glamour of Hollywood at the time, extravagant and opulent, vintage pearl necklaces were one of the iconic jewellery pieces of the time.