Necklace thumbnail 1
Necklace thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Necklace

1950-60
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This glamorous set of jewellery, comprising spectacular rectangular aquamarines and diamonds set in platinum, demonstrates the allure of fine gemstones simply set, and the continuation of Art Deco geometry in jewellery into the second half of the Twentieth Century.

Although the precise date of the necklace and earrings is unknown we believe them to have been made in the 1950s. The matching ring and earrings were made in 1973 and 1974 respectively by Chaumet, commissioned to match the necklace and bracelet, the year’s gap being due to the jeweller’s difficulty in sourcing stones of appropriate size and quality. Certainly it is extremely rare to see so many stunning aquamarines together and their impact is considerable.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Aquamarines and diamonds set in platinum
Brief description
Necklace of aquamarines and diamonds set in platinum, ca 1950-60
Physical description
Eleven large aquamarines are set along two lines of rectangular diamonds, the aquamarines held by claws at the corner of each stone, the diamonds set edge to edge in deep articulated collects. Towards the back of the necklace the lines of diamonds come closer together, held at four points by rectangular links set with paired aquamarines and terminating in a box clasp also set with aquamarines.
Dimensions
  • Height: 167mm
  • Width: 140mm
  • Depth: 15mm
dimensions with necklace fastened
Marks and inscriptions
G in a triangular punch on the tongue of the clasp
Credit line
Given by Beth Jackson
Summary
This glamorous set of jewellery, comprising spectacular rectangular aquamarines and diamonds set in platinum, demonstrates the allure of fine gemstones simply set, and the continuation of Art Deco geometry in jewellery into the second half of the Twentieth Century.

Although the precise date of the necklace and earrings is unknown we believe them to have been made in the 1950s. The matching ring and earrings were made in 1973 and 1974 respectively by Chaumet, commissioned to match the necklace and bracelet, the year’s gap being due to the jeweller’s difficulty in sourcing stones of appropriate size and quality. Certainly it is extremely rare to see so many stunning aquamarines together and their impact is considerable.
Collection
Accession number
M.27-2017

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Record createdJuly 18, 2017
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