Reflecting History – Renowned Antique Necklaces of the World
Reflecting History:
Renowned Antique Necklaces of the World
Handcrafted to a standard of perfection – master jewelers throughout history have created timeless pieces that would forever go down in history. The world’s most beautiful stones have been cut and set to create breathtaking necklaces. In this series we are going to share with you such remarkable historical pieces that have revolutionized jewelry making artistry. Here are some of the worlds most dignified necklaces; each with their unique origins and mysterious past.
L ‘Incomparable Diamond Necklace
The ‘Incomparable’ necklace is incomparable to any other necklaces, at the center sits the largest and most stunning natural fancy deep-yellow diamond ever found. Legends state that the origin of this diamond was found 30 years ago by an impoverish girl in Congo, Africa.
This statement diamond weighs at 407.8 carats and is set in 18KT gold and accentuated by 91 white diamonds. The necklaces itself is an exceptional treasure that currently cost around $55 million. making it one of the most expensive necklaces in the world. The necklace comprises of various other diamond shapes all immaculately set to create this extraordinary necklace.
Marie Antoinette
Named after the last Queen of France before the French Revolution, the infamous Queen Marie Antoinette. This magnificent piece of jewelry is said to showcase her majesty’s beauty and dignified royalty. The necklace features a 1.84 carat pink diamond aligned vertically with two yellow diamonds each weighing 5.24 and 7.06 carat. Set in platinum the necklace is accompanied by smaller pieces of diamonds weighing 181.1, at the very end hangs a pear-shaped white diamond that weights 8.05 carats.
Tiffany Diamond
A exquisite piece of jewelry ever found is said to have been worn only twice throughout its history. The Tiffany Yellow Diamond is an exceptional piece of precious stone. The diamond was first discovered in 1877 from the Kimberly mines in South Africa at an extremely eye-opening weight at 287.42 carats. Since then it has been handled by many master designers and cut into its current weight at 128.54. In 2012, the stone had been redesigned as part of Tiffany & Co’s 175th anniversary celebration.
Wallis Simpson Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Suite
This beautiful red ruby accentuated with scintillating diamonds belongs to Van Cleef & Arpels. This gorgeous piece of jewelry was crafted in the early 19th century and was a gift from King Edward VIII who abdicated his throne for his love to Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, for her 40th birthday. The necklace was engraved “My Wallis from her David” dated at June 19th, 1936, symbolizing their everlasting love for each other.
The Hope Diamond
This highly sought-after jewel is an exceptionally magical deep blue diamond that was found in India. It was said to have been cut from a 112-carat stone that was brought to France by a jewel trader called Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. In 1673, the stone was then cut into a 67-carat heart but later disappeared due to theft. The diamond reemerged in London in 1812 and was in possess of George IV, the ruling kind of Britain at that time. It is believed that in 1912 Pierre Cartier sold the diamond to Evalyn Walsh McLean, an American heiress. Then her estate sold it to Harry Winston in 1949. Ultimately, Harry Winston donated the stone to Smithsonian Institution in 1958 . The current stone is a 45.5 carat blue stone known as the Hope Diamond and is on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.
La Peregrina
“La Peregrina” also known as “the Pilgrim” or ” the Wanderer” in Spanish is a large pear-shaped white pearl. During the mid-16th century it was said that the La Peregrina was found by African slaces in the Spanish Colony near the Gulf of Panama. The pearl was then possessed by many historical figures such as King Ferdinand V, King Charles V, Phillip II and Queen Mary I of England until it was returned to Spain where it remained for over 250 years. The pearl then traveled across many seas for another 250 years until 1969 in England when the pearl was bought by Richard Burton as a gift for his wife Elizabeth Taylor.
Blue Belle of Asia
The legendary sapphire known as ‘Blue Belle of Asia’ is an eye-catching peacock blue sapphire is an untreated cushion cut sapphire from Ceylon weighing 392.52 carat. It was first discovered in 1926 in the traditional gem basket of Sir Lanka, Rathnapura “The City of Gems”. This magnificent gem was once owned by a well-known jewelry dealer known as Macan Marker who described the gemstone as a ‘highly prized peacock blue color and excellent clarity’.
The Black Orlov
The ‘Black Orlov’ also known as the ‘Eye of Brahma Diamond’ was said to be discovered in the early 19th century in India. The diamond originally weighted 195 carats, but now currently weighs at 67.50 carats because of the lifting of the curse. According to legends the Black Orlov was stolen from a statue of the Hindu god Brahma in Pondicherry and that very stone was said to represent one of its eyes. The mysteries of this jewel began in 1932 when its owner was said to have jumped to death. In 1940, the Black Orlov was then owned by Russian princesses who later also jumped to their death. Since then, the jewel has been cut down to its current size of 67.50 carats, this is believed to have lifted the curse of the Black Orlov.
The Gulf Pearl Parure
The ‘Gulf Pearl Parure’ necklace was designed by Harry Winston in 1932. The word Parure in French means adornment. The word refers to a set of three or more matching pieces of jewelry made of the same material. The Gulf Pearl Parure represents this meaning by articulating four rows of pearls and diamonds. This extraordinary pearl and diamond necklace are one of Winston’s prized jewelry.
The Patiala Necklace
Created by the House of Cartier in 1928 the ‘Patiala’ necklace was made for Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, the Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala. The necklace contained 2930 diamonds, and as its center piece was the world’s seventh largest diamond at that time, by De Beers. The necklace later disappeared around 1948 from the Royal Treasury of Patiala and only to be found in pieces in 1982. In 1998 parts of the necklace was then found at second hand jewelry shops in London but the whole piece still remains incomplete. The necklace has been restored by replacing the lost diamonds with cubic zirconia and synthetic diamonds to resemble the original after four years.
Cover Photo Courtesy: Fine Art America
