Can earrings from a set be worn daily?

Many nineteenth-century earrings are lightweight. The gold is often hollow or backed with shellac, making them comfortable for regular wear. However, earlier pieces with long drops are more fragile. The thin gold wires can bend if they catch on clothing.

I inherited this matching necklace and brooch from my grandmother but the stones in the brooch look a slightly different colour to the necklace, does that mean they don't belong together?

Colour variations are common in antique jewellery sets. Jewellers matched stones by eye under gaslight or candlelight, so slight differences in hue were accepted. Over decades, some stones react differently to sunlight or skin oils. A brooch worn on heavy wool will age differently to a necklace sitting against the skin. Check the metal settings and decorative motifs instead. If the leaves, engraved borders and clasps match, they likely started life in the same box.

What is a fitted case made from?

Most are wooden frames covered in morocco leather or textured paper. The interiors use silk or velvet.

There is a tiny loop on the bottom of the pendant in this set but nothing is hanging from it, what would have been there when it was first made?

Empty loops usually held a suspended drop. This might have been a natural pearl or a matching gemstone. Drops were frequently detached and lost over the years. Some sets were sold with multiple interchangeable drops so the owner could match different outfits. You can leave the loop empty or find a period-appropriate addition to hang from it. Many dealers sell loose antique drops specifically for this purpose.

Home > Jewellery > Jewellery Sets > Page 10

Antique Jewellery Sets

← Page 10 of 34 →

An antique jewellery set, traditionally known as a parure, usually comprises a matching necklace, earrings, brooch, and sometimes a bracelet, kept together in a fitted case. They were designed to be worn at formal evening events to project wealth and social standing.