Antique Gold Pendant Necklace
An antique gold pendant necklace brings together regional gemstone settings and delicate metalwork from the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras.
Antique Gold Pendant Necklace
An antique gold pendant necklace combines a suspended ornament with a matching chain, spanning periods from Georgian beginnings through Victorian revivalism to Edwardian and Art Deco design. Pieces range from simple lavallieres and negligee necklaces to elaborate gem-set clusters and portrait lockets.
The selection on this page centres primarily on Edwardian and Victorian examples, alongside pieces from the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. Buyers encounter hollow stamped forms, chased lockets and delicate drop pendants set with seed pearls and coloured stones.
How they were made
Goldsmiths utilised nine-carat and fifteen-carat yellow and rose gold, often shaping metal through hand engraving, wire work, and hollow stamping for lightweight drop designs. Stones were hand-set in collets, rub-over settings or open-backed mounts to let light pass through the gems.
Natural pearls, seed pearls and foil-backed stones complemented primary gemstones such as amethysts, peridots, aquamarines and opals. Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts examples show whipped wire curves and naturalistic motifs, while Edwardian pieces rely on knife-edge drops and symmetrical floral arrangements.
Antique Gold Pendant Necklace Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for gold pendant necklace among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Common gemstone pairings on this page include amethyst, peridot, aquamarine, turquoise, and seed pearls set in yellow or rose gold.
What varies in quality
Quality separates items through the precision of the goldsmith's hand engraving, the symmetry of wire work, and the matching of natural seed pearls or coloured gemstones. Superior pieces display crisp casting, secure claw or rub-over settings, and integrated design where the chain complements the pendant drop.
Lower tiers often show simpler stamped components, glued rather than pegged pearls, or replacement chains that lack period consistency. The presence of hallmarks, maker stamps and clean gemstone saturation distinguishes fine workshop output from standard commercial production.
Deakin & Francis
The Antique Gold Pendant Necklace Glossary
- Lavalier
- A pendant necklace featuring a central gemstone drop suspended below a smaller stone or decorative link.
- Negligee necklace
- A pendant style featuring two unequal drops suspended from a central section or ribbon motif.
- Seed pearl
- A very small natural or saltwater pearl, frequently drilled and strung on silk or pegged into gold mounts.
- Collet
- A band of metal that holds a gemstone in place by being pushed or hammered over the edge of the stone.
- Cannetille
- A decorative technique utilising fine gold wire twisted and soldered into intricate lacelike patterns resembling embroidery.
Antique Gold Pendant Necklace: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I care for antique gold jewellery?
Care for antique gold jewellery involves gentle cleaning with a soft cloth and avoiding harsh chemical dips, ultrasonic machines or abrasive brushes.
Many pieces contain foil-backed stones, seed pearls or delicate enamel that can be damaged by moisture or heat.
How do I tell Edwardian pendants from Victorian ones?
Victorian pieces often feature heavier gold weights, Etruscan revival motifs, dark garnets and substantial lockets, reflecting earlier romantic and revivalist trends.
Edwardian pieces favour lighter construction, platinum-topped gold, knife-edge drops, and pastel gems like peridots, aquamarines and seed pearls.
Did these necklaces always come with chains?
Many pendant necklaces survive with their original period chains, such as trombone links or knife-edge designs, while others were originally sold as standalone brooches or pendants.
Sellers often pair loose antique pendants with period-appropriate gold chains to match the carat and colour of the main piece.