Antique Paste Jewellery Set
An antique paste jewellery set brings brilliant light and hand-cut sparkle from Georgian, Victorian, and Art Deco eras straight to your collection.
Antique Paste Jewellery Set
An antique paste jewellery set comprises matched or complementary pieces featuring brilliant hand-cut glass designed to imitate fine gemstones. Buyers browsing this selection encounter coordinated earrings, necklaces, and pendants spanning Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods.
The most common configurations on this page include matching earrings and necklace sets, alongside demi parures pairing brooches with earrings. These groupings reflect historic tastes for coordinated accessories across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Forms range from Georgian rivières and puffy heart pendants to Art Deco sapphire and amethyst suites. Each grouping demonstrates the period preference for uniform sparkle mounted in silver, gold, or gilt metals.
Materials and construction
Paste stones are hand-cut from glass and meticulously faceted to catch the light much like genuine diamonds or coloured gems. Metals used for settings include sterling silver, rose gold, and yellow gold, often paired with foil backings to enhance depth and brilliance.
Individual stones are secured in closed-back or open-back metal settings using traditional claw or collet techniques. Artisans integrated faux pearls and enamelling alongside glass paste to achieve rich colour contrasts in Georgian and Art Deco designs.
Antique Paste Jewellery Set Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for paste jewellery set 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.
Assessing quality and finish
The fineness of stone cutting and the precision of the metal setting distinguish superior examples. Superior pieces retain crisp facets on every glass paste stone and secure mounts that hold each element firmly without movement.
The presence of intact foil backings and matching components within a set dictates the overall integrity of the suite. Original clasps, matched stone colours, and well-preserved metalwork elevate the standard of surviving sets.
Martin Mayer
The Antique Paste Jewellery Set Glossary
- Rivière
- A necklace composed of a continuous line of linked gemstones or paste stones of graduating or uniform size. Each stone is typically set in its own closed or open-backed collet.
- Demi parure
- A matched set of jewellery consisting of two or three pieces, usually comprising earrings and a brooch or pendant. They became popular for coordinating day and evening wear.
- Foil
- A thin reflective metallic layer placed beneath a paste stone inside a closed setting to enhance its colour and brilliance. It requires protection from moisture to prevent darkening.
- Collet
- A flat band of metal that holds a gemstone or paste stone securely in place by its girdle. This setting style is characteristic of Georgian and Victorian metalwork.
Antique Paste Jewellery Set: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear a paste set daily?
Historic paste sets require careful handling because glass stones and antique metal settings are more fragile than modern daily wear items. Reserve these pieces for special occasions to protect delicate claws and foil backings from knocks and sweat.
Putting your jewellery on last after applying perfumes and lotions prevents chemical buildup on the glass paste and metal. Taking sets off before sleeping or strenuous activity preserves their delicate construction.
How do I date an antique paste set?
Dating relies on examining the cut of the glass, the tone of the metal, and the overall style of the mount. Georgian and early Victorian pieces often feature closed-back collet settings with hand-cut foil-backed stones, while Art Deco sets display geometric silver designs.
Matching the construction techniques of the clasp and pin findings helps confirm the era of manufacture. Consulting the period categories listed alongside each item provides a reliable guide to its age.
What is the difference between a parure and demi parure?
A full parure traditionally includes a matching necklace, earrings, brooch, bracelet, and sometimes a tiara or ring designed to be worn together. A demi parure is a smaller matched set, typically consisting of two or three coordinating pieces such as earrings and a pendant.
Both formats allowed historical wearers to achieve a polished, cohesive look for social engagements. Surviving demi parures are frequently encountered among antique paste suites.