Antique Pendant Necklace
An antique pendant necklace brings together period goldwork and coloured stones to sit on the chest with the quiet weight of history.
Antique Pendant Necklace
Every antique pendant necklace on this page combines a suspended centrepiece with a matching or period chain, drawing from Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco traditions. The selection spans delicate seed pearl drops and lavalier designs to gold lockets, crosses, and stone-set clusters.
Buyers will encounter gold work paired with aquamarines, amethysts, peridots, and garnets, alongside enamelled silver and diamond pieces. Many items hail from the early twentieth century, reflecting the floral curves of Art Nouveau and the geometric lines of later decades.
Distinctions in craftsmanship
The upper tier of pieces displays meticulous hand engraving, secure stone retention, and balanced proportions within delicate drop or lavalier frameworks. Lesser examples show simpler cast mounts and standard commercial chain integration.
The integration of enamel work and the matching quality of seed pearls or coloured gemstones dictate the overall integrity of a piece. Original maker marks and intact backing metals further separate standard workshop production from finer signed items.
Several Victorian watch fobs and Albert chains now find a second life as statement necklaces.
Marius Hammer·Argy Rousseau·Deakin & Francis·Charles Horner
The Antique Pendant Necklace Glossary
- Lavalier
- A pendant featuring a primary drop stone suspended below a smaller upper element, popular during the Edwardian era.
- Guilloche
- An ornamental engine-turned technique applied beneath translucent enamel to create repeating geometric patterns.
- Seed pearl
- Very small natural or salt-water pearls drilled and strung or clustered tightly into floral and geometric motifs.
- T-bar
- A transverse metal bar attached to a watch chain or necklace, originally designed to secure a pocket watch.
- Negligee necklace
- A symmetrical or asymmetrical pendant design featuring two parallel drops hanging at slightly different lengths.
Antique Pendant Necklace: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lavalier pendant?
A lavalier is a drop necklace featuring a suspended stone or ornament hanging from a smaller mounting section. This style gained immense popularity during the Edwardian period.
Such pieces often incorporate delicate gold chains and feature materials like amethyst, peridot, and seed pearls arranged in flowing Art Nouveau motifs.
Were these necklaces worn with chains?
Many items retain their original matching curb link, uniform, or knife-edge chains complete with period clasps and dog clips. Others were paired with watch fobs or Albert chains repurposed for neckwear.
Checking the linkage and metal purity marks helps confirm whether the chain is contemporary to the pendant drop.
What stones were popular in Victorian pieces?
Victorian jewellers favoured rich-coloured gemstones including amethysts, garnets, turquoise, and opals, frequently surrounded by halos of seed pearls. Foil backing was also utilised to enhance the depth and brilliance of stones.
Enamel work in blue and red tones frequently accompanied these gems on puffy hearts and locket pendants.