Edwardian Jewellery Pendant
These edwardian jewellery pendant examples capture the delicate grace of early twentieth-century design, offering collectors intricate goldwork and luminous gemstones.
Edwardian Jewellery Pendant
An edwardian jewellery pendant embodies the refined aesthetic of the early twentieth century, spanning from the late Victorian era through the Edwardian period and into the nineteen-twenties. These ornaments take various forms, including delicate lavaliers, heart-shaped lockets, and vibrant gemstone drops.
Makers of this era frequently paired precious metals with stones such as amethyst, peridot, aquamarine, and seed pearls. Pieces often display stylistic influences from Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements, incorporating organic motifs and colourful enamel work.
The selections on this page range from simple gold crosses to elaborate diamond and natural pearl centrepieces. Buyers will frequently encounter nine-carat and fifteen-carat gold settings framing turquoise, opal, and topaz.
Materials and technique
Goldsmiths of the period relied heavily on nine-carat and fifteen-carat yellow and rose gold to form the structural mounts and chains. Fine wirework and millegrain settings were utilised to secure small diamonds and seed pearls with precision.
Enamelling techniques, particularly guilloche, added vibrant colour to silver and gold shields, lockets, and charms. Gemstones were cut using period methods like old cut diamonds and foil-backed pastes to catch the candlelight.
Listings feature items spanning the Victorian era through the Edwardian period, nineteen-twenties, and nineteen-thirties.
Evaluating the range
Quality in these ornaments rests upon the fineness of the metalwork and the integration of the stones. Higher tier pieces utilise fifteen-carat gold and natural gemstones like pearls and diamonds, whereas simpler examples employ nine-carat gold with paste replacements.
The precision of the artisan's hand dictates the overall elegance, visible in the symmetry of lavalier drops and the delicacy of wire scrollwork. Makers who maintained workshop standards produced cleaner bezels and more secure stone settings.
Deakin & Francis
The Edwardian Jewellery Pendant Glossary
- Lavalier
- A pendant featuring a primary stone suspended above a swinging drop. This style reached peak popularity during the Edwardian era.
- Seed Pearl
- A tiny, naturally small pearl drilled and threaded onto silk or wire. They are commonly clustered around larger central amethysts or peridots.
- Millegrain
- A jewellery technique creating a textured border of tiny metal beads along the edge of a setting. This method softens the transition between metal and stone.
- Guilloche
- An ornamental pattern mechanically engraved into metal beneath a translucent layer of enamel. It produces a repeating geometric wave or sunburst effect.
- Paste
- Hand-cut lead glass utilised as a gemstone substitute in antique jewellery. High quality paste exhibits deep refraction mimicking real stones.
Edwardian Jewellery Pendant: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify genuine Edwardian gold?
Genuine pieces from this era frequently bear hallmarks indicating nine-carat or fifteen-carat gold standards, alongside assay office marks like the Birmingham anchor. Maker stamps and specific date letters help pinpoint the exact year of creation.
Weight, colour of the gold, and traditional construction methods such as hollow stampings or soldered wire details also assist in verification.
What are Suffragette colours in jewellery?
Suffragette jewellery incorporates the colours green, white, and violet, representing give, women, and votes respectively. Jewellers arranged peridots, seed pearls, and amethysts in sequence to convey this political message.
These pieces were worn by supporters during the early nineteen-hundreds as a subtle statement of solidarity.
How should I care for antique pearl pendants?
Pearls are organic gems sensitive to acids, cosmetics, and moisture, requiring gentle cleaning with a soft, dry cloth after wear. Store them separately from harder gemstones to prevent scratching the nacre surface.
Avoid submerging antique pearl pendants in water or ultrasonic cleaners, as moisture can weaken the historic silk threads.