Gold Peridot Necklace
A gold peridot necklace brings together the bright olive-green stone and warm precious metal typical of the Edwardian and Victorian eras.
Gold Peridot Necklace
A gold peridot necklace comprises pendant drops, lavallieres and garland designs centred around vibrant green peridot stones. These pieces frequently incorporate delicate seed pearls and occasionally diamonds or coloured gemstones in settings of nine-carat or fifteen-carat yellow gold.
The version most commonly encountered on this page is the Edwardian pendant or lavallier, dating from around nineteen hundred to nineteen ten. These designs often feature flowing Art Nouveau curves or symmetrical garland motifs that suspend the peridot from fine gold chains.
What Varies in Quality
The integration of supportive elements like matched seed pearls and well-executed maker work further elevates a piece. Lesser examples rely on paler stones, simpler stamped metal components, or replacement pearls that lack the uniformity of original configurations.
Listings feature peridot paired predominantly with seed pearls and set in nine-carat or fifteen-carat yellow gold across Edwardian and Victorian styles.
Murrle Bennett·BIRKS
The Gold Peridot Necklace Glossary
- Lavalier
- A pendant necklace featuring a central stone with one or more suspended drops hanging below it. This style gained immense popularity during the Edwardian and Art Nouveau periods.
- Seed pearl
- A very small, naturally occurring or saltwater pearl, often undrilled or half-drilled, used to accent gemstone clusters in antique jewellery. They provide a soft, luminous contrast to bright green peridot.
- Plique-a-jour
- An enamelling technique where enamel is applied without a backing, resembling miniature stained glass that lets light pass through the coloured cells. It is frequently seen in fine Art Nouveau gold work.
- Garland style
- A decorative motif inspired by eighteenth-century neoclassical design, featuring swags of flowers, ribbons, and leaves rendered in gold and gemstones. Edwardian jewellers revived this technique for delicate pendant necklaces.
- Cabochon
- A gemstone shaped and polished with a smooth, rounded convex surface rather than faceted edges. This cut highlights the inner glow of softer peridot stones.
Gold Peridot Necklace: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lavallier necklace?
A lavallier is a pendant necklace featuring a central stone or decorative motif with one or more dangling drops suspended underneath. This drop configuration was especially popular during the early twentieth century.
In peridot pieces, the design typically positions the green gemstone at the focal point with a pear-cut drop hanging below surrounded by tiny seed pearls.
How do I date an Edwardian peridot pendant?
Dating relies on stylistic markers such as flowing Art Nouveau whiplash lines, symmetrical garland motifs, and the use of fifteen-carat gold, which was standard before later legal standardisation shifts. Maker marks and original fitted boxes also help pinpoint the exact decade.
Most pieces date between eighteen ninety and nineteen twenty, reflecting the height of peridot popularity during the Edwardian era.
Are seed pearls original to these necklaces?
Original seed pearls are typically uniform in size, creamy in tone, and securely pegged or set into the gold framework alongside the peridot. Because pearls are delicate organic materials, replacement pearls sometimes appear in later repairs.
Close inspection under magnification reveals whether the pearl settings match the wear and construction technique of the surrounding gold.