Turquoise Pendant Necklace
A turquoise pendant necklace brings together bright blue stones and delicate gold or silver work, capturing the romantic spirit of Victorian and Edwardian design.
Turquoise Pendant Necklace
A turquoise pendant necklace is a jewellery piece centred on vibrant blue or matrix turquoise stones, often suspended on a matching chain. These items appear across the Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods, shifting in form from elaborate halo clusters to slender vertical bars.
The pieces on this page span styles such as Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Ottoman Revival. Most examples integrate seed pearls or diamonds alongside the turquoise, creating varied textures and colour contrasts within compact metalwork.
Buyers encounter everything from simple gold star pendants to complex multi-stone parures complete with matching elements. The forms range from small egg charms to elaborate negligee necklaces featuring cascading drops.
Materials and construction
Goldsmiths and silversmiths shaped these pieces using nine-carat, fifteen-carat, and eighteen-carat gold, alongside silver and rose gold settings. Gemstones including pearls, seed pearls, diamonds, and enamel frequently accompany the turquoise stones.
Makers utilised techniques like filigree wirework, enamel application, and careful stone-setting to build intricate frames. Many items combined gold and silver together in the mounting to alter the visual weight and contrast of the metal.
Listings feature nine-carat and fifteen-carat gold alongside silver, paired with seed pearls and diamonds.
Assessing quality in antique turquoise jewellery
Quality rests on the depth of the stone's colour, the stability of the turquoise matrix, and the intricacy of the surrounding metalwork. Pieces with well-matched stones and crisp, undamaged enamel command greater appreciation among collectors.
The presence of maker marks or attribution to known workshops elevates a piece, as does the complexity of integrated elements like seed pearl drops and fine filigree chains. Maker involvement changes the standing of the work significantly.
Deakin and Francis·The Gaskins·Murrle Bennett·Dorrie Nossiter·Liberty and Co
The Turquoise Pendant Necklace Glossary
- Negligee necklace
- A necklace featuring two unequal drops suspended from a central motif or chain. This style gained particular popularity during the Edwardian period.
- Matrix turquoise
- Turquoise stones that retain fragments of their host rock webbed across the surface. This pattern creates a distinct natural network within the blue stone.
- Parure
- A matched set of jewellery designed to be worn together, typically including a necklace, earrings, and a ring or brooch. Such suites share identical material and design motifs.
- Filigree
- Delicate metalwork formed from fine threads of gold or silver soldered together in openwork patterns. It creates a lace-like effect around central gems.
- Etruscan revival
- A nineteenth-century design style inspired by ancient archaeological discoveries. It uses granulation and wirework on high-carat gold.
Turquoise Pendant Necklace: Frequently Asked Questions
What periods do these necklaces come from?
The pieces span the Victorian and Edwardian eras, alongside Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, and later twentieth-century revivals. Many items date from the late nineteenth century up to the 1930s.
Craftsmanship shifted from ornate Etruscan goldwork towards lighter silver and platinum-era styles over these decades.
How do I care for antique turquoise?
Turquoise is a softer, porous gemstone that absorbs oils, cosmetics, and water easily. Clean it gently with a dry soft cloth and avoid chemical dips.
Keep the necklace away from prolonged sunlight and perfumes to protect the natural colour of the stone.
Are the chains original to the pendants?
Many antique necklaces retain their period-matching chains or clasps, particularly when purchased as part of a set. Some pieces were originally made as brooches that were later adapted.
Examining the metal colour and link style helps determine whether the chain belongs to the same era as the pendant.
What is matrix turquoise?
Matrix turquoise refers to stones where the host rock remains visible as dark veins running through the blue material. This pattern is entirely natural.
In older pieces, matrix stones were frequently utilised in Arts and Crafts designs to highlight organic textures.