Eclipse - Vintage Gold Plated Austrian Swarovski Aurora Borealis Crystal Crescent Moon Necklace (VN155)

Eclipse - Vintage Gold Plated Austrian Swarovski Aurora Borealis Crystal Crescent Moon Necklace. This lovely necklace is crafted from gold plate over metal. Featuring marquise and round cut Swarovski crystal, vintage styling, and quality craftsmanship. This pretty necklace exhibits a gallery, which is made of crescent moons, which are set with sparkling colorful crystals, ranging in colors of blue, white, pink. yellow, orange, and lavender. There are also small set-crystal links, which are joined together around the neck. There is an extender, adorned with crystals, which can be adjusted to your desired length.  This vintage necklace would make a perfect eye catching piece for any formal occasion.

History: Joseph Strasser could be credited with the precursor to our present-day Rhinestone, but it was really when Georg Freidrich Strass in 1760 invented the first ever rhinestone (artificial gemstone) from a special type of crystal found in the Rhine River that the stones we know today were born.

In 1883, Daniel formed a jewelry company and by 1886, they had over 70 employees, and supplied jewelry for Queen Victoria. In 1891, Daniel registered a patent for the crystal cutting machine that he created and in 1895, moved from Bohemia to Wattens, Austria to begin crystal production.

In 1956, Daniel Swarovski collaborated with Christian Dior to create the popular Aurora Borealis (AB) effect that is still used to this day on crystal colors. During this era, Hollywood designers started using Swarovski Crystals en masse.

The first known gold plating occurred in northern Peru, where Pre-Columbian smiths gilded and silvered copper pieces by electrochemical replacement techniques. During excavations in the late 1980s, archaeologists discovered gold and silver ornamental and ceremonial artifacts dating all the way back to AD 50-300.

Luigi Brunatelli, an Italian chemist, is most widely credited for inventing electroplating. Brugnatelli published his findings on the use of Volta piles to deposit a layer of gold onto a metallic surface in 1805.

Measurements: Necklace 11" - 15" 

Stone Size: Swarovski Crystal (Marquise)10.00 mm  x 4.50mm - 6.00 mm - 3.00 mm   (Round) 3.00 mm each 

Weight: Necklace 22.50 grams 

Condition: Very Good    Note: Slight age related wear to gold plate.  

Origin: America 

Date: Circa 1960