Red Sea - Estate Sterling Silver Garnet & Pearl Filigree Pendant & Chain (EP047)

Red Sea - Estate Sterling Silver Garnet & Pearl Filigree Pendant & Chain. This lovely pendant is crafted from sterling silver, hallmarked 925 for sterling. Featuring a genuine pear shaped faceted red tear drop garnet, genuine round cut garnet , 2 genuine seed pearls ,and exquisite silver work. The expertly set garnet displays the most beautiful red wine color,  whilst the seed pearls are lustrous and silvery grey in color. The gallery is shield shaped, with amazing delicate filigree work.  The bale is decorative, which looks perfect with the central decoration surrounding the pearls. This gorgeous pendant has been matched up to a contemporary sturdy box chain, a perfect match to the piece. The silver color of the chain picks up the color of the pearls in the pendant, which looks lovely. The chain features a secure lobster claw clasp, in perfect working order. Edwardian revival in style, this truly would make a wonderful gift or addition to any jewelry collection. 

History: The history of garnet dates back to the Bronze Age, more than 5000 years ago. Its name, which has been used since these ancient times, was derived from the Latin word granatium, which means pomegranate (because the small, red crystals were thought to resemble pomegranate seeds).

Pearls were presented as gifts to Chinese royalty as early as 2300 BC, while in ancient Rome, pearl jewellery was considered the ultimate status symbol. So precious were the spherical gems that in the 1st century BC, Julius Caesar passed a law limiting the wearing of pearls only to the ruling classes.

The first evidence of silver mining dates back to 3000 B.C., in Turkey and Greece, according to the RSC. Ancient people even figured out how to refine silver. They heated the silver ore and blew air over it, a process called cupellation.

The sterling alloy originated in continental Europe and was being used for commerce as early as the 12th century in the area that is now northern Germany. A piece of sterling silver dating from Henry II's reign was used as a standard in the Trial of the Pyx until it was deposited at the Royal Mint in 1843.

Measurements: Pendant 34.00 mm x 19.00 mm    Chain 18" 

Stone Size: Garnet (Tear Drop) .25 Carat   Garnet (Round) .02 Carats   Pearl 1.00 mm 

Weight: 4.80 grams 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: Pendant: America      Chain: Italy 

Date: 21st Century