Indigo Jewel - Estate Sterling Silver Blue Sapphire & Pearl Pendant & Chain (EP060)
Rarities Antique Jewelry
Indigo Jewel - Estate Sterling Silver Blue Sapphire & Pearl Pendant & Chain. This lovely pendant is crafted from sterling silver, hallmarked 925 for sterling. Featuring a lab created pear shaped faceted blue sapphire, a lab created round cut blue sapphire, 2 genuine seed pearls , and exquisite silver work. The expertly set sapphires display a beautiful indigo blue 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 celestial blue color of this gemstone symbolized heaven and attracted divine favor and wise judgment. Greeks wore sapphire for guidance when seeking answers from the oracle. Buddhists believed that it brought spiritual enlightenment, and Hindus used it during worship.
The first synthetic sapphire was successfully made in 1873 by the flux method. This was followed shortly by the flame fusion method in 1902
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: 34.00 mm x 19.00 mm Chain 18"
Stone Size: Blue Sapphire, Lab Created (tear drop) .25 carat Sapphire (round) .02 carat =.27 carats Pearl 1.00 mm each
Weight: 4.80 grams
Condition: Excellent
Origin: America Chain: Italy
Date: 21 St Century