Recently Sold (VICN028)

S.O. Bigney Co - Victorian 14K Gold Fill Amethyst Paste & Cultured Pearl Necklace.  This exquisite necklace is crafted from 14K Gold Fill, hallmarked S.O.B. for maker S.O. Bigney Co.  Featuring One genuine cultured pearl, one genuine seed pearl, 4 amethyst paste (antique glass) gemstones, Victorian styling, and quality craftsmanship.   The necklace is comprised of a fancy linked chain, with the original clasp in perfect working order. The precious pendant dangling from the chain, which is comprised of fancy diamond shaped paste amethysts. There are chains hanging from the surmounts , which encompasses a larger white pearl and a silvery grey seed pearl.  The design of this Victorian era necklace is quite simply exquisite, and was worn by the clients grandmother on her wedding day in the early 1900s. 

Note: S.O. Bigney Co was a well known company that sold jewelry from 1896- 1946 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, America 

From a very early period the imitation of gems was attempted. ... Before 1940 most imitation gems were made from glass with a high lead content. Such glasses were called paste because the components of the mixture were mixed wet to ensure a thorough and even distribution. 

n 1724, French jewel designer Georges Frédéric Strass came up with “paste,” a kind of leaded glass that he cut and polished with metal powder until it appeared to shimmer like a diamond in the light.

 In the aristocratic classes of the 17th century Europe, particularly the tastes-making rococo Parisians, fine jewelry made of paste gemstones like diamonds and emeralds were flaunted and  coveted. These stones were treasured for their beauty as much as their relative rarity- it was rarity that prompted jewellers to seek out an equally beautiful , but less expensive alternative material for their creations. 

In the history of the United Kingdom, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardian period, and its later half overlaps with the first part of the Belle Époque era of Continental Europe.

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. ... According to legend, Cleopatra crushed a pearl into a glass of wine to prove to Marc Antony that she could give the most expensive dinner in history.

“Gold-filled” is a USA industry standard that legally requires 1/20th, or 5% pure gold by weight. It's a strictly regulated process that involves pressure bonding multiple layers of solid 14k gold with extreme heat over a core of high quality jeweler's brass resulting in a durable, quality real gold product.

Measurements: Necklace 16"    Drop 52.00 mm 

Stone Size: 6.50 mm x 3.50 mm  Pearl 4.00 mm     Seed Pearl 2.00 mm 

Weight: 2.20 grams 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: America, Massachusetts, Attleboro     Maker: S.O. Bigney Co. 

Date: Circa 1900