We have a matching lapis lazuli necklace up for auction this week! To view it in a separate listing, please click on the image link below.
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The Piece
Auction Estimate: $500 - $750
Age Circa: Retro C. 1940 - 1950
Markings: 14k & Assay mark on the clasp
Country of Origin: Unknown
Brand: Unknown
Gram Weight: 15.2 Grams
Metal Type: 14k Yellow Gold
Metal Melt Value: -- (Value All-Inclusive Weight)
Material: --
Main Stone: Lapis Lazuli
Main Stone Measurements/Color: 8 mm Diameter, 49.02 Carats, Mixture of dark and light blue hues with gold speckling throughout
Accent Stone: --
Accent Stone Measurements/Color: --
Stone Treatment: The stones appear to be untreated, but we are not certified Gemologists and cannot be sure.
Stone Cuts: Rounded Lapis Lazuli beads
Item Measurements: The bracelet has a wearable length of 7".
Bracelet Type: Tennis
Closure/Clasp Type: Push in clasp
Link Type: --
Notable Features: This bracelet was handmade during the Retro period of the Art Deco era. It would have taken anywhere from weeks to months for a jeweler to gather all of the required materials and craft this piece by hand. The bracelet features 19 stunning lapis lazuli beads, which each measure in at 8 mm in diameter. All of the lapis beads have a stunning mixture of dark and light blue hues with gold speckling throughout, creating a natural and incredible looking color pattern. The beads were hand strung on a silk string that was dyed blue to beautifully match the stones. The silk string was double knotted between each bead to prevent damage from friction or loss of beads. The double knotted silk string also adds a touch of style to the piece. The bracelet is finished off with a push clasp, which is decorated with a stunning filigree design. Don't miss the opportunity to become a part of the history of this piece.
Damage: Age appropriate wear.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*
The History
The Art Deco era is famous for being the "Gatsby" or "Roaring Twenties" era. A lot of gorgeous and timeless designs in jewelry came out of this period. Jewelry from this period was most often crafted between 1920 and 1935. Art Deco jewelry sometimes featured white gold or platinum, geometric designs, European cut diamonds, filigree, and calibre cut stones that are specifically cut to fit the design of the piece. During the Art Deco period jewelers often made jewelry upon custom order, this would often take weeks to months to completely craft by hand.
Retro jewelry refers to pieces created in the 1940s and 1950s. This was a period during which jewelry designers were largely influenced by the changes stemming from World War II. These designs reflect an infusion of futuristic vision with elements inspired by preceding periods, encompassing a variety of gemstones, shapes, and materials. Materials used commonly in Retro jewelry are gold and gold alloys as the wartime put a restriction on the used of platinum. Designs can be masculine, geometric and modern, or softer, more feminine and floral.
Filigree metal working is a delicate form of art has been found as early as 3,000 BC in Mesopotamia. It was perfected by the Phoenicians and Etruscan civilizations between the 6th and 3rd centuries BC. It involves stamping out a design in metal and hand bending and twirling threads, combined with tiny beads, until a final motif emerges. It is reminiscent of lace and considered one of the most difficult metal working processes. Filigree is still a very popular technique in India and Asia.
Historians believe the link between humans and lapis lazuli stretches back more than 6,500 years. The gem was treasured by the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. They valued it for its vivid, exquisite color, and prized it as much as they prized other blue gems like sapphire and turquoise. At the end of the middle ages, lapis was ground up and used as the ultramarine pigment found in painting.
