Markings: Unmarked, tested, and guaranteed
Main Stone: Hematite
Main Stone Measurements/Color:- Diameter: 5.5 mm
- Color: opaque, reflective dark gray hue
Accent Stone: Paste
Accent Stone Measurements/Color:
- Diameter: 2.67 mm
- Color: translucent, colorless hue
Stone Treatment: The hematite stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Paste is a manufactured stone. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.
Stone Cuts: Polished rounded hematite beads, round single cut paste
Item Measurements: - Wearable length: up to 30.5" with adjustable woven string
Notable Features:
- Handmade during the Art Deco era
- Composed of .925 sterling silver beads
- Features silver beads adorned with sparkling paste stones
- Many hematite beads were also strung on the strand, which is finished with an adjustable tassel
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 1940. Art Deco jewelry sometimes featured white gold or platinum, geometric designs, European cut diamonds, filigree, and calibre cut stones that are specially cut to fit the design of the piece. During the Art Deco period jewelers often made jewelry upon custom order, this would usually take weeks to months to completely craft by hand.
Hematite is the mineral form of iron (III) oxide and is a dark, blackish gray opaque stone with a metallic luster. It has an extremely high brilliance and shine and takes a metallic polish that can look silver, pure black, or gunmetal blue. It was a very popular stone during the Victorian Era, and has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years due to purported healing and mystical properties.
French jeweler Georges Frédéric Strass created “paste” as an alternative to diamonds during the Georgian era. Leaded glass was cut and polished with a metallic powder until it shimmered brightly like a diamond in the light. These white “diamante” or “strass” stones were wildly popular with the glamorous Parisians, and eventually paste stones were colored to mimic other precious gemstones.
