Essex Jewelry and Antiques

c1880s Austro Hungarian Gilt Silver Amethyst Garnet Filigree Pendant Necklace

$709.00

Presented is an impressive antique Austro-Hungarian gemstone set pendant, with chain. This piece dates to around 1860-1900. The pendant is gilt silver, made in a beautiful openwork design of filigree scrolls, with floral decoration hand engraved on the back. On the front the pendant is bezel set with a variety of colorful gemstones. The largest two in the center are oval cut amethysts. Set at the four cardinal points are rectangular green stones, which are likely emeralds or possibly goshenite. Around the edge are six round cut garnets, with another large briolette-cut red stone in the drop at the bottom, likely also garnet. All stones have been examined by our certified gemologist, and are real, mined from the ground stones, but identification more specifically becomes difficult when light can't be shined through stones due to the closed setting. The pendant comes with a nice round-link chain, with a toggle style clasp.

This piece is in great overall condition. The pendant is missing one small curlicue just above the brioche dangle, but this is not very noticeable. The stones have no chips and are all intact. Chain is in great shape, and the clasp works well.

The clasp is stamped 800 for the purity of the silver, with another mark that looks like M right before it. There are no other marks we can find, but we have tested the piece and guarantee all parts to be at least 800 purity silver.

The pendant is about 3 3/8 inches long and about 2 inches wide. The chain is about 18 inches long. The necklace and pendant weight 29.7 grams or 1.04 regular ounces. -jm