Posted 5 years ago
highlander56
(82 items)
Well, just bought this last week because it was strange. Oddities are a challenge research-wise, but they keep me entertained. Plus, I’m partial to brass having spent a lot of my childhood helping my Dad polish buttons, bars, anything shiny on his uniforms when he was in the Army. I’m never without a can of Brasso.
So, when this came in the mail I was thrilled at the thought of pulling out the Brasso and polishing it up. Then decided not to. Rats!
The necklace measures about 15”. It’s heavy...whether that’s from the brass or crystals, I don’t know. It is strung on brass chain. It looks to me like old watch gears are used as spacers between the large crystals, while tiny brass beads are used between the small crystals. There are crystals on the front side and back side of the “gears” so there isn’t a front or back when putting on. The “gears” make an interesting frame for the crystals. The clasp has a small well-worn flower design on one side.
As for the crystals, I’m really not sure what they are. They aren’t lucite or plastic. There is a small chip in one of them. I have read about Rock Crystal being used in old jewelry but am not familiar with it. There was a person on Etsy who had a somewhat similar necklace who said it was 1930’s Czech glass. But again, I’m not an expert in that area either!
What do y’all think as to date and what the Crystal might be. Is there a way to identify cut rock crystal? I can spot Swarovski pretty well, and this isn’t it.
Thank you everybody for looking!
Terry
What a fantastic necklace! I think it is from the first part of the 1900's like Valentino says. I have seen very similar clasps on jewelry from around 1920's but it could also be somewhat earlier. I agree with you that this is most likely rock crystal. I say that because you say it is heavy, because I have seen other old rock crystal necklaces in other designs but also with brass details, because rock chrystal was popular in jewelry at this time. It is a stone found in a lot of places around the world so it is hard to be sure about the origin. But the clasp makes me think of jewelry from that time from USA or England. I would have expected another type of clasp on a necklace from this time from scandinavia or Germany. But you never know but that is from my experience this far.
It is hard to tell rock chrystal from syntetic chrystal but if we place it 1900-1920's I would say it is more likely to be rock chrystal. Also I often find old rock chrystal beads to be more less sparcly and more "grayish" rather then "blueish" in color. If you understand what I mean. The beads give away a more round, soft and natural look than glass. Here are some links to rock chrystal objects where I see that:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Fingerring_av_bergkristall%2C_1800-tal_-_Hallwylska_museet_-_110201.tif/lossy-page1-1280px-Fingerring_av_bergkristall%2C_1800-tal_-_Hallwylska_museet_-_110201.tif.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Avl%C3%A5ng_%C3%A5ttsidig_sk%C3%A5l_av_bergkristall_med_likaformad_fot_-_Skoklosters_slott_-_92036.tif/lossy-page1-1280px-Avl%C3%A5ng_%C3%A5ttsidig_sk%C3%A5l_av_bergkristall_med_likaformad_fot_-_Skoklosters_slott_-_92036.tif.jpg
https://d2mpxrrcad19ou.cloudfront.net/item_images/711001/9721817_bukobject.jpg
So less sparcly and very elegant! I find your necklace very unique so hang on to it. I would not do anything to the brass because I love that look of age but also since I think it is natural stone I would not want to use any cemicals on the brass that might do something to the stones. Enjoy your necklace and wear it. So beautiful. Thanks for sharing this post!