Sinuous & Feminine : Art Nouveau Opal, Natural Ruby and Pearl Necklace

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Airy and elegant, the flowing lines of this beautiful pendant with its organic yet stylised forms are unmistakably Art Nouveau. It’s extremely feminine without being frilly. If you look closely the motif is of a heart and bouquet of flowers. This would be such a romantic gift for an elegant and feminine lady!

The gems set inside those lines are all of the highest quality – solid Australian opals each with their unique rainbow of colours are set off by the glow of the natural unheated ruby. The ruby is old cut and prong set in the necklace to allow light to reach it from all angles, setting the gemstone alight.

The pendant is marked 9ct to the back but has no other identifying marks.

Description

Luxurious, high quality Art Nouveau necklace featuring a natural unheated ruby surrounded by solid Australian opals and graduated seed pearls set in 9ct gold. The pendant is a stylised heart and flowers, with a trembling opal dangle at the base.

The natural unheated ruby measures approximately 3.5 x 2.5mm. The largest opal measures 6.2 x 4.8mm, the two opals at north and south of the large central opal measure 6.5 x 4.5mm, and the opals at east and west are approx. 5.6 x 4mm They each have a dramatic play of bright colour and are well matched in colour and fire.

The trace link chain is original to the ring and features the original barrel clasp.
At one stage a brooch fitting had been added to the back of the pendant, but I have had this removed, returning this pendant to her original form. Some evidence of this is visible at the back of the pendant, but cannot be seen when worn.

Additional information

Era

Art Nouveau 1890 – 1910
(aka Jugendstil, Moderniste or Stile Liberty)

Gemstones

4 solid Australian white opals with excellent colour play, ranging in size from approx. 0.5 to 0.4 carats
Natural unheated ruby approx. 0.12 carat
39 graduated natural seed pearls, some likely replacements.

Metals

9ct gold

Dimensions

Pendant measures 47.3mm length x 30mm width x 6mm deep
Necklace is 44cm from end to end
weighs 5.2g