Massachusetts - Rope Necklaces

This magnificent convertible cultured Akoya pearl necklace is a rare and regal example of mid-20th century high jewelry. This is a once-in-a-generation piece: museum-worthy, deeply collectible, and functionally royal in construction. It is quite simply an unparalleled treasure of vintage pearl craftsmanship. Composed of 64.5 inches of luminous, exceptionally large Akoya pearls—ranging from 9.3mm to 9.7mm—this necklace is not only stunning in scale but unmatched in versatility, construction, and quality. The necklace is ingeniously crafted in seven interchangeable segments, each tipped with a white gold clasp set with twelve .02 carat transitional cut diamonds—for a total of 84 hand-cut transitional diamonds weighing approximately 1.68 carats. The seven sections can be connected in various combinations to create multiple wearable lengths, from a single opera strand to a double choker and everything in between, including bracelets. This adaptable design echoes the bespoke nature of European royal jewelry, which often incorporated convertible elements to transition seamlessly from courtly daywear to formal gala adornment. Segment Breakdown: 1 strand of 16.5" 1 strand of 18" 2 strands of 7.5" 3 connector strands of 2.5" Total weight: 183 grams To encounter cultured Akoya pearls of this size and quality is nothing short of extraordinary. Akoya pearls—cultured from the Pinctada fucata oyster—are traditionally admired for their delicate size and mirror-like luster. Pearls measuring above 9mm are exceptionally rare, particularly in strands where all pearls are so uniform in shape, color, and size. This necklace is a masterclass in pearl matching: each gem is nearly perfectly round with a soft, creamy natural tone and a nearly blemish-free surface—indicators of the finest grading possible at the time. Even more extraordinary, these pearls display orient, the elusive spectral shimmer that appears to move just beneath the surface of the nacre. Orient is most often associated with natural pearls, as it occurs when nacre is extremely thick and finely layered. Its presence here suggests not only the age and integrity of the pearls, but also a degree of natural beauty that rivals the finest natural pearls in museum collections. Each of the seven connectors is finished with a refined 18k white gold cap, channel-set with twelve transitional cut diamonds—a cut dating from the 1930s–1940s that bridged the evolution from Old European to modern brilliant cuts. These diamonds were likely hand-cut, and their deeper proportions and open culets lend them a fiery, vintage charm that beautifully complements the soft sheen of the pearls. Though unsigned, the workmanship is of the highest order. Each component feels robust and flawlessly executed, the connections glide with elegant precision, and the pearl stringing remains perfectly taut. This level of detail and ingenuity would not be out of place in the ateliers of Cartier, Garrard & Co., or Buccellati. While no maker’s mark has been located, the pedigree of the piece is unmistakable. Convertible pearl...

This lush and verdant pendant has been skillfully and recently carved with auspicious symbology. The large (63.37mm x 34.16mm x 10.78mm) oval carving displays a range of luscious gre...

Naturally-colored South Sea Keshi, baroque Tahitian, luminous Akoya, and Chinese freshwater pearls are strung together with glassy aquamarine and tourmaline crystals to create a luxu...

A leather lariat to be worn long or short. Dangling from each end are 18K gold beads and pendants-- emeralds, gold and jade pendants. Length short is 1...

Bulgari captures a modern and easygoing glamour in this spectacular diamond pendant on black cord. The necklace features a detachable pendant drop composed of three graduated oval di...

This antique rare hand-pressed-glass necklace features semi-translucent grape-green large beads that are capped with gilt-brass filigree. Based on the combination of bead seams, spring-ring clasp, and metal findings on the unmarked faux Chinese-jade necklace, it dates to the late Victorian period most likely from Western Europe. Around WWI, hand presses, which stamped molten glass into a mold to create a bead with a hole and a seam, were often used to produce costume jewelry as a cottage industry in Germany and the Czech region. This was while there was a lack of factory machine presses and finishing tumblers that used sand to polish out the seam lines. Another reason that the cloudy green beads can be identified as atypically hand-pressed is that they are more opaque and therefore harder and less prone to breaking during formation than fully-translucent glass, which was better suited for automated-machine pressing. Also the green beads are an unusual swirled color including white, which suggests that their production was more limited than machine-pressing would enable. Without the bead-seams, this necklace could be mistaken for one by Coco Chanel. Her 1920s couture...

A long triple-strand or doubled six-strand necklace of beveled aquamarine and morganite (which is a pink aquamarine given that it is in the same beryl fami...

Beginning in the mid-1920s, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel collaborated with Parisian Louis Rousselet for a wide variety of handcrafted unsigned glass-beaded costume jewelry to compliment h...

This is a fascinating and beautiful late Qing period Chinese white serpentine and an agate bead pendant. The hardstone is gorgeously carved in a rather unusual fashion, where the sto...