Necklace Details
Antique (ca 1900) Fancy Link Sterling Silver Albert Watch Chain (rare) – Albert Chains emerged in the early Victorian period, and were named for Prince Albert (1819-1861), the beloved husband of Queen Victoria who started wearing a gold chain to secure his pocket watch to his waistcoat in the 1940s. Following his death, ‘Albert Chains’ surged in popularity as a tribute. The 1860s-1890s were the golden age of Albert Chains, which featured elaborate designs, multiple attachments, and various metals. The classic Albert Chain features a horizontal, or T-Bar, designed to be inserted through a buttonhole to secure the chain, a chain connecting the T-Bar to the watch, and a Swivel Clasp that allowed the watch to be turned for easy viewing without twisting the chain.
Celadon Jade (China) – Jade has been prized for more than 7,000 years around the world. Known as the ‘royal gem’ in China, the philosopher Confucius wrote that Jade is like virtue and its brightness represents heaven. The stone comes in a variety of colors and its unique structure scatters light, feels cool to the touch, and, when tapped, chimes. Around the world, Jade symbolizes the good, the beautiful and the precious, is considered lucky, and believed to promote health and emotional balance. Jade is given as a 12th anniversary gift.
Crystal – Crystal is a highly polished glass and faceted made from natural quartz sand with a sparkle and shine similar to diamonds. Until 2012, Crystal made by adding lead which provided more hardness than traditional glass. The most famous manufacturer of crystal beads is Swarovski.
Swarovski Crystal (Austria) – Swarovski was founded in 1895 following Daniel Swarovski’s invention of the world’s first electric-powered crystal cutting machine and lexicon of crystal cuts that produced a new level of crystal clarity. After viewing the Northern Lights, he partnered with Dior to create his famous Aurora Borealis, or AB, coating, a very thin layer of gold applied to half of a crystal’s facets to create an iridescent, shimmering effect. Today, Swarovski Crystals provide the sparkle for Beyonce and Taylor Swift’s concerts, most notably with 250,000 crystals on Beyonce’s red catsuit (Cowboy Carter Tour) and more than 5,000 on Taylor Swift’s guitar (Eras Tour), now housed at the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum.
Sterling Silver – Silver is considered a fine metal and, because of its durability, a tangible representation of lasting love and family bonds. It is also believed to strengthen emotional, mental, and physical well-being by promoting inner peace, alleviating stress and anxiety, and warding off negative energy. Wearing or carrying sterling silver serves as a personal talisman, enhancing one's inner strength and resilience. Silver is given as a 25th anniversary gift.