Long Akoya Pearl Necklace, Opera Length, with a White Gold Clasp, c. 1975

Très Coco

Long Akoya Pearl Necklace, Opera Length, with a White Gold Clasp, c. 1975

€ 1,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

Largely due to Coco Chanel’s influence on fashion, it became increasingly socially acceptable starting in the 1920s and 1930s to wear long pearl necklaces—in opera or even rope lengths—even during the day. From a jewelry history perspective, however, a second key figure was involved in this previously unusual fashion trend: the Japanese Kōkichi Mikimoto. Although pearl cultivation had already been successful since the late 19th century, technical improvements in the first decades of the 20th century made it possible to produce nearly round cultured pearls on a large scale. Mikimoto played a decisive role in their production and international marketing. Previously, assembling a long necklace of natural pearls of comparable size, colour, and quality could have required years of collecting. This pearl necklace thus owes its creation indirectly to two developments associated with the names Coco and Kōkichi. With its impressive length of 88 cm, it corresponds to what is known as “opera length.” It is hard to imagine how long a lady c. 1900 would have had to wait for the completion of such a necklace made of carefully matched natural pearls. A total of 88 particularly large, slightly baroque Akoya pearls in a creamy white colour are strung individually with knots. At the nape of the neck, the necklace is held in place by a decorative clasp made of high-karat white gold, which is also effectively showcased even with an updo. Ten green emeralds are grouped around another pearl, forming an abstract flower. The design and material of the clasp, as well as the generous length, suggest a date around 1975. At that time, particularly long necklaces, as well as fashion trends reminiscent of the 1920s and 1930s, enjoyed a resurgence in popularity.

Size & Details

Très Coco

€ 1,290.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

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