This silver bracelet is composed of individual baskets that are linked together, each holding a cushion-cut paste gemstone. The puffy back of each setting tells us that it was made in the 19th Century, when this type of setting was very typical. The box clasp is cleverly hidden inside one of the links.
The term 'paste' is now generally used for a specific type of faceted glass gemstone that was developed by George Friedrich Strass in the 1720s. Glass material has been used in jewellery since glass was invented millennia ago, but Strass experimented with the lead content and created a recipe that created a brilliance that replicated diamonds. Paste gemstones were faceted in the exact same way diamonds were, creating a very similar appearance when worn.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 16 cm / 6.25 inches long, 6 mm wide.
Weight: 12.05 grams.
Age: Late 19th Century, circa 1880s.
Material: Hallmarked with a French boar head hallmark for 800/1000 silver, used in Paris between 1838 and 1962.
Condition: In good antique condition with only minor wear, consistent with age. The foil behind the paste gemstone in the clasp has created a slightly greenish patina over time: this can be seen in the pictures.
Please note that the antique box is for display purposes only.