Exceptional Victorian 10K GF Ornate Slide Bracelet w/ Seed Pearls

Jewelry : Antique : Fine : Victorian

 

Wow! This is a gorgeous Victorian bracelet, with wide, fancy gold-filled links and an exquisite large slide decorated with seed pearls.

It is a beautiful old piece in wonderful condition for its age. The lovely links, every other one textured, show no darkening whatsoever or signs of age.

Victorian slide bracelets are a kind of modern-day charm bracelet made from stringing old watch fob charms together on a double chain - the charms could slide along the chains.

When pocket watches and necklace watches fell out of fashion, wrist watches were invented and the charms that were originally on the watch chains were removed and strung together to make bracelets.

This bracelet has but one slide, but it is magnificent: with a lovely hint of rose, it is hand-assembled with terrific applications and decorations. The base is beautifully hand-worked with engraving and texturing, with gold-filled scrolls decorated with millegrain edging and gilt flowers set over top.

A bridge of gold-fill set with five seed pearls sweeps across the slide. Grey-white in colour, the pearls are all original and still retain their lustre and iridescence.

At the end of the bracelet there's a lovely engraved bar where the strap goes through; it's other function is to stop any extra band from flopping over. A gorgeous scalloped piece of decorative gold-fill finishes the edge beautifully.

I don't know what the total length of the piece is as it does not open. You can adjust the length by pulling the strap through the bar.

I'd say the largest it could open would accommodate sizes up to about 7&3/4" to 8". If you have a small wrist you could also wear it, but you'd have to pull the bar in which means the strap may flop a bit.

Bracelet measures almost 3/4" wide and weighs 42.8 grams. The slide measures 1&1/4" tall by 7/8" across.

Excellent condition. I don't see any damage at all, just very light wear to the flowers on the slide where a tiny bit of gilt has come off. Otherwise, no darkening, no holes, no major scratches or dents.

Not marked.

Item ID: 2413