Antique Vintage Mid Century 14k Gold Smoky Quartz & online Blown Glass Necklace 43.5g

We have similar Quartz and Mid Century items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search "Quartz" or "Century" under our items.

Listing Description by: Angela A.

The Piece

Markings: "14k" and unidentified square mark on the clasp, tested, and guaranteed

Main Stone: Smoky quartz

Main Stone Measurements/Color:
-Length: 7.07 mm to 7.38 mm
-Width: 4.78 mm to 5.24 mm
-Color: semi-translucent smoky brown hue

Accent Stone: Blown glass, freshwater pearl

Accent Stone Measurements/Color:
-Blown glass: 12.09 mm to 12.45 mm diameter, semi-translucent deep orange hue with iridescent white inclusions
-Freshwater pearl: 4.5 mm length, 3.85 mm width, lustrous bronze hue

Stone Treatment: The smoky quartz and freshwater pearls appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Glass is a manufactured stone. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.

Stone Cuts: Briolette faceted smoky quartz, polished round blown glass beads, naturally off-round and polished pearls

Item Measurements:
-Wearable length: 17"

Notable Features:
-handmade during the Mid Century era
-composed of 4k yellow gold
-features a white strung with sparkling smoky quartz beads, freshwater pearls, and round blown glass beads
-each blown glass bead is separated by five smoky quartz and two pearls
-the deep smoky brown hue of the quartz contrasts beautifully with the orange blown glass
-completed with a hooking box clasp for secure wear
-when worn, the necklace rests against the collarbone on most people

Damage: Age appropriate wear. There is minor facet wear to several smoky quartz, which does not affect wear.

*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*


The History

The Mid-Century era, 1935 to 1965, encompassed many new styles of art and architecture and this carried over to jewelry making. This exciting time for jewelry saw movements such as Hollywood Regency, Modernism, Brutalism, and the Atomic Age. Native American artisans were also making their mark in the jewelry industry. Artisans used many kinds of metals, gemstones, glass, and experimented with ceramic and wood as well. This era was filled with new and innovative designs, while also rejuvenating and reinventing older styles. The unique jewelry which emerged from this era is still very popular today.

Smoky quartz ranges color-wise from a translucent or semi-translucent light brown hue to an opaque smoky brown hue. These stones are most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland. Because of its large range of hues and tones, this quartz is perfect for many different types of jewelry.

Freshwater pearls are a special type of pearl that are created by freshwater mussels and have been used in jewelry as online far back as Medieval times. The largest source for natural freshwater pearls at that time was the Holarctic Freshwater Pearl Mussel, which was native to Scotland. This species is now endangered, and most freshwater pearls must be cultured. Unlike cultured saltwater pearls, freshwater pearls are not bead-nucleated and are therefore typically less round. Instead of using a bead, a small square of mantle tissue is cut from a donor mussel's inner lining and inserted into the lining of the harvesting mussel to instigate pearl formation. The unique harvesting technique makes freshwater pearls purely composed of nacre. These pearls are valued for their whimsical shapes and wide range of colors. The unique character of freshwater pearls is found in their distinctive texture and the warmth of their luster.



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