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Tiffany & Co. Art Nouveau opal necklace.

This Tiffany & Co. Art Nouveau opal necklace looks like something out of a fairytale.

An antique Art Nouveau opal necklace by Tiffany and Co. A gold, enamel, and black opal pendant on a peridot and white opal-studded gold chain. Circa 1900.This beauty is an Art Nouveau opal necklace by the esteemed Tiffany & Co., circa 1900.

That incredible stone you’re staring at is a oval cabochon black opal, perfectly framed by a colorful enamel and gold frame. The gold chain is sprinkled with white opal and peridot accents, to tie in the colors of the pendant.

I’ll say it again: the colors, the colorsssssssss. They slay me with their perfection.

An Art Nouveau opal necklace by Tiffany and Co. A gold, enamel, and black opal pendant on a peridot and white opal-studded gold chain. Circa 1900.The gold chain also appears to have decorative elements that look like gold swirls, although the listing doesn’t mention them.  Pretty spectacular, isn’t it?

Let’s hope Tiffany & Co. takes a leaf from its own book and tries reviving some Art Nouveau designs next.

Tiffany & Co. Art Nouveau necklace with a gold, enamel, and black opal pendant on a peridot and white opal-studded gold chain. Circa 1900. Via Diamonds in the Library.That’s a looooong scrolldown photo, but I needed to give you the chance to see it in as much detail as you wanted. The chain, the pendant, the opal! Sigh.

What do you say, darlings? Do you love this Art Nouveau opal necklace as much as I do?

If not: what would you change?

This magical Art  Nouveau opal necklace sold in Philips’ December 6th Jewels Auction. All images and info are thanks to Philips.

Art Nouveau opal necklace by Tiffany and Co., with enamel and black opal pendant on a peridot and opal-studded gold chain. Circa 1900.

Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker necklace at Lang Antiques.

Oh my goodness, do I have something pretty for you today.

Alternate view: Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker necklace, circa 1900. With four rows of opals and three rows of pearl and diamond flowers, this antique choker has 80 carats of opals (78 stones), 232 rose cut diamonds (7 carats), and 96 pearls. Via Diamonds in the Library.

It looks like magic, doesn’t it?

This Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker was made at the turn of the century, in 1900. Four incredible rows of glimmering, pastel-hued opals alternate with three rows of sparkling diamond-set flowers, each centered with a lustrous natural seed pearl. These are bordered at top and bottom by a row of pearls. The flowers are set in platinum, the opals in 18 karat yellow gold.

I know you’re dying to see this on a person. I won’t keep you in suspense.

Back view: Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker necklace, circa 1900. With four rows of opals and three rows of pearl and diamond flowers, this antique choker has 80 carats of opals (78 stones), 232 rose cut diamonds (7 carats), and 96 pearls. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Could it possibly be more perfect? At 13 inches long, this beauty is a true choker.  Just imagine it draping the nape of a Belle Epoque beauty with a grand updo; in my mind’s eye she’s looking coyly over her shoulder at a potential beau.

Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker necklace, circa 1900. With four rows of opals and three rows of pearl and diamond flowers, this antique choker has 80 carats of opals (78 stones), 232 rose cut diamonds (7 carats), and 96 pearls. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Here’s a full view. It has 80 carats of opals (78 stones), 232 rose cut diamonds (7 carats), and 96 pearls.

Detail: Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker necklace, circa 1900. With four rows of opals and three rows of pearl and diamond flowers, this antique choker has 80 carats of opals (78 stones), 232 rose cut diamonds (7 carats), and 96 pearls. Via Diamonds in the Library.

And a gloriously close detail shot. So, so pretty. And check it out, I even found a lovely (if somewhat blurry) photo of Queen Maud of Norway wearing something very similar in 1906.

Front view: Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker necklace, circa 1900. With four rows of opals and three rows of pearl and diamond flowers, this antique choker has 80 carats of opals (78 stones), 232 rose cut diamonds (7 carats), and 96 pearls. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Here it is from the front. You don’t see things like this much anymore, but I’m positive that the right attitude and the right styling could bring this baby straight into 2013.

Detail: Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker necklace, circa 1900.

Last but not least:  here’s a detail shot for Pinterest. Aaand a photo strip:

Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker necklace, circa 1900. With four rows of opals and three rows of pearl and diamond flowers, this antique choker has 80 carats of opals (78 stones), 232 rose cut diamonds (7 carats), and 96 pearls. At Lang Antiques.

This gorgeous Belle Epoque opal and diamond choker is currently for sale at Lang Antiques. All images and info in this post are thanks to Lang Antiques – and especially to Lisa, who never leaves me hanging, and gifted photographer Cole Bybee, who responded to my request for larger images by doing a whole new photoshoot just for this post.

Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co.

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of Tiffany & Co., the beloved jeweler of Holly Golightly as well as many before and after her.

I must admit, I’m not big on Tiffany’s most popular contemporary pieces: squiggly open hearts and chunky charm bracelets don’t do much for me. But I ardently admire their high jewelry and absolutely die for their older designs.

For example, this necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany:

An Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., circa 1914-1927. Champlevé enamel, emeralds, and an sapphire drop.As I mentioned, this spectacular piece is the creation of none other than the great Louis Comfort Tiffany. (It’s his family’s “Co.”) And looking at this piece, it’s not hard to see how the company ended up with such renown. It’s dazzling.

The simplicity and the complexity all in one just blow me away. Look at the interaction of the colors, the shapes of the enamel elements, the repeating patterns and pops of color. And all on such a small piece: this necklace is only 16.25 inches long.

I had a dream about this necklace. A nightmare, actually. I dreamed that my parents gave this to me for my birthday (I wish) and then I lost it in my couch (horrifying). The entire dream was me searching through the couch and panicking, knowing that the necklace was gone and that it was my fault. Feel free to psychoanalyze me now.

Full view of an Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., circa 1914-1927. Champlevé enamel, emeralds, and sapphire drop.This piece was made between 1914 and 1927, but I’m calling it Art Nouveau because of the style. It features a double-chain of small fancy-shaped links applied with champlevé enamel in shades of blue, green and plum, spaced at intervals by cabochon emeralds. The center of the chain is decorated with a large floral link enameled in blue and green and set with cabochon sapphires, rubies, and an emerald. The center of the chain supporting an unusual blue and plum colored sapphire drop.

Even the back of the links of the necklace are enameled to match the sapphire.

Pendant detail of an Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., circa 1914-1927. Champlevé enamel, emeralds, and an sapphire drop.

Let’s look at that sapphire for a minute. Deep blue at the top, fading to vivid purple – almost fuchsia – by the bottom. Have you ever seen anything like this in a piece of jewelry before? I haven’t. How spectacular, that Tiffany saw the promise in this exceptional gem and created this incredible chain to compliment it. Thank you, LCT. You rock my world.

This mind-blowingly beautiful necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany was sold in Sotheby’s December 2011 auction, Jewels from the Estate of William B. Dietrich Sold to Benefit the William B. Dietrich Foundation.

Guess what? You get a bonus today. Check out this incredible brooch, also by Louis Comfort Tiffany:

Art Nouveau opal, sapphire, garnet, and enamel brooch by Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co., circa 1910. Via Diamonds in the Library.This beauty was made in 1910. It centers on a black opal within a textured surround of vine leaves and fruit, decorated with blue and green enamel and accented with circular-cut sapphires and green garnets. It looks to me like the opal’s chipped, which is a shame, but it’s still a lush and memorable piece.

This brooch was listed in Sotheby’s April 2013 Jewels sale. All Images and info in this post are thanks to Sotheby’s.

 An Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., circa 1914-1927. Champlevé enamel, emeralds, and a remarkable sapphire drop.

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