Antique Jewelry: Beautiful and Timelessly Modern Platinum and Diamond necklace by Van Cleef and Arpels circa 1942

Van Cleef and Arpels created this stunning platinum and diamond necklace in New York in 1942.

With Her Majesty The Queen celebrating her Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service, we thought it was only fitting to feature a platinum piece of jewellery as Hancocks London’s Jewel of the Month for June 2022.

A Van Cleef necklace of this type is shown in an advertisement in American Vogue from 1943, worn with a fashionable black dress by American designer Ceil Chapman, who was known for making spectacular cocktail and party outfits.

Guy Burton, Director of Hancocks London, comments: “The brushed platinum has a cool, almost industrial feel to it, and the contrast between the relatively matte metal and the sparkling diamonds is very effective. “It may be 80 years old, but this necklace has a timeless appeal and enduring modernity to it and truly celebrates the allure of platinum and its perfect partnership with diamonds.”

About this Beautiful Necklace

The articulated necklace features a straight ribbon form with a double domed contour and is made completely of platinum. It is inlaid with 63 rows of transition cut diamonds, each row consisting of three stones, at regular intervals over the width. The platinum has been given a gentle brushed satin surface, which gives the piece a slightly utilitarian edge, which is unusual for fine jewellery of this period. The necklace contains 189 diamonds with a total estimated weight of roughly 4 carats. It would have been worn as a choker because it is 36cm/14.1 inches long.

An Early Creation by the now Iconic House

Van Cleef & Arpels had a successful exhibition at the New York World’s Fair in 1939, which corresponded with the construction of an office at the Rockefeller Center and development into the American market. Soon after, a workshop dedicated to creating jewellery tailored to the tastes and aesthetics of Americans was established. This is one of them, and it was created rather early in VCA’s New York existence.

Price: £75,000

For more information on acquiring this piece, contact https://www.hancockslondon.com