An exceptionally unusual late Victorian to Edwardian necklace, dating to approximately 1900-1910.
 
The fine antique gold chain is punctuated by a series of beautifully constructed spherical beads, each formed from two smoothly polished sections of luminous green pounamu, separated by a glittering central collar of fully faceted rock crystal. The crystal catches the light beautifully, creating a striking contrast with the rich green stone and lending the necklace a distinctive, almost celestial appearance.
 
In its original form, the necklace suspended a coordinating pair of carved pounamu and rock crystal acorn drops, which have now been sensitively converted into individual pendants. The complete original design bore a remarkable resemblance to a documented circa-1910 sautoir by New Zealand jeweller Frank Hyams, similarly composed of pounamu and rock crystal beads and suspending two stylised acorns.
 
Frank Hyams was particularly known for incorporating New Zealand greenstone into his jewellery. This necklace is unsigned, and no attribution to Hyams can be confirmed; however, the close similarity in its materials, construction and original arrangement provides a fascinating point of comparison and supports the identification of the green stone as New Zealand pounamu.
 
The chain and the gold bars threaded through the centre of the beads test as approximately 15-16ct gold. The antique bolt ring is stamped ‘15c’ and displays a slightly warmer gold tone than the chain, while a small number of jump rings have been sympathetically replaced in 18ct yellow gold.
 
Measuring approximately 20 inches long, the necklace sits beautifully around the neckline. It is distinctive enough to be worn alone while remaining perfectly suited to layering with other antique chains and necklaces.
 
A rare and characterful turn-of-the-century jewel, combining luminous pounamu, sparkling rock crystal and finely worked antique gold.