Victorian 15 Carat, Moonstone, Turquoise & Seed Pearl Choker

A rare late Victorian moonstone tear drop choker with a turquoise and pearl chain, ca. 1880.

These pieces are quite rare insofar as the composition which includes both turquoise and pearl spacers between the dropped oval, cabochon moonstones. Adularescence, the term given to the scintillating whitish-blue opalescence is unique to moonstone which is so named due to it's similarities to the moon's glow.

Moonstones were known to be popular in promise jewellery symbolising enduring love towards the person being gifted and were paired with gemstones such as pearls and diamonds due to their understated nature. Queen Victoria was a known fan of moonstone jewellery which will have inspired this type of jewellery's popularity towards the peak of the Victorian period.

This choker is particularly unusual given its weight at 16.6 grams. The moonstones are all individually secured with 15 carat gold pins which loop through the top of the gemstone. Clasped with a barrel type clasp in 15 carat gold.

Good quality, antique moonstones are hard to come by and the following example is set with a total of 23 individual cabochons which exhibit both white and blue adularescence (quite light on the blue). There are some light scuffs on the surface of some of the stones but they are largely in excellent condition.

This is a very wearable piece of jewellery that can be gently worn in rotation with other pieces.