Napoleon III Brooch With Chandelier-style Pendants In Opals And Diamonds On Rose Gold And Silver

Antique brooch in 750/°° (18 KT) rose gold and 925/°° silver, crafted during the second half of the 19th century, circa 1875–1885, in the refined style of Napoleon III jewelry.

This openwork design, executed with remarkable finesse, is organized around a symmetrical pattern reminiscent of a candlestick, enlivened by delicate articulated pendants that naturally follow the wearer’s movements and create a subtle play of light.

The setting harmoniously combines rose gold with silver, following a traditional 19th-century jewelry-making technique, with silver chosen to highlight the diamonds while the gold provides the overall structure.

The brooch is entirely set with natural opal cabochons, whose play of colors reveals a shifting palette of blues, greens, pinks, and oranges depending on the angle of the light. These opals are accented with rose-cut diamonds, adding sparkle and depth to the design without ever competing with the soft, iridescent glow of the main stones.

The reverse side bears witness to entirely handcrafted workmanship, featuring a particularly meticulous openwork setting and an antique clasp system with a tubular hinge and a “C”-shaped clasp—characteristic of this period. The quality of its construction suggests that it was originally a convertible piece, likely intended to be part of a fine jewelry ensemble (a corsage ornament or necklace element), before being preserved as a brooch.

With its elegance, visual lightness, and the refinement of its materials, this brooch perfectly illustrates the late Second Empire’s taste for precious, sophisticated, and delicately movable jewelry.

Gross weight: 21.36 g

Condition: imperceptible micro-scratches, some invisible glue reinforcements on the back and inside of the opal settings, natural inclusions in the diamonds not visible to the naked eye.

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Our reference: ES20105