1940’s Vintage faux Pearl and Aurora Borealis Necklace with 14k gold Florentine Cameo
Vintage Swarovski crystals date back to 1892, when Daniel Swarovski invented the electric glass-cutting machine. His first factory was built in Wattens, Austria, where the Rhine River served as his source of energy for running the machine. It is thus, this famous river that gave birth to the term “Rhinestone.” By 1913 Swarovski had its own factory and had developed a formula for a flawless crystal.
Throughout the 1920’s the demand for crystals grew worldwide. The biggest designers in fashion, like Coco Chanel used them to design costume jewelry that every woman wanted and desired at the time. Fortunate for the Swarovski company, this trend never really died, and even women today can’t seem to get enough of the Swarovski bling.
The Aurora Borealis trend of 1956 gave rise to an entirely different style of crystal. A metallic coating was applied to the crystals, to create an iridescent effect, which became one of Swarovski’s trademarks. Daniel’s grandson, Manfred Swarovski, later went on to perfect this process alongside Christian Dior.
This necklace is reminiscent of 1920’s style and character. I paired some beautiful Aurora Borealis crystals with some faux pearls from the 1950’s as well for a dramatic “flapper” effect. The cameo is the only part of this necklace that is not vintage but it is 14k white gold and hand carved in Florence. It sells for $275.
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