Featured Art Deco? bracelet

I come bearing bling!

I recently picked up this beautiful bracelet, it was fairly cheap as the clasp is sadly broken. I wondered if you could share any info on it? I'm assuming it's genuine art deco, unless there's a reason it could be repro? I can't tell if the stones are rock crystal or paste, but the material seems to be silver (and was sold to the person I bought it from as silver) although there are no hallmarks. I wonder if it was once hallmarked on the tongue of the clasp? Looks like the clasp snapped clean off at some point, but also looks oddly soldered on so I wonder if it was a replacement anyway - is this a relatively easy fix if I take it to a jeweller? It did come with the box which I understand is quite a fancy antiques dealer, but could have no connection to the bracelet at all!

Thank you in advance for any insights

 

In that case you are very welcome.

It looks the real deal to me. The silver has nice wear, which can't be faked. Besides, Art Deco bracelets aren't of much interest to fakers. They prefer rings and ear pendants.

The cut is slightly irregular, so the stones are hand cut, which is a good sign. Check it for tiny air bubbles in the stones. If there are air bubbles, it is paste.

Could have been.

It is an easy fix. If you are going to sell it, I wouldn't bother, because of the cost. It looks oddly short, but if it fits well it is OK and you can consider it part of the bracelet's history.

 

Thank you @Any Jewelry this is very insightful!

I don't think I've found any air bubbles in the stones yet, so perhaps rock crystal - I think the air bubbles in pastes I've observed before are usually quite obvious?

I bought it for me and I'm dying to wear it! Sadly the clasp won't stay in as it is, but that's good to know it shouldn't be too complicated for a jeweller to repair.

 

Nice Bling............ very nice photo's .....we appreciate that !!!

 

if it was once hallmarked on the tongue of the clasp?

very likely as each of the settings is a casting.... and looks good for silver..

 

It almost has to be silver and rock crystal. I'd run a gem tester over it and see. Even the cheap junky ones will register glass. If if it's anthing but, it's quartz. As for the length, that's one way to be sure it's real. No one would make a fake too short for a modern wrist! Some of those 30s bracelets were bitty.

 

If you take it to a jeweler they will confirm silver because they most likely won't work on it if it turns out to be costume. They can also test the stones.

It's a beauty

 

I had no idea wrists had grown in size since the 1930s. Mine are the same size as my mother's were, she was born in the early 1920s. My maternal grandmother's wrists were bigger, she was born in the 1890s.

Some Art Deco bracelets fit me, others are too big. Those are probably the ones that were worn over gloves.

 

Pretty much 99.9% of vintage bracelets fit me, I have small wrists. They are the only small thing on me

 

Before nutrition and medicine were better, people were smaller. The Victorians made chokers as short as about 12 inches, about 30/31cm. Generally, you can tell the age of a piece of jewelry by the length. The longer it is the more recent it is. (long bead ropes excepted of course) Rings too. Glove rings were big, because they went over gloves, but my great-grandma's ring was about a USA three. That's too small for my fingertip never mind the whole finger.

 

Thank you! It's been a while since I posted, so I re-read all the guidance on uploading photos - very helpful

It's actually quite a standard 7 inches in length, which did disappoint me as it's about 2 inches bigger than my wrist But as long as it's not falling off then I'm determined to make it work!

I was born in the 90s and have small wrists (1990s not 1890s)! I wouldn't be surprised if the average has crept up over the years though, like shoe sizes.

 

That was before the 1930s.

 

I'm with Evelyb and others, almost has to be rock crystal and sterling. It's an especially fine bracelet with the open backs like that. It's has an overall high end look. Can see why you got it, even with the repair needed!

I wonder if there is some sort of hack to create a closure?

BTW, rock crystal will feel a bit colder than regular glass in room temperature.

Gorgeous piece.

 

That's lovely. I hope you can have it repaired, and wear it!

 

Precisely. If if was bought for Mom, it would have been made to fit Mom. Adult females in the 30s could be pretty small. Certainly smaller than now.