Metal: 15K Gold

Stone: Seed Pearls

Size: 20mm x 30mm

Chain Length: 14k gold 18” in length

What You Should Know: A spectacular Victorian pearl cross re-imagined from a brooch. Pearls are bright and well matched. Engraved on the side with J A B to J B / Nov. 1877

This elegant cross pendant, reimagined from a broach, is peppered with lovely little seed pearls that create neat, well-matched linear dimensions. 

Seed pearls were popular during the Victorian era as they were perfect for intricate, delicate designs. Seed pearls formed the best details and were extensively used in floral patterns, hearts, and other intricate imagery. Pearls, including seed pearls, are associated with purity, innocence, and femininity. In the Victorian era, pearls were often used in mourning jewelry as symbols of tears. Seed pearls, with their tiny size, were ideal for creating delicate mourning pieces that were elegant and understated.

Pearls are made of nacre, a substance secreted by mollusks to capture incoming irritants. Over time the accumulation of nacre can form perfect little gems. The size and shape of the irritant most often dictates the size of the resulting pearl, so seed pearls are the result of smaller foreign objects invading the mollusk. Seed pearls require careful handling during harvesting and during the crafting process because they are small and relatively fragile. Given how challenging it is to work with seed pearls, you don’t see them as frequently in modern adornment. That makes them all the more special, a trademark of a craftsmanship era long past. 

This pendant is imbued with deep significance and personal connection. From the sweet inscription that holds a tender moment in time, to great craftsmanship, to the natural beauty of those 16 seed pearls. Sweetness and purity abound.