Metal: 18K Gold

Measurements: Approx. 17” in length

Chain Width: Approx. 30mm in width.

Weight: 60 grams

What You Should Know: Exceptional condition. Clasp is secure and is a snap closure. Sits flat around neck with featherlike detailing. Hallmarks for France Ca 1880.

Me, oh my. What is better than 60 grams of 18K yellow gold goodness? Perhaps when that buttery bliss is crafted into one of the most remarkable Victorian French collar necklaces we have seen in a minute.

This baby is in the best condition and coming to you straight from 1880, which is right during the glory days of the Victorian era. To tell the tale of our love for Victorian collars, we’re taking it back to Queen Alexandra who married Queen Victoria’s son, Edward, in 1863. But even before that, her radical style made her a veritable fashion icon and global trendsetter. Fabulous jewelery trends of note that can be traced directly back to this visionary lady are collar necklaces and chokers as well as the ever-fabulous diamond tiara.

Born in Copenhagen in “the yellow palace”, the future queen suffered a minor childhood injury that would have reverberations throughout the world of fashion for decades to come. That, paired with her love of status, meant that she wanted a flashy way to conceal a small scar on her neck. The image-conscious Alexandra rarely went in public without stringing multiple layers of necklaces across her chest to punctuate endlessly elegant ensembles. Both to hide the scar and create a beautiful layered look, Alexandra was a pioneer of chokers and collar necklaces. Her influence was strong and the fashion houses of the day took note, designing the most creative and wonderful necklaces of all lengths and styles to meet the amped up demand.

This gorgeous collar necklace lies flat to the neck. At 17 inches, it is the perfect length—comfortable, classic, and layer-friendly if you want to be like Alix, as she was known to her friends and family. We’re so into the intricate and fancy design too, especially those little floral punctuations at the end of each stem—a tiny ray of wondrous bright gold light.