Emerald and Diamond illusion necklace

This intoxicating necklace highlights a 13.82 carat “portrait” Emerald pendant backed by an intricate platinum and diamond lattice work gallery.

The double bib, knife-edge neckline features alternating full cut and emerald cut Diamonds and three octagonal Emeralds. The Emeralds are A.G.L. and Gubelin certified. Truly one-of-a-kind, this elegant creation is signed S. H. Silver Company 11955.

A “portrait” emerald is a thin slab style cut which allows the viewer to see through the window on the face of the stone. Legend has it that in Roman times, Nero, who had bad vision, used such a slice of emerald to improve his sight while watching the gladiators in the arena. In the Middle Ages, emerald was believed to be soothing to the eyes and gem craftsmen were said to rest their eyes by looking at an emerald.

Emerald is as ancient as any gem recorded. In the oldest book in the world, the Papyrus Prisse in the National Library in Paris, this statement appears: “But good words are more difficult to find than the emerald...”. The book was written about 4500 years ago, but the statement was copied into it from a writing a thousand years older.

This one-of-a-kind necklace is as intriguing as the extraordinary stones it contains.