There is so much to say about this rare antique chain, so let's start here - it is INCREDIBLE!
With its white gold knotted links intertwined with elongated gold links, this fantastic piece is the epitome of style - creating an edgy yet elegant look that is so easy to dress up or down.
The swivel dog clip and large bolt ring finish the piece beautifully and allow your favourite charms and pendants to be added to your neckmess easily.
There are hallmarks galore on this wonderful chain! Two French eagle heads are facing right on one side of the end link that connects to the bolt ring. This double mark is used when an item is made of component marks of the same metal. In this instance, the marks represent the two gold colours of the connecting links in the chain. The eagle's head represents 18-carat gold, with a minimum fineness of 750.
Next to one of the eagle's heads, there is a rhino head facing left, suggesting these hallmarks were applied to the chain at the Paris assay office circa 1838-1847.
On the other side of the same chain link, there appear to be 1-2 additional faded hallmarks which are unfortunately illegible but may resemble Austro-Hungarian import marks to show the chain had import tax paid on it when it was imported to Austro-Hungary.
The swivel dog clip is clearly marked with the Austro-Hungarian mark for 14-carat gold, with a minimum fineness of 580. The mark of a fox head facing left with a number '4' (denoting the item marked as '4th standard', used for small articles) and the RAO letter for the Wein/Vienna assay office, which dates the hallmark to 1872-1922 thus showing the chain may have been imported to Austro-Hungary for sale where the dog clip was later added.
It is clear that this stunning chain holds a huge amount of history and has been exquisitely made with the finest craftsmanship - it will become a regular feature in your everyday necklace stack.
