A very high quality, all original sterling silver Victorian book chain bracelet that is an absolute beauty, unique and effortlessly wearable.
The bracelet is in a belt style and has solid (not hollow) links so it is heavy. It has floral chased and engraved wide links connected by thick paper clip links and a stylised "buckle" at the front that conceals the clasp. All the links are heavy gauge and the bracelet is perfectly engineered with the paper clip connecting links fixed in place at one side so it is always in perfect alignment when worn.
The bracelet is nice and wide so perfect for wear as an antique signature piece when you want to create an impact, a rare must have for the antique jewelry lover and collector alike!
An interesting piece of jewellery trivia: Book Chain necklaces and bracelets were very fashionable in Britain during the Victorian Aesthetic era 1860-1900 and they were called book chains, not because of a certain type of chain link, but because Victorian ladies took them off and used them as placeholders in books whilst reading.
MATERIALS: sterling silver throughout, acid tested
MEASUREMENTS: end to end 7-1/2" (19cm) with a wearable length of about 7-1/4", width 7/8" (2.2cm), thickness 6mm
WEIGHT: 34 grams
HALLMARKS: none, acid tested and verified as sterling silver. The number '23' is stamped on the clasp which is likely the model number.
DATE: circa 1870, Victorian
CONDITION: excellent condition belying an age of 150 years, it looks to have had very little wear with the engraving still beautifully crisp and the clasp in perfect working order