A wonderful antique watch chain.
A gentleman's accessory widely used from the 19th to the 20th century, where a pocket watch was attached, hooked onto a waistcoat button, and kept in a pocket.
Seeing the chain draped across Tommy's suit in Peaky Blinders looked truly cool.
It’s a drama on Netflix about a Gypsy gang in Birmingham, England.
This one is extremely rare, featuring a locket next to the clasp to hold a photograph.
The internal frame can be removed by prying the tabs to take out the silver frame and the plastic insert in between. (Please see the last two photos.)
And about this intriguing striped silver and black pattern—the black part is called niello.
Simply put, it is an alloy of silver, copper, and sulfur. It is a historic technique loved by the ancient Romans and Byzantines, and later widely spread throughout England and Eastern Europe.
Since niello is an alloy and far more durable than enamel, it is combined with silver to create designs, and the surface is polished with a file to create these striped silver pieces.
If you are interested in the details, please do your own research. There is plenty of professional information available all over the world.
I simply love this contrast between silver and black, and niello is often found on watch chains.
I am so happy to have been able to procure this for the first time in Paris. And it even comes with a locket charm.
Surprisingly, niello chains are often paired with pink gold,
which is elegant and wonderfully antique-looking,
but this one is a sophisticated black-silver made only of silver and niello. That is the point I personally want to highlight—it’s the coolest part. Haha.
Watch chains come in various lengths, and occasionally you come across one that is perfect as a necklace.
I used to wear them as necklaces without knowing any better, haha—that was how I came to love them, after a kind antique shop owner taught me about them, and I’ve been collecting many personally.
Although they have been crafted for centuries in various materials and designs as a gentleman’s essential,
this is by far the coolest one I have seen in all the different countries I’ve visited. We both fell in love at first sight and bought it with great enthusiasm.
Since there aren't many occasions to use pocket watches these days, I recommend using it for keys or the like in a modern context.
You could also follow the original usage by hooking it onto a jacket buttonhole and tucking it into a pocket, which could make for a fresh accessory.
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material - sterling silver
size - chain length 41.2cm, locket size 2×2cm
weight - 18.7g
condition - no issues
