Frederic Boucheron Necklace, ca. 1875
GUEST:
This was a gift to me, about 1950, from a friend. I didn't know anything about it. I remember seeing it in the window of an antique jeweler in New York City, and later my friend bought it for me. And I just remember seeing the name.
APPRAISER:
The name?
GUEST:
Boucheron.
APPRAISER:
And what do you know about Boucheron? Do you know anything?
GUEST:
Well, except that I still see the name today...
APPRAISER:
Oh, really?
GUEST:
...as perfume.
APPRAISER:
Oh, really?
GUEST:
I have often wondered if they were still making jewelry.
APPRAISER:
Well, I can tell you a little bit about Boucheron. Boucheron was actually one of the high-end jewelers in France during the 1800s and they are still in existence today. They competed with companies like Cartier, all the top jewelers in Paris. It's interesting that it says "F. Boucheron," Frederic Boucheron. It also tells about all the awards that they received, these medals for wonderful jewelry that they produced. The piece is the style that's called Etruscan revival, and the most popular time it was revived was in the 1800s, from about 1850 to turn of the century. The most famous jewelers were Italian that did this type of style, like Castellani, like Pierret, so it's unusual to see that the French are really working in that fringe necklace style. So I was quite taken aback. But then I looked for a hallmark right on the tongue, and sure enough, it had French navette makers' mark and also had the French gold marks. So that corroborated that this, in fact, was French and retailed by Boucheron. The other thing that was curious to me is that you can see this tarnishing. I mean, most people think gold doesn't really tarnish. Where did you keep this?
GUEST:
In a safe.
APPRAISER:
I knew it.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
When jewelry is locked up in a safe closed up with possibly coins and other metals,
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
it tarnishes. Now, because this is so rare, by a French maker, because it's in the box, and the condition is actually very good-- it's got one little dent-- in the market today, I'm going to say $20,000 to $30,000.
GUEST:
Ah.
Appraisal Details
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