Dating to the first half of the 19th century, this exquisite French long guard chain is a stunning example of antique craftsmanship. Made from 18-carat yellow gold, it features a beautiful ruby and enamel sliding terminal that glides smoothly along the chain. The terminal offers a versatile look with a ruby on one side and a plain enamel on the other, allowing you to change up your style. Despite some wear on the enamel and a chipped pearl due to its age, these details only add to the chain’s rich historical character.
The chain's box links are intricately designed, and the coveted helping hand charm holder clasp is a rare find. The swivel charm holder boasts a crisp right-facing eagle head stamp from the Paris Assay Office, marking it as an 18ct gold piece from 1838 to 1847. A small base metal element on the swivel may be a replacement from a historical repair, and the addition of a 14ct gold bolt ring clasp allows for versatile styling. The clasp is placed at the central section of the chain, enabling you to wrap the chain twice around your neck, wearing charms and pendants at different levels.
With a full length of 52 inches (not including the clasps) and a doubled length of 28.5 inches when worn, this versatile chain can be styled as a double-wrap necklace, in layers, as a lariat, or even as a choker.
