An early nineteenth century harlequin riviere, set with a series of multi-colored pastes cut en cabochon and framed open-backed in embossed pinchbeck with acanthus leaves, complete with central girandole drop and matching push-box clasp, extraordinarily rare, length 16.5 in, circa 1800. Condition Note: central amethyst drop forming girandole likely a later replacement and not cabochon-cut; repairs to the reverse of the clasp not noticeable from the front.

The most timeless georgian necklace is the riviere, as popular today as it was 300 years ago. Riviere, meaning 'river of light,' was named for the famed lights of the Cote d'Azur, as the diamond riviere resembled the twinkling lights of the coastal towns. Rivieres were made of graduated collet-set matched stones connected as unobtrusively as possible into a continuous line. Silver set diamond rivieres achieved popularity around 1750, but were soon backed in gold to prevent tarnishing. Rivieres of paste or colored stones were often set in gold in closed back settings with colored foil. They frequently included a detachable pendant drop, often in the shape of a cross. With increasing quality of gemstones and diamonds in the nineteenth century, stones were prevalently set 'a jour' or open backed.