An early nineteenth century yellow topaz and turquoise riviere, composed of graduating cushion-shaped foiled yellow topaz links, each within a frame of gold cannetille, interspersed with floral motifs and highlighted with round-shaped cabochon turquoises, gemstones in closed-back settings, mounted in gold, length 38 cm, circa 1820.

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.