NOS Sterling Silver Black Stone Pendant Necklace | Made in India | 18 Inches

An unusually substantial new-old-stock sterling silver necklace featuring a large opaque black checkerboard-faceted stone surrounded by elaborate oxidized sterling silver filigree.

The necklace measures 18 inches long and is composed of 104 remarkably uniform polished black round beads, each measuring approximately 4.38 mm. The beads lead to a decorative sterling silver bail and large articulated pendant.

The central black stone measures approximately 36.5 mm × 21 mm × 8.5 mm based on measurements possible while mounted. Its broad face is cut in a precise checkerboard pattern that produces strong black, charcoal and silver-gray reflections as the pendant moves through the light. Despite its reflective surface, the stone appears opaque black, including when examined using a very strong flashlight in a darkened environment.

The pendant is surrounded by intricate open sterling silver filigree with an intentionally oxidized finish that emphasizes the scrollwork and provides strong contrast against the polished black stone.

The necklace is marked 925 and INDIA on the reverse of the pendant. The clasp also carries a 925 sterling mark.

Gemstone testing: The large center stone has been tested repeatedly with a Presidium thermal gemstone tester and consistently registers within the corundum/sapphire range. Multiple black beads selected from different areas of the necklace were separately tested and produced the same corundum-range response.

Because a thermal gemstone tester cannot establish whether corundum is natural or laboratory-created, determine treatment, or provide a definitive laboratory identification, the stones are being described here as black stones testing in the corundum range rather than represented as natural black sapphire. No independent gemological laboratory report accompanies this necklace.

The center stone is estimated at approximately 70 carats if calculated using the specific gravity of corundum, based on its approximate mounted dimensions. This is a calculated estimate only, not a measured gemstone weight, because the stone remains mounted in the pendant.

The complete necklace weighs approximately 48 grams.

This piece came from the remaining inventory of a jewelry store that went out of business and is new old stock (NOS). It has not been represented as previously worn. The precise date of manufacture is unknown, so no specific production year is being claimed.

Details

• 18" overall necklace length
• 48 g total necklace weight
• Sterling silver construction
• Marked 925 and INDIA
• 104 polished black round beads
• Beads approximately 4.38 mm each
• Center stone approximately 36.5 × 21 × 8.5 mm while mounted
• Checkerboard-faceted center stone
• Opaque black appearance
• Center stone and sampled beads repeatedly test in the corundum/sapphire range on a Presidium tester
• Natural vs. laboratory-created origin has not been determined
• NOS jewelry-store inventory
• No laboratory gemstone report

Detailed photographs of the actual necklace, including the sterling marks, reverse construction, clasp, stone, filigree and penny comparison, are included so its scale and condition can be examined closely. Lifestyle images are provided to illustrate approximate scale and styling; the detailed product photographs show the actual necklace being sold.

The mystery here isn't whether the necklace makes an impression. It's exactly what those 105 remarkably matched black stones turn out to be.

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