Emerald and Diamond Necklace

Today we feature an emerald and diamond necklace whose emerald stones go back four generations. The emeralds were originally part of a necklace that was said to carry a curse. Because of the misfortune that befell this family, the necklace was destroyed and two of the emeralds were reset into the necklace pictured below.  We are absolutely fascinated by this story, and although we don't normally feature necklaces, we couldn't pass this one up.  

Cut: Round brilliant necklace with two emerald gems

Jeweler: Design by my grandmother and executed by TABOR of Beverly Hills in the '60s.

A Jewelry Story: "My great grandfather, on one of his trips to Paris, saw a most gorgeous emerald necklace, which he bought for his wife, who was very fond of jewelry. When he purchased the necklace, the jeweler warned him that there was curse attached to it.  It was purchased by Emperor Napoleon to give to one of his sisters, of whom misfortune befell onto her family.  The tale goes on to say that the necklace may have been owned, not by Marie Antoinette, but by her husband's cousin, who was very close to Antoinette, Princess Therese de Lamballe, who was also killed brutally during the Reign of Terror in 1792.  My great grandparents shrugged this off, not believing in superstitions.  

My family believes that the necklace did carry a curse.  My grandfather's family was brutally killed during WWII by the Japanese Imperial Army in February 1945.  My grandfather's brother was beheaded weeks before when he was caught listening to a short wave radio. Ironically, my grandfather was the only survivor because he was, at that time, in a Japanese Prison. 

One of few survivors of the massacre came to my grandfather weeks later carrying the jewels that he was able to save of his mother. One of them was the emerald necklace.  When my grandfather married my grandmother, she broke the necklace into many pieces.  She reset two of the larger emeralds into another necklace - shown above."

Comments

[Rose]

Wow what an amazing necklace and story.

[Jo]

How can such misfortune come from such beauty? I love how deep the color is on the emeralds in this necklace. I can't even begin to imagine how it would have looked like with the rest of the other emeralds!!!

[vintage pendants]

A heart touching story and it is hard to believe that jewels can bring misfortune in our lives.Also the color of this emerald is unique and dark from the rest of others.Thanks for sharing.