A lavaliere necklace is a necklace with a delicate chain and an ornate pendant from which a further small drop hangs. The style is defined by that two-part pendant: a decorative central piece, often filigree or set with stones, finished with a single dangling bead, pearl or gemstone below it. Lavaliere necklaces are most associated with the Edwardian era of the early 1900s.
History of the Lavaliere
The name is linked to the Duchesse de La Valliere, a mistress of Louis XIV of France, and the style bearing a version of her name became fashionable in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Edwardian lavalieres were typically made in platinum or white gold with fine filigree work, seed pearls and small coloured stones, matching the lacy, light aesthetic of the period.
The dangling drop gives the lavaliere its movement. As the wearer moves, the drop swings slightly below the main pendant, catching light in a way a fixed pendant cannot. Antique examples are collectable, and modern versions copy the same structure in both fine and fashion jewellery.
- Filigree lavalieres - lacy pierced metalwork pendants with a pearl drop.
- Gemstone lavalieres - a coloured stone centre with a matching dangling stone.
- Double-drop lavalieres - two drops of different lengths below the pendant.
Wearing a Lavaliere Today
A lavaliere suits romantic and vintage-inspired outfits, and its fine chain and modest scale make it easy everyday jewellery as well. It sits best on a plain, open neckline where the detailed pendant can be seen clearly. Because antique-style filigree is delicate, handle lavalieres gently, keep the drop untangled in storage, and have old settings checked by a jeweller before regular wear.
Judging Quality and Age
On an antique lavaliere, value sits in the fineness of the filigree, the condition of the stones and pearls, and whether the drop is original to the pendant - a replaced drop often hangs at a slightly wrong angle or in a mismatched metal. On a modern version, check the same points in simpler form: the pendant should hang straight, the drop should swing freely without twisting sideways, and the chain should be fine enough to suit the pendant without being so delicate that its weight strains the links. Filigree should feel smooth, with no sharp pierced edges to catch on clothing.
FAQs
- What makes a necklace a lavaliere?
- A delicate chain, an ornate central pendant, and a further small drop - a bead, pearl or stone - hanging below that pendant. The dangling drop is the defining feature.
- When were lavaliere necklaces popular?
- They were most popular in the Edwardian era, roughly 1900 to 1915, when fine filigree platinum versions with pearls and small stones were fashionable.
- Is a lavaliere the same as a pendant necklace?
- Not quite. Every lavaliere has a pendant, but a lavaliere pendant is ornate and finished with an extra dangling drop, which an ordinary pendant does not have.