Here is a very elegant and refined antique Albert chain and one that is all original with no alterations and dating from 1899. Originally destined and designed for a gentleman to hold a pocket watch at one end and the key to wind it at the other with the tee bar connected to the waistcoat, when men put these down and started to wear wrist watches woman years later started to wear these around their neck where they are quite often seen today.
This particular one is all original with no extensions as many have and is double graduated meaning that it goes from smaller links to wider at the centre then smaller once again. The smaller links measure 5.5mm wide and go to 8mm wide and each are individually stamped 9 and .375 both denoting 9ct gold. From end to end the Albert chain measures 41cm in length and the colour of the rose gold is just gorgeous and has such a lovely warm colour to it.
Perfect for a pocket watch worn with a waistcoat, it is equally perfect to adorn the neck of a lady and either way it remains as a fabulous example of a genuine antique Albert chain made over 100 years ago and still perfect to be worn every day.
Stock# ES6001
Hallmarked: Birmingham 1899
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Out of stock
A brief history on Albert chains:
The Albert chain, or Prince Albert chain as it is also known by was designed in the 1800’s for Prince Albert to fit through a waist coat and hold a pocket watch on one end and the key to wind it on the other.
These were often made in sterling silver or gold as well as base metals such as rolled gold and some from the Art Deco era of the 1920’s to the 1940’s being made in platinum or a combination of platinum and gold.
A double length one ie two chains leading to a tee bar is a double Albert and one where the tee bar is a t one end and a swivel or bolt ring at the other is known as a half Albert.
However in the early 1900’s with the increase in popularity of wrist watches, the gentleman of the house put these chains down and started to wear the wrist watch and now years later woman wear these around their neck where they are quite often seen today.
