Architectural Fifties Bracelet Ablaze with Diamonds in a Bold Sculptural Design

This platinum bracelet from the early 1950s is a substantial example of mid-century diamond craftsmanship. Its broad, articulated construction allows the piece to fall naturally on the wrist, while more than fifty-four carats of diamonds in high colour and clarity create a striking, deliberate brilliance. The assured design and well-resolved structure reflect the period’s renewed appetite for luxury, achieved through discipline and technical competence rather than excess.

The lady who brought the bracelet to us explained that she had inherited it from her mother. Her father, a prominent Antwerp diamond merchant, selected the stones from his own stock, choosing only those he considered his finest. He then engaged a high-quality atelier to create the design and commissioned the bracelet as a personal gift for his wife. She described this provenance as part of her family history, and our own examination of the piece, in both the consistency of the diamond quality and the precision of the construction, aligns closely with her story.

Seen in this light, the bracelet is both an impressive diamond jewel and a carefully conceived work of craftsmanship. Its scale, coherence and assured construction reflect the expertise and intention that shaped it, and there is a quiet sense of personal devotion in the care with which the stones were chosen and the piece realised. These qualities remain evident in the bracelet itself and become almost tangible once its story is known.

Jewellery Type
high-jewellery bracelet

Condition
very good condition
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of Belgian origin.

Additional provenance note
The bracelet is accompanied by a fitted case signed by the Antwerp jeweller K. Schlüsselberg, Pelikaanstraat 86, suggesting it was retailed there.

Style
Vintage Fifties (of the twentieth century)
See also: Fifties (of the twentieth century)
more info on styles

Style specifics
This type of jewellery is highly characteristic of the 1950s. Although the Art Deco period had ended only two decades earlier, its geometric language remained a strong source of inspiration. The abundant pavé work and sculptural volume, however, clearly place this bracelet within the post-war Fifties idiom, which often makes it challenging, even for trained experts, to distinguish it from late Art Deco creations.

Period
ca. 1950
Events & facts of this era:

• Post-war economic recovery leading to renewed demand for luxury goods.
• Jewellery houses reintroducing lavish diamond designs after wartime restrictions.

Poetry of this era:

• Writers such as Dylan Thomas, T. S. Eliot (late period) and Louis MacNeice shaped the mid-century poetic landscape, reflecting both post-war introspection and emerging optimism.

Fashion of this era:

• Dior’s New Look encouraging opulence, sculptural silhouettes and generous accessorising.
• A natural environment for wide, luxurious diamond bracelets such as this one.

Source of inspiration
A sophisticated fusion of lingering Art Deco geometry and the renewed opulence of post-war couture, echoing the radiating motifs and sculptural lines that defined high-end jewellery of the 1950s.

Theme
Radiance and symmetry expressed through geometric floral abstraction, capturing the glamour and optimism characteristic of the early post-war decades.

Material
platinum (touchstone tested)
more info on precious metals

Technique
The refined execution, articulated construction and sculptural design all attest to first-class craftsmanship, further distinguished by diamonds of consistently high colour and clarity, carefully matched to support the piece’s visual coherence and brilliance.

Extra information
Accompanied by a custom-fitted case by the Antwerp jeweller K. Schlüsselberg, Pelikaanstraat 86, strengthening the likelihood of Belgian manufacture.

Diamonds
Three brilliant cut diamonds with an estimated weight of ± 3.05ct
519 brilliant cut diamonds with an estimated weight of ± 44.38ct
42 baguette (long rectangular) cut diamonds with an estimated weight of ± 7.20ct

Total diamond count
564 pcs.

Total diamond weight
approx. 54.63 crt with an average colour and clarity E/G, vvs/vs

- When we provide weights, colour grades, and clarity of diamonds, these are approximate unless otherwise stated, as we do not remove diamonds from their settings to preserve the integrity of the piece.

- All diamonds, regardless of their size or shape, in our vintage and antique jewellery are verified as 100% natural by the IJGC laboratory.

- We do not sell lab-grown (synthetic) diamonds.

Birthstones
Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
more info on birthstones

Brand
No maker’s mark found on the bracelet itself.

Signature
None but accompanied by retailer’s case signed K. Schlüsselberg, Antwerp.

Hallmarks
No hallmarks found, which is not unusual for Belgian high-jewellery pieces of the mid-twentieth century, especially when retailed privately or custom-made.
more info on hallmarks

Dimensions
3,75 cm (1,48 inch) x 23,00 cm (9,06 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
115,10 gram (74,01 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
25325-0281

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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