Antique 15ct Tubogas / Snake Chain (18")

There are chains, and then there are statements; this is unequivocally the latter. A truly magnificent antique snake chain in solid 15ct gold, dating to the early twentieth century or before, when jewellery was made to last lifetimes, and this one has. The construction is exceptional: each articulated scale link moves with the body, giving the chain that sinuous, fluid drape that modern pieces simply cannot replicate. Wear it and it becomes part of you; iconically you. The scale of this piece is its superpower. Wide, weighty, and deeply lustrous. Coiled on a surface it looks almost alive, which is exactly the energy it brings at the neck. This is the kind of gold that has genuine warmth to it; the colour is rich and deeply saturated in the way only high-carat antique gold can be. Snake chains are one of the great jewellery endurables, worn by everyone from Roman emperors to 1970s rock royalty to today's most considered dressers. This example is among the finest you will find: antique, solid gold, and built on a scale that means it needs nothing else. A generational piece in every sense. This is the first one I've ever found at this scale and I am so delighted to be able to bring it to you. The length alone - a comfortable 18 inches - makes it a very rare find. The clasp is a later addition (although still antique) in 9ct gold, a practical replacement, as is common in pieces of this age, and entirely in keeping with a long and well-loved life. The chain does have small cosmetic imperfections, like a minor area of denting near the clasp. This is commensurate with it's age and part of its rich history. The security of the chain is not compromised.