Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle in Scotland in 1852. The royal family spent a great deal of time at their Scottish estate and took to wearing the Royal Stuart plaid to special events. To accent her new northern attire, Victoria began collecting Scottish jewelry. Most often seen in silver, Victorian-era Scottish jewelry typically combines Celtic and natural motifs - like the famous highland thistle - with stones native to the region: granite, malachite, agate, and cairngorm. This c. 1880 sterling silver bracelet is a piece of the Scottish jewelry made so fashionable by the trendsetting, tartan-clad queen. The The bracelet features pink Aberdeen granite links with a padlock locket clasp.
MATERIALS: sterling silver, carved Aberdeen granite, glass lens, hair
AGE: c. 1880
CONDITION: Good - a little visible epoxy where one link was reaffixed
SIZE: 7 5/8" length, 1" x 3/8" links, 1 1/4" x 3/4" padlock