Pearl, Gemstone Bead & Rondelle Necklace & Earrings by Louis Rousselet

This exceptional vintage pearl necklace by the incomparable Louis Rousselet features four strands of glass pearls in varied shapes and sizes. They are accented with hand-wound-glass beads in gemstone colors paired with rondelles. (In case you aren't familiar with their work, you need to know that they were regarded as the premier maker of glass beads and faux pearls as well as costume jewelry for haute couture from the 1920s-1980s.) The necklace closes with a box clasp adorned with piles of pearls and colored beads, and signed with the maker's initials in script. The matching ear clips are a bonus. Finding a Rousselet-signed piece is incredibly rare (most had only signed paper hang tags), which makes this set all the more extraordinary! Scroll down to see another pair of ear clips in the same style, sold separately.