Necklace in 18k (750 thousandths) yellow gold with links that follow the shape of the neck and collarbones and are adorned with cabochons of very fine quality stabilised turquoise, totalling around 30 carats. The textured yellow gold and turquoise make this necklace bright and sunny, ideal for wearing on the Riviera or to brighten up a long winter. Focus on one of the large cabochons. A small turquoise glass cabochon also received a blow. A small cabochon is missing. Length: 43 cm. Height of the central part: 5.5 cm. Gross weight: 129.9 g. Turquoise was very fashionable in high jewellery between the 1940s and 2000, because the mines made it possible to extract turquoise of very pure colour. You're probably familiar with the famous Alhambra necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, which made turquoise an iconic stone, or the gorgerin necklace by Cartier created in 1947 for the Duchess of Windsor, combining turquoise, amethyst and diamonds. This stone is part of the history of jewellery, as it has been used since ancient times, and the Egyptians used it extensively in their jewellery. Today, many old mines are closed due to the exhaustion of veins or the lower quality of production. The finest quality turquoise comes mainly from America (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado), and the Sleeping Beauty mine is the best known because of the exceptional quality of its veins! Closed in 2012, only a few beautiful 'nuggets' are still coming out, but not enough to continue production. Other countries with remarkable turquoise include Iran, Turkey and Mexico. One of the main characteristics of turquoise is its porosity, which causes it to change colour from blue to green in the presence of acids or cream. Don't worry about the turquoise in this necklace, as it has been stabilised. This means that the porous aspect has been filled in and the colour of the turquoise will remain for a long time as it is today. This stabilisation is also Van Cleef & Arpels' choice for ensuring that its most beautiful creations last over time.