Antique Graduated Albert Chain with Double Dog Clips (17")

The Albert chain is the classic of the antique jewellery world — a real forever piece. Most antique lovers either have one or dream of owning one, and this one? She’s pretty close to perfect.

Let’s start with the gold: it’s got warm undertones but is unusually bright and yellow for her age — no muddiness, no weird solder, just a beautiful, glowing finish that makes her sing. She’s fully solid and stamped on every single link, as all proper Alberts should be. The colour, the condition, the craftsmanship — it's all there.

She dates to 1886. Like, genuinely. 1886. She’s lived through empires and wars, suffrage and sequins, and somehow made it through all of it still looking absolutely glorious. That’s not just jewellery — that’s history. And now she gets to live on with someone new, which is the whole joy of collecting pieces like this.

She’s a double Albert, which means she ends with a dog clip on either side and has a t-bar sitting in the centre — making her super versatile. Wear her with the t-bar front and centre one day, flip her round and hang a charm jumble from the clips the next. What makes this one particularly special is that the t-bar is suspended from a 2" chain extension, which adds just the right bit of drop and draws the eye downward in a really flattering way.

Length-wise, she’s brilliant. A true 17" wearable length — longer than most Alberts (which were never designed as necklaces, so often end up too short for comfort). She’s got a gentle graduation too — the centre links are just a touch thicker, which gives the whole thing a graceful, balanced shape on the neck. Graduated Alberts are always my preference — they just sit better and feel more considered.

She’s chunky, but not too heavy — a real Goldilocks piece. Enough presence to feel substantial, but comfortable and easy to wear, whether you’re a fan of bigger pieces or usually go dainty. It’s that magical middle ground that suits everyone.

I look at 50 Alberts a week and buy maybe two or three a month — they have to be exceptional to come home with me. This one more than earns her place.