Queen Victoria - British sovereigns bracelet in 22K gold

This bracelet in 22K gold coins features six British sovereigns linked by double 10K gold rings and a spring clasp. The coins date from 1877 to 1900, each bearing the portrait of Queen Victoria at different ages of her life. The one-pound sterling coin bore the portrait of a young Queen Victoria for more than half a century, until it was updated in 1887 with a more mature portrait, on the second-hand of the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

The portrait of the young Queen is visible on two of the coins, struck in 1877 and 1878. These portraits depict the Queen with her hair in a bun; on the reverse of one of the coins appears the image of Saint George slaying a dragon, and on the other, a coat of arms. In 1878, a new portrait was introduced, visible on the two central coins of the bracelet, both struck in 1891. This coin shows the Queen wearing a small crown on her head, as well as a slightly more detailed version of the image of Saint George on the reverse. However, the coin was poorly received and considered an inaccurate representation of the Queen; it was updated again in 1893, making it one of the most short-lived portraits in British coinage. The final two coins of the bracelet, struck in 1896 and 1900, feature the "Veiled Head" portrait, the final version of the coin.

This bracelet offers a chronological look at history through these coins and makes an interesting piece of jewelry for an Anglophile. The 22K gold of the coins has a beautiful luster, and the repetition of the circular coins gives it a lovely presence on the wrist. The coins are bezel-set in 10K gold and connected by 10K gold rings, which end in a spring clasp, harmonizing with the circular shapes of the rings and coins that make up the bracelet. The coin designs are richly detailed, and the coins alternate obverse and reverse so that a variety of images is always visible. Both sides of each coin are visible in the setting, and the bracelet can be worn on either side.

The rings, bezel settings, and spring clasp are in 10K gold, with a hallmark on the clasp. The bracelet also includes a removable safety chain. The bracelet measures 7 inches. Each coin measures 15/16 inch. The bracelet weighs 59.8 g and each coin weighs 7.9 g.

Watch second-hand - as the watch has been opened for inspection and servicing in the workshop, the original water-resistance guarantee can no longer be assured beyond rain and splashes.