Vintage Balestra Solid 18K Gold Bar Bead 1.4mm Chain Necklace Italy - 16 Inch
This vintage solid 18K yellow gold necklace comes from Giovanni Balestra & Figli of Bassano del Grappa, one of Italy's most celebrated goldsmithing houses. The chain alternates faceted beads with elongated bar links in a rhythmic pattern that throws light from every angle — the rich, buttery glow only 18K gold delivers. It closes with a spring ring clasp, and the tags carry the 750 hallmark, ITALY, the Balestra name, and the house's registered maker mark.
This is a genuinely rare find: Balestra chains are prized by collectors of fine Italian gold, and this bar bead pattern almost never surfaces on the secondary market — the only one currently available from this famous vintage maker. Balestra has been crafting gold in the Veneto region since 1882, and the firm's work is known for exacting quality that holds its own against any name in Italian jewelry. At 16 inches long and a delicate 1.4mm wide, it sits perfectly at the collarbone, beautiful alone or layered.
Verifications:
Solid 18K gold has been verified using an Auracle Gold Analyzer.
Details:
Metal: Solid 18K yellow gold
Maker: Giovanni Balestra & Figli, Italy
Hallmarks: 750, ITALY, Balestra, maker's mark
Style: Bar and bead chain
Width: 1.4mm
Length: 16 inches
Weight: 3.6 grams
Clasp: Spring ring
Condition: Excellent estate condition
Fun Facts:
The 750 hallmark is the European marking for 18K gold, indicating 75% pure gold content.
Giovanni Balestra founded his goldsmithing workshop in Bassano del Grappa, Italy in 1882, and the family firm became one of the most respected names in Vicenza-region gold — the historic heart of Italian fine chain making.