Parure

Parure refers to a matching suite of jewellery designed to be worn together. A complete parure traditionally consists of several coordinated pieces, such as a necklace, earrings, brooch and bracelet, made in the same design and often incorporating the same gemstones and materials.

Parures became particularly fashionable during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when elaborate jewellery suites were an important part of formal dress. Georgian and Victorian examples can be especially impressive, with matching pieces designed to create a coordinated and highly decorative appearance.

The individual components of a parure were sometimes designed so that they could be worn separately. A necklace might incorporate a detachable pendant, for example, or a brooch could be removed and worn independently. This allowed an elaborate suite to be adapted for different occasions.

Parure should not be confused with demi-parure. A demi-parure is a smaller or incomplete matching suite, generally consisting of two or more coordinated pieces rather than a complete set. The distinction is not always used consistently by dealers and collectors, particularly when historical jewellery has been separated or reassembled over time.

Antique parures are particularly interesting to collectors because complete matching suites have often been separated during their history. Finding several original pieces that remain together can therefore add considerable historical interest to a group of jewels.

At Weldons, a parure is assessed not only for the quality and beauty of the individual jewels but also for the originality, completeness and consistency of the suite.

Meaning: A matching suite of jewellery
Typical periods: Georgian and Victorian, although the term is used more broadly
Typical pieces: Necklace, earrings, brooch, bracelet and other coordinated jewels
Characteristic feature: Matching design, gemstones and materials across multiple pieces