Vintage La Mode WWII 1940's Sweetheart Stretch Expansion Bracelet w Hidden Heart Double Locket w Old Photo, Sentimental, Meaningful, Jewelry

Very fine vintage 1930's - 1940's "Sweetheart" style expansion stretch bracelet / locket combination piece:

~ Features a fancy heart shaped focal piece with a shell like design

~ The integrated - almost hidden or secret double locket makes this one doubly special

~ Even the back side of the heart is decorative and beautiful with engine turning or machined detailing

~ Wide "S" swoop shaped links alternate with sleek smooth links and ornate scrolling patterned ones

~ This one still has a sentimental old photo inside the locket - I just don't have the heart to take it out. It features a young lady wearing a skimpy / racy (at the time) swim suit or sundress sitting on steps with a dog in her lap. The bottom side still has film or covering under the round photo stay bezel and I can't honestly tell for sure if the top side does or not. Easy fix to custom cut a small bit of protective film if you feel the need. Both round bezels remain.

~ This type of decorated stretch or expanding / expandable bracelet has such a timeless appeal. Some are over 100 years old and have seen many generations and fashion styles. They reached their heyday or peak in the 1940's ~ when they were all the rage to give as a gift to a special friend, crush, girlfriend or wife as a wearable visual token or reminder of affection, especially meaningful when you had a departing soldier.

~ These remain collectible, special, stackable, relevant, versatile and stylish to this very day and make the perfect gift to yourself or for someone special to continue to look after, love, cherish, and pass on

Ready and waiting for your wrist, collection, special photos or small keepsakes, and/or gift giving - you will love this!

AGE OR ERA: Authentic true antique / vintage jewelry piece - estimating 1930's to 1940's in age. Classic WWII era sweetheart piece

MARKINGS: La Mode in their unmistakeable script signature stamped on the inside on the band. Is the trademark of Ripley & Gowan or (R & G Co)of Attleboro, MA. The company was established in the 1874 and incorporated in 1921. They are famous for their beautiful guilloche enameled sterling silver boxes, compacts, lighters and other accessories from the 1920's and 1930's. They made jewelry well into the 1930s and 1940's. Ripley and Gowan filed for use of "La Mode" as their trademark in 1924.
Ripley & Gowan History? : r/Antiques

METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow gold plating, well intact - so well intact I can't say for certain what the base metal may be. These were often made of sterling silver or brass

CLASP / CLOSURE: None - stretch to slide on and wear. The locket is hinged on the top side and has a small indentation or a finger nail catch at about 7:00 to aid in opening.

MEASUREMENTS: Band is about 1/2" wide and the heart shaped locket is about 3/4" x 7/8". Forgiving fit due to the stretch - should fit just about anyone with an average to smaller wrist. I have pictured on my aprox 7 1/2" wrist and it is a pretty tight fit and stretched to the max - I would say about a 7" wrist on down would be perfect.

WEIGHT: x

TESTING: x

U.S. RING SIZE: x

ANECDOTAL, METAPHYSICAL, &/or LORE: These are enjoying a well deserved surge in popularity due in part to Ms Keely Jones from the Ted Lasso television series. If you watched the show - you may have noticed that she often sported a heart shaped one (I believe hers was made by DBF Co / D.F. Briggs) and paired it with many outfits from casual sweats to the most formal of dresses .... and everything in between.

CONDITION: Great vintage condition - no damage or quirks to note. The gold plating is well intact and the locket and expansion hardware works without issue. In well above average condition, in my opinion and bound to last many more years, enhance many a more outfits, and induce many more smiles if it is as well taken care of in the future as it has been in the past. In an excellent state of preservation all around.

INVENTORY NUMBER OR NOTE: LM25

"A picture is worth a thousand words"

Please view & enlarge photographs to closely inspect fine details and to determine the amount of patina and/or wear. Most older pieces by nature normally have some degree of both and, unless severe, aren't considered damaged and not mentioned. Especially if obvious and/or prominent in the photos. Individuals do have varying levels of desire and tolerance for "vintage charm" so do utilize the scroll arrows beside the photos to allow yourself the opportunity to view them all, as they are an integral part and extension of the description.

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