Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu

A South African diamond pendant by Abe Pass, circa 1967, the wirework collar suspending a geometric pendant incorporating a step-cut blue tourmaline, with vertical bars below, terminating in a pierced chequerboard panel set with vari-coloured diamonds, (diamonds untested for natural colour), stamped ‘18ct PASS’, total diamond weight approximately 1.95 carats, length 24cm. £2,000-£3,000

This necklace was commissioned as a wedding gift to the vendor in 1967.

Abe Pass
Abe Pass was born in Lithuania in 1926, and as a child immigrated with his parents to South Africa. He completed his apprenticeship as a goldsmith with Cooper’s in Cape Town in 1945. To gain further experience, he worked with other artist jewellers such as Doug Saunders and Levitt’s. In 1963 he established his own studio in the Groote Kerk building in Cape Town, designing individual jewellery commissions with precious metals and gem stones. In 1967 he contributed to a South African exhibition at the International Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Florence. In the early 1970s he lectured at Stellenbosch University and continued to exhibit his work in Cape Town and in Johannesburg until 1998.