These mid 19th century pendeloque earrings are made of silver on gold and set with rose cut diamonds. Imagine how elegant it must have been when they were worn at evening soirees lit by expensive candlelight....

The most popular earrings in the 18th century were in the girandole style, named after a type of candelabra. Girandole earrings typically feature an elaborate stud and a decorative (often bow-shaped) central design, suspended with three pear-shaped motifs.
These earrings evolved to a more elongated form with the central girandole drop becoming noticeably longer than the other two. Eventually, the three drops of the girandole gave way to a singular elaborate drop, the pendeloque.