Few pieces of film jewellery carry as much feeling as the one Vesper Lynd wears through Casino Royale. Interlaced rings gathered into a single knot, a layered chain, a clasp in the shape of a winged heart: the Sophie Harley Algerian Love Knot necklace was made for the screen and has outlasted it. It returns in Quantum of Solace, and we think it is the right gift for someone who would rather be given a story than a logo.
In the film
Sophie Harley was commissioned to design the original necklace for Casino Royale (2006), where Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd wears it throughout as a sentimental gift. In Quantum of Solace (2008) it comes back as a memento. Daniel Craig’s Bond carries it, and the closing shot shows Vesper’s necklace lying in the snow. Separately, Corrine, a Canadian agent played by Stana Katic, wears an Algerian Loveknot in the final scene.
The details of the Algerian Love Knot necklace
A knot with no beginning or end. The pendant is a cluster of twisted, interwoven rings, arranged so that no single ring reads as the start. That is the whole idea of a love knot, and it is understood at a glance without any explanation.
Silver, with gold detail. The necklace is sterling silver with 18ct gold plated detail. The gold is an accent rather than the main metal, which warms the silver without making the piece loud.
A layered chain. The knot hangs from a multi-layered chain. In our view that matters: a single fine chain would let it float, while layered strands give it a settled line against the collarbone.
A winged heart clasp. The chain closes with a winged heart. It sits at the back of the neck, a private detail, which is a better place for sentiment than the front.
Handmade in London. Sophie Harley still makes every Algerian Love Knot piece by hand in her London studio, and she designed the first one for the film. That is a better provenance than most film merchandise can claim.
Wearing it now
This is a necklace men mostly give, and we think it is best given with a reason: an anniversary, a milestone, a year worth marking. Its story is a tender one, and it works best when the occasion carries some of the same weight.
Worn, it wants plain clothes. A grey cashmere crew neck, a white shirt open at the collar, a black dress with a clean neckline: anything that leaves the knot to do the talking. We would not layer it with other necklaces; the chain already does that.
Which piece? The collection extends to earrings, rings and bracelets in the same design. For a first gift we would choose the necklace, since it is the piece seen on screen, and add the smaller pieces later if she wants them.
Care. Put it on after scent and take it off before swimming or bathing. Store it flat, or hung on its own, so the chain does not tangle, and wipe it with a soft dry cloth. With plated detail, gentle handling is worth the small effort.
Sizing. Check the chain length on Sophie Harley’s product page before you order, and think about the necklines she wears most.
Specifications
| Maker | Sophie Harley London |
|---|---|
| Collection | Algerian Loveknot |
| Design | Interlaced twisted rings in a knot pendant on a multi-layered chain, winged heart clasp |
| Materials | Sterling silver with 18ct gold plated detail |
| Made | By hand in Sophie Harley’s London studio |
| Seen in | Casino Royale (worn by Vesper Lynd); Quantum of Solace |
| RRP | Set by Sophie Harley; see the product page for the current price |
The story of the design is told on Sophie Harley’s own Bond page.
Questions
Is this the necklace from Casino Royale?
Yes, it is Sophie Harley’s original Algerian Love Knot design, created for Eva Green to wear as Vesper Lynd. Sophie Harley still sells it today.
Does Bond wear the necklace in Quantum of Solace?
Not as jewellery. Bond carries Vesper’s necklace, and the final shot shows it in the snow. Separately, a Canadian agent, Corrine, wears an Algerian Loveknot in the final scene.
What is the Sophie Harley necklace made of?
It is sterling silver with 18ct gold plated detail, on a multi-layered chain with a winged heart clasp. It is made by hand in London.
What does an Algerian love knot mean?
It is a knot of interwoven rings with no beginning and no end, which stands for lasting love. That is why it suits anniversaries and other milestones.
More from the films is in our jewellery category, and every Bond picture is in the films.
