Featured Notre Dame amber bracelet? Please help

Just a technical point, spring rings weren't around before the 1920's, so if original it will be 20th century. It does look like an early style of spring ring.

 

Some other early spring rings (necklaces closures)
https://navettejewellery.org/2019/04/01/dating-necklaces-clasps-and-fasteners-part-ii/

 

I know there are some differing views, but the spring ring as we know it patent application was in 1921. The majority of commentators suggest early 20th century is correct, but some do suggest earlier. The bolt ring was definitely earlier. Afaik there are no British hallmarked spring rings prior to the 1920's, not proof but perhaps a guide.

Not saying you are wrong, but the information generally posted about the earlier dates seem to make assertions rather than present testable facts. An interesting area of debate.

 

Spring rings were already used in the 1840s, introduced just after bolt rings became popular.
New types of spring rings can be patented at any time, or patents can be registered in one country for types that were already used in another. But registration of a new type doesn't mean that the earlier types never existed.
The bracelet is French, btw, not British.

An 1889 ad from the US for spring rings, these were just a few of the models available at the time:

 

Now that is interesting, I've never come across documentation for spring rings in the 19th century before, and most sources suggest 20th century dates. What is the source of that advert? I'm sure that would be of great interest to many jewellery sites.

 

It is already on several jewellery sites. Someone else on the forum posted it before, so I copied it in my files without a source, but I have seen it on several sites since.

 

That's great, is there one which shows the publication and the date rather than just the page?

 

There is, but I haven't saved it. But I'm sure you can find it if you search the internet, or do an image search.

 

https://www.morninggloryjewelry.com/articles/reference-information/jewelry-findings/
A treasure of documentation on their site!

 

I believe you are right that this is a rosary.

 

Perfect, thank you. It lists the catalogue as 1902, so just into the 20th, but presumably it could be a bit earlier. It also gives the patent application of 1921. The pic with date suggesting 1840's has no reference, and is next to the bolt ring which also says 1840's - I would suggest it is possible they may have made an error on the 1840 title for the pic? I can't find anything to back up such an early date for a spring ring elsewhere. I do note it looks different with a tiny pip for the catch so there may be something in it, I might ask if they have references for it.