ABOUT:
Beautiful pair of antique old mine cut diamond stud earrings in 18k gold with 9k gold push backs.
The pair totals 1 carat total weight in diamonds (about half a carat each). Aside from being a highly sought after old mine cut pair, my favorite thing about them is their slight variations to the stones giving the pair an organic feel. Knowing the diamonds were hand cut and that no two are ever exactly alike makes them truly one of a kind. One is a more elongated old mine cushion cut while the other is slightly more squared old mine cushion cut. Yet on opposite sides of the head, and even side by side, they look quite lovely together.
The diamonds and their elegant crown settings are antique the push backs are definitely later and I assume the ear posts as well. I got them in France where the standard is 18k and the prongs / basket settings holding the diamonds test at 18k, but the ear posts and push backs are 9k gold and stamped as such so likely converted later. The patinas are well matching but when off the ear, you can study the back and see where the ear post was welded onto the inside rim of the setting on one side. This is not visible while wearing and there are no uneven areas, welds or solder visible when wearing them as again they were affixed inside the setting.
I don't prefer to grade my antique diamonds with the Four C's grading scale which came about way later for machine cut diamonds with mathematically perfected facets. The scale does not do antique stones justice as they were expertly hand cut in a much more limited supply compared to the millions of carats of machine cut diamonds made each year now. Their uniqueness and quirks are expected and part of their charm, but I will say these have a very bright color and better than most fire, they are quite full of full (in my opinion as someone who looks at antique diamonds every day).
Would be a beautiful something old for a bride.
Antique box not included. Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos.
SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:
The more elongated one is about 5.3x4.4mm and about .55 carat. The other is about 4.8mm cushion cut and just under half a carat / about .48ct to total a little over 1 carat for the pair. This is an estimate as I would not remove the stones and I couldn't get an exact depth measurement in their settings.
The settings are deep, about 6-6.2mm measuring the height off the ear or the base of the basket setting to the top of the diamond's crown.
The pair weighs just 1.7 grams combined.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
The more cushioned shape one has one indented natural inclusions carrying up to the surface like a tiny thumbnail shape. Slightly eye visible if it catches the light to very slightly eye visible (and fully Invisible to my eyes which are in their forties haha). The more elongated one has a frosty fleck inclusion again slightly eye visible because it can catch the light and then one area of the girdle that is a bit wider that I believe was cut that way as it matches the frostiness of the rest of the girdle.
No chips, nibbles or nicks. The prongs are in excellent shape and ready for regular wear. The push backs are tight with notches in the post for them to catch on so they are sturdy, although I noticed they can twist sometimes, this is just the style of push back made with the two curling loops of gold on the back.
Please note that all my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition. They will have patina, surface wear, a few small nicks. These pieces may also have evidence of a sizing, some build up around the stones and / or inclusions seen under magnification, typical for antique pieces. I have mentioned any noticeable issues above and they are all still wearable and eager to be loved and accepted for many years to come, (the preservation of antique jewelry, even those with signs of their age and history, is important to me. : )
But - Please note due to age, this piece is not in mint condition. Pictures also serve as part of the description and condition report so please utilize the zoom feature which will magnify any wear significantly more than what is visible to the eye while wearing : )
Thanks so much for looking at my items!
SOCIAL:
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Box#s.9@5
