THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT ~
Type: Ring
Materials: 18k Rose Gold, Diamond, Silver
Size: 5 1/2 - 1 Carat Tdw
Era: Early 1900s
ABOUT:
At the moment I am especially drawn to diamond bands and this is such a great stacker with nice sized old mine cut diamonds that graduate in size. The center three diamonds are raised in prongs with an additional OMC set into each shoulder for a total of around 1 full carat. I try to acquire as many as I can because they are so versatile and wearable that they are always very popular.
In rosy antique 18k gold topped in silver holding the five old mine cut diamonds. At some point in its past, it was tidily re-tipped in a few spots making this antique beauty ready for regular wear.
Antique box not included. Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos.
HALLMARKS:
Quite a few hallmarks - French stamps for 18k gold and silver, also with a goldsmith stamp and another circular hallmark I could not decipher.
SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:
Size 5 1/2. The piece weighs 2.6 grams.
Exact carat weight is unknown as I would not remove the stones but they measure about 5.4mm at center, two at 3-3.2mm, and two at 2.7mm. The center stone is around 0.65 carat alone for a total of around 1 carat.
Stands 5.3mm off the finger, the shank underneath the stones is 3.4mm north to south and 16mm east west for all five diamonds.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
All my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition. I think this may have been an engagement ring as the vertical edges of the setting look like they may have at one time been nested with another piece. Typical antique diamonds with irregular cuts as they were hand cut, they all have some very small / faint natural inclusions and very slightly warmer hues but none of the inclusions are eye visible. The girdle edge of one of the smaller prong set diamonds is chipped with shallow flakes of loss, much of which is hidden beside one prong, it is barely eye visible from a texture perspective. The diamond still appears complete / round to the eye but the surface is frosty / unpolished there. Some patina to the silver prongs. Some worn prongs here and there with some worn completely back but it looks like they had a few of the prongs tidily reinforced in some spots holding the diamonds securely. Something to keep an eye on over time but all the stones are secure and do not move.
Shank is sturdy. But Due to age - please note this is not a mint condition item.
A note about antique diamonds:
The whole "4 C's" of cut, color, clarity, carat didn't come about until the 1940s so prior to that and especially on antique pieces, there was not as much emphasis placed on those things. (Sure people probably appreciated a certain look of a certain diamond as it appeared to the eye but it was not a graded scale like we have today.)
So it is difficult to judge antique stones against modern day diamonds and their grading system. No two old cuts are the same as they were crafted in times lacking any modern standards. The diamond cutters of the time were experts at hand cutting these stones to enhance them, which means that even lower color grades can be cut to appear whiter. It is also interesting that "lower graded" diamonds in today's scale system, were some of the best on the market during this period!
So it is less about their grades and more about the unique play of light and color that each one can offer. I read one article that put it nicely: “When searching for the perfect old cut diamond (for you), you need to view them through different eyes as you would for a modern diamond, Laboratory grading reports don’t offer too much information in regards to their individual beauty or sparkle which are based more on their individual character and uniqueness that each one potentially offers.” Just an interesting comparison of antique vs. modern diamonds. : )
Thanks so much for looking at my items!
Expedited shipping with signature upon delivery will be at my cost.
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