ABOUT:
This one is a release from my personal collection. I try to keep my PC pretty humble, and only keep enough to wear but sometimes it is so painful to part with them! Very sad to let this one go as I feel it is quite special, I already regret it. : )
Not your average antique diamond solitaire! The mounting of this ring is just so sweet, with engraved details on each shoulder, along with and including the vertical edge of the ring shank along the top of the finger. These ornate touches lead up to the lovely crown like prongs holding the gorgeous, eye clean 1.1 carat old European cut diamond. Dating to the turn of the century to early 1900s.
I love antique diamonds, even those with inclusions typical for the time, because some of those were still among the best available in the market during that period, and were expertly cut by hand to enhance their best characteristics. So I don’t often like to compare antique stones against modern grading standards - BUT This diamond, for an old stone has particularly lovely clarity and wonderful fire reflecting a noticeable flash with the other colors of the rainbow. These special antique diamonds were and still are in limited supply compared to the millions of carats of machine cut diamonds made each year. It's a wonderful antique stone, with no visible inclusions and the most delicious color, the slightest pale yellow warmth.
AND I also know the maker!
This ring was made by the JR Wood & Sons jewelry company, who were trend setters in the Victorian era and onward especially for wedding jewelry. The company was founded in the 1850s, and were the first to develop seamless, soldered eternity rings in the late 1800s. They made some of the best jewelry on the market in New York during that time. They added the name ArtCarved to their brand in the 1920s and the iconic Elizabeth Taylor even participated in one of their marketing campaigns in the 1950s after being proposed to by Conrad Hilton with an ArtCarved ring.
HALLMARKS:
Stamped 14k with the JR Wood & Sons mark, I believe pre 1920s.
The 14k gold has a gorgeous hue with a slight rosiness to it, not the vibrant pink rose gold of today but it certainly reads rosy. I found a similar ornate basket setting in the JR Wood 1917-1919 catalog although that example did not have the engraved shoulders. The prongs of the basket setting are a contrasting white precious metal as was customary for the period to set diamonds in a white metal. I do not scratch test prongs as I don't want to risk rubbing a stone or putting wear to the setting but the prongs are either white gold or platinum.
A classic piece that still stacks and layers well and with such wonderful details!
With prongs in good shape making this beauty ready to wear for engagement or in a ringstack.
Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and the pictures can make it difficult to see scale. Antique box is not included.
SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:
Size 4 1/4 - the prongs are in good shape making this a good candidate for sizing. Usually they say within 2 sizes is a good guide but never hurts to check with your local jeweler who would be doing the work, to determine their comfort level. Sometimes you can text or email photos for feedback. The gold with maker's mark stamp is on the side so sizing would still retain this part of its provenance.
The diamond is about 6.3mm. I do not remove stones from their antique settings for exact measurements but it is around 1.1 carat.
The piece weighs 2.35 grams. It stands 8.3mm off the finger.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
No nibbles or chips or frosty spots. Also uncommon for antique diamonds, it is eye clean. With only the faintest tiniest speck inclusions seen under strong magnification if at all. Even studying the stone under magnification, no flaws jump out. The shank is very sturdy, the edges are a bit blunt and the prongs can sometimes catch but this is just how the piece was made. It is ready for daily wear with the stone secure.
What a wonderful stone and fabulous setting. I'm in love with this one.
Note that the diamond seems to vary in hue based on the lighting. It isn't a vibrant yellow at all, but reads as a slight warmth while wearing, with the gorgeous pale yellow showing itself more in direct sun.
I absolutely love finding this in my antique stones - many collectors agree that the warm color of an old cut diamond is part of its appeal. Most of the rough diamonds at that time actually came from mines that produced warmer-colored diamonds and this is a lovely example.
My items do very well without paperwork so I have not sent the stone for certification but always provide as much detail as possible with measurements, condition notes and many extra photos (see website) to capture it true to life in various lighting conditions, which can be translated to grading scales if desired.
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 : )
SOCIAL:
Please feel free watch @mouseshouseantiques on Instagram for inventory drops, sneak peaks and previews! And check out my website www.MousesHouseAntiques.com as I can add more pics there so you can get extra looks : )
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