ABOUT:
This one is for the lover of antique diamonds and their quirks!
We know that no two antique hand cut stones are ever alike, having been hand cut by experts, in much more limited supply compared to the millions of carats of modern machine cut diamonds produced each year now. These have stood the test of time! We love them because they are unique, sustainable and conflict free.
This one certainly has its share of eccentricities. The 1.2 carat stone has an "aura" that is the result of a faint translucent cloud inclusion that swirls around the stone. This contributes to its overall bright white color. That in addition to some carbon and crystal speck inclusions gives it faint salt and pepper vibes, where the stone isn't totally spattered but definitely has some uniqueness. And this one was made by nature long before the trend of salt & pepper stones came to be so it's a real trend setter : ). I've had people request them in the past but this one of the few antique ones with those unique tendencies that I've been able to source. The diamond still also has a beautiful, soft sparkle, the cloud inclusion giving it a sort of luminescence, especially in direct sunlight.
I love old cut diamonds in yellow gold settings and the setting in this case is what also sold me on the piece. It has a wide and substantial domed band, the sleek and elegant setting making it the perfect stacker. And because the diamond does not rank high on the clarity scale (to which many of us say, "who cares!"), I was able to acquire it at a better price and thus offer it as such, (my last yellow gold old cut solitaires similar in size went for significantly more.)
I think the setting is later than the stone, as it is quite substantial to be antique. But the setting is still definitely vintage, with an evaluation certificate from a jeweler in France dated 2006. With sturdy prongs it is ready for daily wear.
Found in France with their hallmark for 18k gold and a goldsmith stamp.
Antique box not included. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures
SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:
It is currently a size 6 3/4. It is 6.8mm tall off the finger with the high crown of the diamond. It weighs a sturdy 5.1g.
I do not remove my stones from their antique settings for exact measurements but the diamond measures about 6.5mm and calculates to about 1.24 carat estimated. This is also stated on the jeweler's certificate which shows photos of the stone and its weight, which aligns with my measurements. It was not evaluated for anything else.
CONDITION NOTES:
As mentioned previously this antique diamond is eye visibly included. We can see two carbon spot inclusions, one within some crystals, which reflect around due to the "Kozibe effect". This along with the cloud inclusion giving it its white glow. This is not the stone for those relying heavily on the "Four C's" and seeking crystal clear antique stones. This one is more for the one of a kind seeker, for a lover of the perfectly imperfect. : ) Sturdy setting, the prongs are excellent. The stone is in great condition with no chips or nicks. There are no dark spots to the gold, the shank can just sometimes reflect its surroundings.
I enjoy making my customers happy and matching unique pieces with new homes. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions! It means a lot to me that you are visiting my shop! : )
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 : )
All items hand picked by me, one at a time from all over the world. All listings individually written by me, and not AI, after studying each piece to discuss its beauties and its ; ) eccentricities (which I am picky to point out).
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 for machine cut stones.) It is difficult to judge antique stones against modern day diamonds with their grading system evaluating their mathematically perfected proportions using methods and standards that didn’t exist for hand cut old cut diamonds. No two old cuts are the same as they were crafted in times lacking those modern standards. The diamond cutters of the time were experts at hand cutting each stone to enhance it which means that even lower color grades can be cut to appear whiter. (Although it is also worth noting that many antique collectors prefer and seek out antique diamonds with warmer hues.)
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 stated: “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. : ). I always study each diamond in detail under strong magnification so I describe everything that I see, which can be compared against the 4 C's scale if desired.
Box#M.1@2#
