ABOUT:
Gah! The delicious color of these garnets! I love these old pieces that have the juicy berry coloring. This chain is set with chunky cut garnets all the way around with a center dangling line culminating in the larger more elongated cushion cut garnet at front and center.
This was sold to me as being from the Victorian period and it certainly has the look of it with the dainty loops on each end and the varying cuts and shapes to the garnets. The clasp appears later so I believe it is a replacement. The piece tests at 10k and the clasp is stamped 9CT for 9k gold.
The colors of the stones vary slightly which I love to find on pieces with natural stones, as it is another indicator of age and the use of natural stones when they aren't all perfectly match matchy like a piece with synthetic stones of is. Most are a purplish color, with some a lighter pink and a few others a dusty rose hue. This is most noticeable when I study the piece under lit magnification. They appear well matching while worn as the piece moves around and reflects the light.
Gorgeous piece to add color to a stack and can be dressed up or down.
MEASUREMENTS:
It weighs 12.2 grams. It is 15 1/4 inches long end to end. It dangles a little over 1 1/2 inch at the center from the top of the top stone to the bottom of the largest stone. The largest garnet at center is about 10x8.5mm and about 5.7mm deep so it's over 2.5 carats alone. The others are 6 to 8mm in length, often more narrow than they are long, in wonderful varying shapes and slightly varying sizes.
With the non-uniform shapes, varying depths, softened cushion cuts, etc. it is not possible to get a carat weight without removing the stones and putting them on a scale which I would never do. But just using the most conservative measurements comparing it to a millimeter to carat chart it has the appearance of over 20 carats.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
Note that because of the chunky cut of the stones, it does not lie perfectly flat. It wears beautifully but with the large pavilions to the stones behind, they can shift and move to catch the light - so beautiful the way the richly hued stones actually still sparkle. These rivieres often roll so this is expected fabrication especially considering the chunky cuts, that it not always going to like perfect. To be honest, it could also be worn flipped with the chunky pavilions facing outward, which would allow the flatter tops to lie flatter against the decollette, it would likely still roll when moving around though. Each stone just has a thin gold bezel surrounding it so it wears so beautifully rolling around in a neckmess.
Varying shapes to the stones, most very chunky cut, some more cushioned pear in shape, others more oblong, others more rectangular. Some natural inclusions including some crystal specks that can catch the light.
Some patina to the old gold, especially between the links.
Some surface wear with small nibbles and nicks due to some of those chunky cuts coming into contact with surfaces, and a few small notches to a table of a stone here or there - but overall a nice sheen and polish and the most wonderful color. Love this one!
Please also note that I take some photos / videos in the sunshine because it captures the lovely color and movement, but it does appear darker in color with normal day to day wear in ambient light and the direct sunshine can highlight the nibbles and inclusions more than with normal wear. : ) Hopefully the pics in all lightning conditions help as they serve as part of the description.
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 : )
My disclaimer with all my pieces - Please note due to age, this piece is not in mint condition.
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SOCIAL:
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