ABOUT:
It is my exciting goal to have one of these in my personal collection some day - just so fun to wear out and about with the most amazing sparkle! Crafted in primarily platinum with an 18k white gold clasp and safety chain, this French early 1900s bracelet is set with around 9.75 carats of old European & old mine cut diamonds all the way around. They taper in size becoming larger towards the top / center of the bracelet with the square bezels increasing in size to match the stones. The diamonds being the star of the show, settle in nicely amidst the platinum, making this one wearable even in a yellow gold wrist stack where the diamonds can add the attention grabbing glitter effect. The push button clasp is gemset to hide itself within the line bracelet with the added safety chain for security.
The piece has a nice geometry with each diamond set in each square platinum bezel connected by wide straps to hinge to the next, allowing it to flex slightly to curve around the wrist. This also allows the piece to ripple and move so that the diamonds can catch the light. As an added design element, the vertical edges of the bracelet are hand engraved with linear wheat like details, popular for the period.
The bezels are also cleverly decorated with the engravings in that one of the center largest stones has two French stamps for platinum on the vertical edge. In order to mask this, they created an X pattern to the engraving of that bezel. And then to tie that in to the piece, they chose two others evenly spaced to add the additional X pattern to the engraving, so that the design appears intentional and not random, and does the job of blending the hallmarks. Quite wonderful, this little attention to detail!
Substantial enough to wear alone as well, measuring 6mm north south at the widest area of the top. It has a safety chain and side latch in addition to the push button clasp. Made for an average wrist, it is just under 7 1/4 inches around, not including the tongue insert of the clasp.
In addition to the aforementioned French hallmarks for platinum (difficult to decipher but I have seen it many times so it is recognizable if looking for it.). The insert of the clasp is a later repair / replacement done in 14k white gold and stamped as such. Note that only that small tongue insert of the clasp is 14k white gold, the rest of the piece in its entirety is platinum.
The bracelet comes as pictured in an antique box that is not original to the piece, but is collectible in its own right - this piece deserves appropriate housing / storage. I could not close the bracelet around the box form so I stored it inside unlatched.
Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos.
MEASUREMENTS:
Substantial enough to wear alone as well, measuring 6mm north south at the widest area of the top tapering to 4mm at the back. Made for an average wrist, it is just under 7 1/4 inches around, not including the tongue insert of the clasp. The safety chain allows the bracelet to open end to end as it has its own clasp that opens completely.
I have a 5.5 inch wrist and it is too large for me, so it would be better on a larger wrist than mine. It stands 3 to 3.7mm tall off the wrist depending on the crown height of the stones which varies. It weighs 24 grams.
The old cuts vary in length, width and depth. They start at 3.2mm (and around .14 carat each) tapering up to 5.6mm for the largest (and around .65 carat each). I would never remove them from the piece for an exact measurement, and again with the varying cuts and depths this is just an estimate, but I measured each stone under magnification coming to a total of around 9.75 carats total weight in antique diamonds.
The line of square bezels is about 6.4mm north to south at the top widest part of the bracelet and 4.2mm at the back. Depth off the wrist is 3 to 4mm with the engraved sides leading up to the diamonds.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
Clasp functions very well. The gemset part that holds the tongue insert and tension push button stands up and angles a bit compared to the rest of the piece but this is the fabrication of the clasp and is how it needed to be made to function.
Typical antique hand cut diamonds with some very slightly warm / varying hues here and there but overall well matching and the chunky sparkle that these antique diamonds display reflects the light differently so as to face up brighter. In various lighting and with normal wear it does not read "warm" in color. Again it is a mix of cuts so some diamonds have large culets and others very tiny ones seen under magnification only.
Also typical for antique stones, some have natural inclusions, most slightly eye visible inclusions, but some with a larger eye visible frosty crystal area where a crystal inclusion within reflects around the stone. or a larger silk eye visible inclusion. A few small smatterings of carbon but no large dark or inky spots that draw the eye. None of the diamonds are chipped or cracked with loss - they all fill the bezels and have retained their original shape. There are two or three stones seen under magnification where natural inclusions carrying up to the surface of the stone leave a small crease.
I always recommend gentler wear on my 100 year old pieces with multiple stones and bead prongs. Having said that, this one is not overly fragile and is in very nice condition for age.
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 : )
Additional cost for insurance, expedited shipping and signature upon delivery will be covered by me.
Box#@q.$%2
