ABOUT:
I love everything about this ring - particularly the unique eccentricities of the eye catching and spready antique diamond that looks like a 4 carat diamond solitaire. This French antique ring from the turn of the century / c1900 features a beautiful warm antique old European cut diamond that measures around 2 1/2 carats. This antique diamond was cut to be quite "spready" with a shallower table and pavilion but large face up measurements, giving it the appearance of a nearly 4 carat modern stone in terms of diameter size. I believe it was an engagement / wedding set that has been permanently connected and it actually stacks beautifully with other bands as well. Low profile, it rests close against the finger.
The diamond has the most fabulous hue and "aura" to it. Warm in color, the stone can read pale yellow to light brown in sunlight and then a warm gray in ambient light. While it still shoots rainbows out around it, the sparkle is more muted and has a real uniqueness that I, as an antique diamond enthusiast, love to find. The stone flares out at the top so the base of the rose gold setting is narrower than the crown of the diamond. As a result, when you look into the stone, especially in sunlight, the rose gold at the base of the stone reflects through the diamond adding gorgeous almost peachy champagne hues. It seems to change in color from room to room making it so interesting to wear. And with such a sizable stone, even the pavilion / underside facets can catch the light in sunshine and sparkle from within the stone (more often the flashes of sparkle we see on diamonds are from crown facets).
The "aura" I mention is the result of a faint translucent cloud inclusion that covers the majority of the stone. While the ring is free of carbon, silk, crystal and speck inclusions to the eye, it would grade poorly on a modern Four C's scale due to that faint cloud inclusion - this is an example of how the modern scale does not do antique stones justice. While all points of view and preferences are valid, this is not the ring for diamond lovers who like their stones bright white and perfectly clear, as those grades for machine cut diamonds with mathematically perfected facets do not very well apply to special hand cut antique stones where no two are ever alike. But for an antique diamond enthusiast who enjoys the one of a kind characteristics that each old cut stone can offer - well to me, it is a delight! This is certainly a one of a kind piece with such a charm the way the stone reflects the light.
I also adore the setting. Crafted in 18k rosy gold with French hallmark on the outside and an antique stamp I could no decipher on the inside (it might be an old 18k? stamp that has muddled). The unobtrusive prongs hold the diamond on all sides leading to triple banded shoulders. The gold reads rosier with its antique patina and has a lovely buttery glow from within. I believe it was a wedding set the way the prong set diamond seems to nest within the outside portions of the triple shank. But it has been permanently connected and smoothed over now, appearing as one single piece. I wish I knew the stories the piece could tell!
Antique box is not included. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures.
MEASUREMENTS:
Size: 6, a little over but does not reach 6 1/4.
Weight: 4.95g
Ring face measurement: 11mm north south
Height off the finger: 5mm
The diamond is about 10mm in diameter with the appearance of a nearly 4 carat stone. However, this antique stone has a spready cut with shallow table and pavilion so while it appears larger, it measures 2 1/2 carats.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
There are some variances in hues to the gold inside the ring face. Some uneven areas as well, I believe from when the engagement solitaire was connected to the wedding wrap to make it one piece.
When I acquired it there were burrs on the inside, quite sharp against the finger which I had my jeweler smooth out to make it comfortable to wear but without polishing it. I am not sure what could have caused this as they were quite sharp, and the vertical edges of the shank do show some deep scratches and nicks. This could be polished up if desired but I always prefer original patina so I decided to sell it as is, as it was not bothersome to me and I did not want to make the old beauty look "like new." But everyone has their own preferences so cleaning those areas up with a buffing would be possible by your jeweler if desired.
As mentioned the stone is included with a faint cloud extending nearly the whole of the stone. This affects the way it reflects the light but also seems to add to its uniqueness, giving it that "aura". It has a more subtle way of reflecting the light in terms of fire, and yet as mentioned while photographing it, it was shooting reflections all over the wall so it does indeed sparkle in its unique, somewhat muted way. Just such an interesting stone.
Under strong magnification only there is a small needle inclusion against the girdle in one spot, two tiny nicks / specks, very faint natural inclusions. There are two very faint, smaller than a hair scratches to the surface and some rough edges / nibbles to the girdle in several spots especially. The girdles of these antique stones are expected to be rougher and frosted compared to modern diamonds that are machine polished and this is not eye visible as the diamond has held its shape well and appears complete in shape, it just appears a bit rough / uneven under magnification.
As mentioned above, though it would grade low on a modern clarity scale, the all over faint cloud is of course the contributing inclusion, as there are no dark carbon spots, silk, specks, eye visible crystals, frosty spots, etc which we typically see in old cut stones.
Antique diamonds such as these were in much smaller circulation compared to the millions of machine cut diamonds cut each year now. So when seen through the lens of the "Four C's" scale, invented much later, many modern diamond enthusiasts won't "get it" when it comes to this one. But to me - it's perfect! A very special, only one of its kind piece. This is one I personally would love to keep and wear forever as I know I'll not find another like it.
There is evidence of a sizing to the back where the gold is a slightly different hue. A worn prong here or there but there is enough remaining on all sides to hold the diamond securely. The prongs to feel a bit blunt and can sometimes catch fluff from fabric but that is just how the piece was made.
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:
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