ABOUT:
A special favorite being released from my personal collection. This French antique Edwardian era (c1900) ring features a toi et moi setting displaying two Gorgeous old cut pear stones: a natural cornflower blue unheated Ceylon sapphire and a fiery and bright white old mine cut diamond. The diamond alone measures around 3/4 carat (0.75 carat) with the sapphire just slightly larger. The stones really stand out as special, the amazing color and reflectivity of the sapphire, and the quality of the antique diamond, cut long before the Four C's was invented for modern stones, machine cut by the millions of carats each year.
This fabulous ring is crafted in 18k gold and topped in platinum with additional old mine cuts set into the top half of the band at each shoulder for extra texture and sparkle.
Everything about this piece is "mwah" (chef's kiss). The exceptional color to the natural sapphire, the fire to the chunky old mine cut, their open culets with both stones being old cut. I love how the sapphire is set in an ornate 18k yellow gold setting for contrast while the diamonds are set in platinum - all very typical for the period. Also fun to find the headlining stones in pear shapes compared to the more commonly seen round and cushion shaped old cuts.
I don't usually include paperwork with my rings because they are all one of a kind and modern jewelers' opinions and knowledge can vary when it comes to antiques. But when I purchased this one, I was given a paper (with watermark) from the Laboratoire Gemmologique de Paris stating the sapphire on the ring was non heated, origin Sri Lanka so I will of course include that for the buyer.
The tradition of giving toi et moi rings to represent the love between two people dates back centuries, but the style was brought to the attention of a wider audience when Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to Joséphine de Beauharnais with one. Other famous rings include the toi et moi given to Jacqueline Onassis by John F Kennedy in 1953, but the popularity of this two-part style of ring was at its peak during the Edwardian and Belle Époque periods. This ring is actually a nod in some ways to the original Napoleon ring in that it also held a pear shaped sapphire and old cut diamond (but in an older setting style).
It remains quite popular and oh so romantic today, however all the lovely single ladies out there should not be put off! : ) This timeless design can be worn as a self gift as well, just for the joy of the design, color and sparkle, or to think of ones' parents, kids, siblings, or even "me and myself!" : )
Hallmarked with the French stamps for 18k gold and platinum. There is also an old serial number engraved into the vertical edge at one shoulder of the ring.
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: 8
Weight: 3.45 grams
Ring face north south measurement: 16.5mm
Height off the finger: 5.7mm
The diamond measures about 7 by 5.6mm and is a nice and chunky cut, it is around 3/4 carat alone. The sapphire is slightly larger at 7.2 by 6.2mm. The five diamonds at each shoulders start at 3mm for the largest / closest to center, tapering down to 1.2mm, adding another third of a carat (0.33) so total carat weight just in diamonds is over one full carat. (Carat weight is always an estimation as I would not remove the stones from the setting for exact measurements.)
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
The platinum prongs closest to the center on one side of the diamond, along with the set of prongs on one edge of the sapphire are quite worn back as expected for an authentic antique piece of this age. Both stones are still held securely by the other prongs on the other three sides of each stone but this is something to keep an eye on over time.
The pointed tips of the shank coming to the center under the stones are a bit off center from eachother, with a slightly larger gap on one side compared to the other. There was a repair here that was neatly done, smoothed in the back inside the ring face, but one side comes to a point where the other appears as a platinum bead prong. This is not overly apparent or glaring, the piece is still beautiful, but you would notice it if you are looking for it so that is something to seek out in the photos. (Feel free to refer to my website which includes a lot more photos than the 10 allowed here.). I did keep this in mind when pricing the piece.
Both stones have natural inclusions and signs of their age. The sapphire has some small nicks / nibbles and abrasions around the crown facets that can be seen when you catch the surface in a reflection of light. There is also a tiny chip to the outside edge of the girdle where some of the natural inclusions are. The chip is not visible but the inclusions can catch the light and reflect from within the stone. The diamond has a crystal fleck inclusion that is very slightly eye visible and a needle inclusion that is not eye visible. It has a better than most bright white color and fire compared to many old mine cuts that were produced from mines that produced warmer stones back then and were of course in much more limited supply. The diamond has one small chip to the inside girdle edge. I cannot see it with my eyes which are in their forties : ) but it might be detectable if you are looking for it.
Being picky as always with everything I see under magnification so there are no surprises. Please also note that I take some photos / videos in the sunshine because it captures the lovely color and sparkle, but it also highlights any surface wear, scratches, abrasions, buildup or inclusions that can catch the light, making these things appear worse than they would with normal day to day 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 : )
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).
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