ABOUT:
I love this French antique piece. Of course what struck me first were the chunky old mine cut diamonds in the navette / marquise shape - totaling 1 1/4 carats - so it is a significant piece and I love the oval old mine cut at the center.
My original plan was to convert this to a diamond cluster pendant. But when I received it, I realized with the form it is in currently as a brooch, it could be converted multiple ways:
You could remove the pin back only, keeping the marquise gold frame and add loops to wear as a necklace east to west.
You could do the same as above but add one loop and wear it north to south.
You could also remove the gold pin and the flared marquise gold frame and just add a loop to the back of the navette cluster to wear as a striking diamond only cluster drop pendant.
Or you could have the diamond cluster element alone created into a ring.
The piece has a lot of options and is wearable as is too, so I thought I'd leave it to the buyer to make their own plans and designs for it in the way they like best. The pin back is super secure with a trombone clasp.
Partial French hallmark on the post for 18k gold. The piece is entirely 18k gold except for the diamonds and their prongs which are in a white precious metal - I believe platinum.
Any chains, props not included but meant to show options. Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos..
MEASUREMENTS:
The brooch is 56mm end to end. The marquise cluster of diamonds it 22x10mm and about 5.5mm deep as the three center stone are raised about the others to give the piece depth.
Exact depth and thereby carat weight of each diamond is unknown as I would not remove them from the setting but estimated total carat weight is 1.25 Ctw.
The center oval diamond is about 5 mm x 3.5 mm with a nice and chunky cut measuring almost .3 carat. The other two diamonds that are raised in the center flanking the oval are a little over 2 mm each. The ten diamonds in the halo of the lower tier measure about 2.7mm each give or take.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
For the picture when the piece is hung north south on a chain, it would likely need to have the pin back nipped off to be worn in this way, as it causes it to teeter on the decollette and not lie flat.
Typical antique diamonds, the center has a slightly warm hue, and a slighter warmth to one of two of the outside diamonds as well. Also typical for antique stones they have some small natural inclusions. The center stone has a few slightly eye visible carbon specks. The outside halo also has some icy or frosty spots but less visible being smaller stones. No eye visible damage and I don't see anything under magnification except for a frosty facet from how one stone was cut and one other frosty spot that is the result of an inclusion.
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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