ABOUT:
Ever popular old mine cut diamond cluster ring - I can't seem to acquire enough of these! This one is a chunk and it is unique in that the stones are set in tiers, where three lines of three diamonds gracefully dome / curve atop the ring face. The center line holds the largest stones and is raised slightly above the adjacent tiers. The nine old mine cuts total around 2 1/4 carats total weight in antique diamonds.
Just a wonderful chunky glittery cluster crafted in 18k white gold. The stones have nice high crowns making it fun to view the piece from the side. This one will be in heavy rotation on my finger until it sells. Making the piece even better are the sturdy prongs which we love to see on antique pieces, making this beauty ready for daily wear. Unique old cut cluster for a versatile and impactful look.
No hallmarks remain which is common for French pieces as they are marked in the back and often lost during a sizing or from wear. But sold to me from a reputable source in France where the standard is 18k and tested to confirm.
Antique box not included. Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos.
SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:
The ring is a size 5 1/2. The piece weighs a sturdy 4.7 grams.
Exact carat weight is unknown as I would not remove the stones from the setting but it is estimated around 2 1/4 carats total weight in diamonds. The center stone is the largest at 4.2mm round with a deep cut that measures about .35 carat alone. The adjacent ones in the center row are also about 4.2mm and are a cushion cut. The east and west rows hold six diamonds that measure 3.5 to 4mm each. The nine diamonds total around 2 1/4 carats total weight in diamonds.
Stands 7.3mm off the finger, the ring face is 13.5mm by 13mm.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
All my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition. This one is ready for daily wear with nice, long prongs holding each stone securely. Two of the stones have one indented natural inclusion - one is a crease just outside the table and the other, a shallow notch along the outside edge facets. GIA defines this as a dent that occurs under the surface of a diamond as a result of the diamond cutter's decision not to polish it off, because doing so could end up harming the diamond so the cutters would work around it - this is not considered a defect or blemish but under magnification you can see the frosty / unpolished area. It is only very slightly eye visible if you study the surface in a reflection to see the texture difference. Typical antique diamonds with some other faint needle inclusions and one cloudy spot but these are not eye visible. Also typical for antique diamonds they have a very slight warmth but all match eachother well and none stand out as dingy. You should be able to detect this in the photos and videos as they are true to life with some taken in sunshine which enhances that warmth. I and many other antique jewelry collectors actually enjoy finding these unique characteristics in pieces from the period. You will also notice while wearing the piece, the diamonds can read gray - this is due to the stones being set at an angle so the center diamond is the only one viewed from the top down, the others are reflecting outward giving it that wonderful moody sparkle. No damage to any of the diamonds and the center stone and two others display a particularly strong kozibe effect. Timeless piece - I love this one.
Shank is very sturdy. But Due to age - please note this is not a mint condition item.
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 : )
A note about antique diamonds:
The whole "4 C's" of cut, color, clarity, carat didn't come about until the 1940s so prior to that and especially on antique pieces, there was not as much emphasis placed on those things. (Sure people probably appreciated a certain look of a certain diamond as it appeared to the eye but it was not a graded scale like we have today.)
So it is difficult to judge antique stones against modern day diamonds and their grading system. No two old cuts are the same as they were crafted in times lacking any modern standards. The diamond cutters of the time were experts at hand cutting these stones to enhance them, which means that even lower color grades can be cut to appear whiter. It is also interesting that "lower graded" diamonds in today's scale system, were some of the best on the market during this period!
So it is less about their grades and more about the unique play of light and color that each one can offer. I read one article that put it nicely: “When searching for the perfect old cut diamond (for you), you need to view them through different eyes as you would for a modern diamond, Laboratory grading reports don’t offer too much information in regards to their individual beauty or sparkle which are based more on their individual character and uniqueness that each one potentially offers.” Just an interesting comparison of antique vs. modern diamonds. : )
Thanks so much for looking at my items!
Expedited shipping with signature upon delivery will be at my cost.
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