ABOUT:
If you follow me, you know I love the cluster rings with the "crusty" texture of the chunky old mine cuts with high crowns. This is a fun one to wear - comfortable but very impactful with 2.75 carats of old mine cuts in various sizes completely encrusting the domed ring face which presents as an east west oval. Really wonderful texture, with the chunky cuts popping out of the geometric face and giving it a true cobblestone look - fun to view from the side! The 32 diamonds are all set with numerous platinum bead prongs which adds to that texture.
Several of the old cut diamonds have crown facets that are long and triangular scissor cuts with really high crowns. (Mine cuts typically have three rows of facets to the crown whereas many of these have the single row of long facets). Some of them are also more square to rectangular so there are Peruzzi like tendencies to some of these. Extra chunky with that great antique sparkle. Perhaps a combination of a French cut / Old Mine Cut ? as diamond cutters at the time used their personal knowledge, taste and expertise to enhance each diamond. The smaller ones that are cut in this way have that great hand chiseled look where they are almost as deep as they are wide. It is always fun to find uniquely cut antique diamonds!
Crafted in 18k white gold with UK hallmarks for London, date 1981. This could be a case where an older piece was re-hallmarked at a later date than production, in order to be sold in the second hand market as legally required. But it is also possible that they took antique diamonds from another piece and created a later retro vintage setting for them. Whatever it is, it's fabulous!
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: 7 1/2
Weight: 6.75g
Ring face north south and east west measurement: 14mm
Height off the finger: 4.8mm
The largest two center diamonds measure 4.5 by 4.7mm cushion cut, with the eight in the halo around those measuring 3.7mm (one is slightly smaller).
The halo of twenty two diamonds on the outside edge halo are each about 1.7 to 2.2mm. All for a total carat weight of around 2 3/4 carats (2.75ctw). This is an estimation as I would not remove the stones from the setting for exact measurements and their depths all vary with inability to view the girdles of the stones while they are set.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
Typical for old mine cuts, there are slightly varying hues between the stones, four of the larger stones reading with a lovely warmth and one moving into the pale yellow color spectrum (love that one!). These things being the most visible due to the larger size of those stones. This is can be expected, partly because most of the rough diamonds at that time came from mines that produced warmer-colored diamonds. (For many collectors including myself, the varying warm colors of old cut diamonds actually add to their appeal!) There is some warmth to some of the outlining diamonds but some of what is seen is due to some stubborn buildup behind the stones which could be remedied with a bit more time and gentle soaking. The small openings behind can be hard to reach and I don't like to overly clean my pieces with so many stones. The prongs actually look quite good on this setting and none of the stones move.
Two stones have indented natural inclusions that are only very slightly eye visible. The other stones also have some natural inclusions - two with some brown crystal shard looking inclusions within the stones that you can seek out with the eyes. The rest being just smaller, some crystal and needle inclusions that are very slightly eye visible. No large carbon / ink spots and nothing glaring.
As the jewelers of the time used whatever stones they had available to them, there are varying hues. Of course this was long before the millions of modern machine cut diamonds that are produced each year now which is what makes it special. : )
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 : ). I took several videos so feel free to request more!
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