DRAGON Rare One of a Kind Antique Figural 130+ Rose Cut Diamond BANGLE Bracelet French Victorian 18k Gold Silver Chimera Phoenix

ABOUT:

This is my Most Favorite antique bracelet I have ever had!
I look at thousands of pieces of antique jewelry every day and I have never seen another like it. This has been in my personal collection and is certainly one of the stars of it, but it's not a good time for me to keep all the best stuff so I'm potentially letting it go to a new home.

This French antique piece is crafted in 18k gold with a chevron shaped top to the bangle, which is set with the applied silver topped and completely diamond encrusted dragon. Or perhaps it is a chimera (a very popular motif that the French used during this period) or some have said it looks like a phoenix to them as well.

It appears to be a custom piece, certainly hand made, assembled in antiquity, not a recent conversion. The back of the dragon and the beak are in a contrasting gold, slightly rosier than the bangle, where the top of dragon is silver as was customary to set the diamonds in white metal.

This piece has the most amazing texture and glitter, with sooo many little rose cuts in custom sizes set into every single nook and cranny of the dragon detail. I lost count at 130 diamonds. Not a single tiny chip missing. The dragon drapes perfectly across the curved face of the bangle.

In my opinion, a museum worthy piece. Found in France with their hallmarks for 18k gold, the tongue insert is stamped 4 times with the 18k stamp overlapping a goldsmith stamp and an additional control mark found on older pieces.

Any props or additional items not included. Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos.

MEASUREMENTS:

Nice sized dragon measuring 25mm north south and 48mm east west.

It's always so difficult to measure the exact inside circumference but it is around 6 1/2 inches, measured a few ways. I have a 5 1/2 inch wrist and it is a bit too large for me although I can wear it in a stack. It is not so large that it slips off my hand, I have to open it to get it off and on, but it is too large for me in that it spins around freely on my wrist so the diamonds can be spun to the underside. It would fit better on a larger wrist than mine where it is tight enough to keep the dragon facing up so when I slide it up to the 6 1/2 inch circumference area of my arm, it reaches a tighter fit.
The inside measurements measuring the cross sections (to compare with your bracelets at home or to draw it out for scale) are about 58mm by 50mm oval. The safety chain is a little over 2 1/2 inches long to expand it when open.

It weighs 17.2 grams.

The diamonds are small, 1 to 2mm each but so many of them.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

The push button clasp works perfectly and snaps very securely into place. The hinge is as sturdy as can be found and there is the additional safety chain as well although the clasp again is very sturdy alone. So condition and sturdiness is about as good as I've ever been able to find for a piece of this age. No deep dings or dents or ripples. Perfect age appropriate original patina in my opinion which most of us antique enthusiasts prefer, especially to the dragon and in the recesses but could always be polished up to the desired level. I would tend to leave the dragon alone though as rubbing the silver to brighten it up seems risky with all the tiny diamonds set into it.

Typical antique hand cut diamonds with some warm hues, plenty of frosty spots, rough cuts, irregular edges, natural inclusions but overall well matching and the awesome chunky sparkle that these antique diamonds display as they reflect the light differently. The little rose cuts from this period tend to always look this way so they likely always were like this, as the piece has no real evidence of any damage whatsoever. What else can I say - A rare and special one!

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 : )

Additional cost for insurance, expedited shipping and signature upon delivery will be covered by me.

Box#qm.*52