DRAGONFLY Big French Antique Victorian Figural Pin Pendant 1 Carat Rose Old Mine Cut DIAMOND Ruby 18k Gold Silver Figural

ABOUT:

Oh those clever Victorians and their wonderful, whimsical figural jewelry! Thank heavens for them!
Here we have a fabulous and nice sized (1.4 inch) dragonfly brooch, already wearable as a pendant, that is encrusted with about a carat's worth of chunky old mine and rose cut diamonds in an open back setting. Highly Collectible! It has a center natural ruby and two little ruby eyes as a nice accent against the 29 diamonds.

Special fabrication - Beautiful movement with the pin back set asymmetrical so that it perches at a slight angle when worn. When I attached my chain to it to wear it as a pendant, it beautifully dangles and hangs at an angle there as well. There is actually a bar of gold support behind each wing that can easily be clipped to or attach a jump ring to wear as a pendant, but it could also be permanently converted with the pin parts removed completely and a loop easily added by your local jeweler so that it sits whichever way the buyer would like. Selling it as a brooch/ pendant in case someone prefers it that way. The pin parts could even be nipped off at home.

It has the most beautiful movement with slight curves to the wings and the body. Found in France, with their hallmarks for 18k gold on the pin post and the catch. While it appears dark in the photos, the back is entirely 18k gold with the tops / stone settings in silver. The legs and head are also gold with dark patina. This could be polished if desired to appear more gold but it has a great antique look and most of my buyers prefer original patina. The gold is a beautiful rosy hue amidst the darkened areas. The dark silver tops really make the white diamonds pop.

The Victorians were fascinated with nature and also with jewelry, and we see some wonderful designs come from the period incorporating both of these delights. As the figural pieces of the Victorian era often held a symbolism, the dragonfly was thought to new beginnings, change, transformation, but also renewal.

For me, it gives me great memories about these gentle creatures - taking me back to when I was a girl, floating in the lake at my grandparents primitive Wisconsin cottage. The dragonflies would come by for a rest, perching on knees and toes and shoulders, gentle as can be. And we also liked seeing them around as they are predators of pesky biting horseflies and mosquitoes (any other Midwesterners out there that hear me on this? : )

Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures. Some of my buyers "draw out" an example to get an idea of scale in person.

Antique Boxes, props, chains, bannisters, mice : ) not included.

MEASUREMENTS:

32mm x 36mm x 6.5mm deep at the wings not including the pin back. It weighs 5.6g.

The largest diamonds are on the tail measuring 2 to 2.5mm each with the one smallest one at the end at 1.5mm. The rose cuts on the wings are 1 to 2mm. The rose cuts do have flat bottoms as expected but many times during this period they were cut quite thin like discs whereas these have a bit of a dome giving the piece a sparkly texture. I would never remove them for exact measurements but estimating at least a carat total weight in diamonds since there are so many of them.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

There is one rose cut in the center of the tail amidst the other old mine cuts. I don't know if that was intentional or a replacement?

The old mine cuts are a nice bright white. Typical antique diamonds with faint natural inclusions, and for the rose cuts only - some nicks or a tiny frosty / unpolished area here and there to the old cut stones. Again, mostly seen under magnification since they are small diamonds. These are the old, quite rough hand cut stones that may have always been this way, they provide a beautiful untamed sparkle and that great antique look but definitely have some jagged edges and a few warm hues to the ones on the body due to age to the closed back.

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 : )

Striking to wear with the figural shape.

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