ANTIQUE 1.7 Carat 13 Old Mine Cut DIAMOND Daisy Cluster Ring 18k Gold Belle Epoque

ABOUT:

Of all the ring requests I receive, the old mine cut cluster is the one in highest demand. And this is quite a fine one with the center diamond being especially exceptional measuring around .7 carat alone, and eye clean and bright white with a noticeable fire - really very fine for the period. The piece in total holds 13 old mine cuts totaling around 1.7 carats total weight in diamonds. Amazing glitter factor with a large footprint the finger for that chunky antique sparkle. I've had several through the years but this one is uncommon with the larger center diamond, we often see them more uniform in size. Raised details at each shoulder are set with a smaller old mine cut for an additional glint. A timeless classic with exceptional sparkle factor.

There is an old font serial number stamped inside one shoulder. No gold 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. It has a rosy gold hue with knife edge shank. Please see the important notes about the shank below.

Antique box in photos is not included. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures. Feel free to also request more photos or video as I have many besides those allowed here.

SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:

A generous Size 6 but does not reach 6 1/3. Weight is 3.7 grams. The ring face is 13x12mm and 5.6mm off the finger.

The center diamond is raised in prongs and is the largest at about 5.5mm and almost 0.7 carat alone. The rest in the halo around 2.5mm give or take. The diamonds at each shoulder are about 2mm. I would not remove them for exact measurements but just using estimates it is around 1.7 carats total weight in diamonds.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

The shank is thin as can be at the back. The shoulders are still good but the back 1/3 of the shank is very heavily worn away. The piece was clearly worn and loved but amazing to see that only the gold has worn with no damage to the diamonds. But the gold is so thin at the back. It is blunt on the thin edges when you run your finger across it and it appears if it were to be pinched, it would bend or break. It is actually still wearable, and everyone wears their rings differently with some rougher on their hands than others, but please look for that in photos. I do not have the goldsmith knowledge to advise about reinforcing it, and opinions vary greatly with modern jewelers working on antique piece so it is best for the buyer to ask locally with the person doing the work. To get an idea of cost to add gold, reinforce or re-shank the back section, and their ability to match the rosy antique patina. But again it is still wearable and the diamonds are really the star here.

Many more pics of it can be found on my website!

I love antique diamonds, even those with inclusions or hues typical for the time, because some of those were still among the best available in the market during that period, and were expertly cut by hand to enhance their best characteristics. So I don’t often like to compare antique stones against modern grading standards - BUT the center diamond, for an old stone has particularly lovely fire reflecting a noticeable flash with the other colors of the rainbow. It is eye clean, bright white and zero damage. It was actually quite noticeable, especially while trying to photograph it. So even though the ring was made long before the 4 C's existed, it sparkles really beautifully. I'm amazed by it now as I wear it in low light how glittery and bright it still is.

A few of the outlining diamonds display a slight warmth, more in comparison to the exceptional center stone than it would be if viewed alone. They are also mostly eye clean with just a few with small speck inclusions seen only under magnification. One of the smaller shoulder diamonds has more frosty inclusions but again still mostly seen under magnification. No dark carbon spots, no glaring damage.

A worn prong here or there typical for age. Four of the outside prongs are completely worn back but the stones are still held at the other corners. None of the stones move but something to keep an eye on over time. This one needs gentle wear anyway due to the shank. Most of my buyers prefer occasional wear and original condition but reinforcement is always possibly by your local jeweler. The center stone is completely secure and encased on all sides by long prongs.

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 : )

I enjoy making my customers happy and matching unique pieces with new homes. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions! It means a lot to me that you are visiting my shop! : )

SOCIAL:
Please feel free watch @mouseshouseantiques on Instagram for inventory drops, sneak peaks and previews! And check out my website www.MousesHouseAntiques.com

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 each stone to enhance it which means that even lower color grades can be cut to appear whiter. (Although it is also worth noting that many antique collectors prefer and seek out antique diamonds with warmer hues.)

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.”

Box# Mcc.42#