ABOUT:
This is a sort of combination oval cluster / navette as the north and south tips are just barely pointed. A nice and chunky one, small in size but chunky in carat weight respectively. This one totals over 2 carats of chunky old mine cuts!
This beautiful old mine cut diamond ring is crafted in buttery French antique 18k gold topped in platinum. It is set with 17 chunky old mine cut diamonds cropping out of the cobblestone ring face and one of which is inset on each shoulder. It even has four little old single cut diamond spacers / gemset prongs nested between the larger stones to give it that overall cobblestone look - always fun to find antiques crafted in this way. It adds to the wonderful texture. Lovely to view from the side to note the high crown cropping out of the ring face. Note the small size, it's a fabulous pinky ring. I can see some of the diamonds look a bit yellow - this is build up behind the stones and not a good indicator of the piece. Apologies! I will give it a better cleaning and try to update pics as soon as sunshine allows : )
Found in Paris with their hallmarks for 18k gold and platinum.
Antique box / props not included. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures.
SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:
Size 3. Prongs are a bit worn but overall good shape with no stones moving so you might discuss sizing with your local jeweler to find out to what extent they would be comfortable sizing. If it was a larger finger size to fit more bodies (since we all come in wonderfully different shapes and sizes), I would have priced it higher due to the over 2 carats of chunky old mine cuts.
It weighs 4.1g. The ring face is 18x10mm.
We would never remove the stones to get exact measurements, but estimates to a total carat weight of at least 2 carats. The largest center diamond is a little over 4mm, flanked by two at 3.7mm. The other stones in the halo are 2.7 to 3.2mm each, many with high crowns and the old mines of course are chunkier cuts. The smallest stones, one at each shoulder are about 2.5mm.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
All my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition. A worn prong here or there but all stones are well surrounded and do not move. One of the end stones has a flake of loss hidden against one of the prongs and another has an indented natural inclusion leading up to the surface leaving a small crease but these things are really seen under magnification only. Typical for antique diamonds, some faint natural inclusions. Some of the stones are eye clean and some with an icy spot or frosty specks. No dark carbon spots so nothing glaring. Also typical for antique diamonds, they have a slightly varying faintest gray hue. Some of this is due to the large tables and culets, the chunky crowns causing them to reflect the light differently. This one had quite a lot of buildup when I got it and I spent a lot of time cleaning it but as I study it now, I still see a lot of buildup remains, some behind a few of the stones lending a temporary warmth but I will give it another soak and cleaning before sending. Lovely texture and sparkle. Awesome piece to wear, I love it.
But Due to age - please note this is not a mint condition item.
Thanks so much for looking at my items!
Expedited Shipping with Insurance and signature upon delivery will be at my cost.
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 each stone to enhance it 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 the individual beauty or sparkle of an antique diamond. Antique diamonds are judged more on the individual character and uniqueness that each one potentially offers.”
Often there are variations of diamonds in the same piece as the goldsmiths created pieces with the stones they had available to them.
Fun facts!
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 : )
All items hand picked by me, one at a time from all over the world. All listings individually written by me, and not AI, after studying each piece to discuss its beauties and its ; ) eccentricities (which I am picky to point out).
Many of my listings include group shots – I find the comparisons between pieces help show scale, diamond hues, etc. All items in group shots are inventory, but refer to the website to see what items have sold out and to watch for new listings from the grouping to appear on the home page.
Box#oc.$52
