ABOUT:
These antique parts and findings are becoming more and more popular as people build their neckmess with connectors and extenders.
This Georgian era antique clasp can be used to fasten a chain by connecting the chain to each side. It can then be worn as a decorative element in the front or can also be worn in the back.
This one can also be worn as an oval north south with just one loop added to a chain so that it hangs down, since the clasp tongue is nested inside. Nice versatile piece to wear in several ways.
Found in France, it has their hallmark for 9k gold and silver on the arm that originally likely held a safety chain. The back is gold washed in 9k so as to avoid tarnish from the silver contacting the skin. The diamonds are set in silver collets as was customary to set diamonds in a white metal. The little hallmarked arm element could be removed or a chain could be added to make it a safety chain again, with the other end attached to the chain, I left it on so that the original hallmarks would remain. The clasp seems to have been repaired and has a few curves to the tongue insert but clips and clicks into place and holds securely. The clasp test at 14k gold.
Striking color and fabulous sparkle to this antique gemset clasp. The marquise shape is set with three larger rose cuts in the center, surrounded by an oval of 16 smaller diamonds. Many of the diamonds display a gorgeous peach to champagne to light brown hue, some of this from hues to the stones but also from age to the foil back. Wonderful moody sparkle with an interesting coloring.
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, mice : ) not included. I just laid it over my staging chain to show examples of how to wear.
MEASUREMENTS:
Weight is a sturdy 4.4 grams, it measures 26mm to the attached loop x15mm. The largest three diamonds measure 5mm and two at 4.5mm. The others in the halo measure 2.5mm give or take.
This is just measuring the exposed parts of the stones, which widen out an unknown amount in the collets which curve around the outside edges of all the stones. So exact carat weight is impossible to know without removing then which I would not do.
Like most rose cuts they have a lower comparative carat weight than a modern diamond but the surface area gives it the appearance of a larger carat stone. Rose cut diamonds are typically quite spready. But if you were to compare the diameters to brilliant cut diamonds, this piece has the appearance of 1.8 carat total weight in diamonds face up.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
Patina to the silver and a little bit of build up. With the closed back settings we aren't able to get these wet so I just gave it a wipe. A little more detailed polishing or cleaning could be done carefully with a damp cloth. Varying hues to the diamonds, some a gorgeous peach color, others champagne, and others a darker gray. Typical antique diamonds with frosty flakes of loss, natural inclusions, rough edges. Some of this may have always been this way, having been hand cut in the mines when stones were in a much more limited supply. They tend to always look this way on pieces of this age. But you should be able to see this in the zoom photos which makes the stones look much worse than with normal wear. Still a sturdy piece - Ready to wear and be used for another 100 years! Note the small loops on each side, a larger jump ring may need to be added depending on how you plan to wear it if connecting to a chain, etc.
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 : )
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SOCIAL:
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