ABOUT:
Honeycomb geometry! I love the setting of this fabulous French antique natural diamond two stone ring. It features two eye clean old mine cut diamonds totaling around 3.3 carats in a stackable and striking platinum setting.
Really a gorgeous showstopper with special stones in their clarity, brightness and better than most fire to the two old mine cuts. They are beautifully featured in the unique toi et moi setting. The ring face has a nice bit of height to it with the open work Edwardian setting propping up the two stones to let the light pass through. Face on, the diamonds appear equal in size, but turning the ring to the side reveals that one is extra chunky with deep pavilion and lofty crown, while the other is more spready.
Found in Paris, I wish I knew its story. After studying them and detecting the variances between stones (even though they face up the same in the setting), I can't help but wonder if they were heirloom stones reset in antiquity? Or perhaps it was a case of the jeweler using what was available to them, with the hand cut stones in much more limited supply back then, choosing two that appear identical in the setting by diameter. I was delighted to see how beautifully it stacks with a band as shown in pictures, which is how I will be wearing it until it sells : )
The tradition of giving toi et moi rings to represent the love between two people dates back centuries, but the style was brought to the attention of a wider audience when Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to Joséphine de Beauharnais with one. Other famous rings include the toi et moi given to Jacqueline Onassis by John F Kennedy in 1953, but the popularity of this two-part style of ring was at its peak during the Edwardian and Belle Époque periods. It remains quite popular and oh so romantic today.
This would be an awesome engagement ring. But it is a timeless design that can be worn as a self gift as well, just for the joy of the geometric design, or to think of ones' parents, two kids, two siblings, me and myself ; ) etc.
Sturdy shank and setting. French hallmark for platinum and a goldsmith stamp. The platinum stamp is partial / worn but I've seen it thousands of times so it is recognizable.
Adding to its desirability, the prongs are in excellent shape which we love to find on antiques, making this beauty ready for regular wear. Very fun to wear this one, what is in my mind a quite substantial and eye catching piece.
Antique box is not included. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures.
MEASUREMENTS:
Size: 6 1/2
Weight: a sturdy 7.15 grams
Ring face north south: 9.3mm
And east west measurement: 17.4mm
Height off finger: 5-6mm, depending on which diamond crown you measure : ).
One diamond is almost 2 carats alone as it is a chunky and very deep cut measuring about 7.7mm. The other is about 7.5mm (appearing the same size to the eye in the setting) with a wider girdle that isn't as deep a cut and is a bit more "spready", measuring 1.3 carat.
Estimated total carat weight around 3.3 carats. I do not remove stones from their settings for exact measurements so this is an estimate.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
My items do very well without paperwork so I have not sent the stones for certification but always provide as much detail as possible with measurements, condition notes and many extra photos (see website) to capture it true to life in various lighting conditions, which can be translated to grading scales if desired. Many antique collectors don't prefer to grade antique diamonds with the Four C's grading scale which came about way later for machine cut diamonds with mathematically perfected facets. The scale does not do antique stones justice as they were expertly hand cut in a much more limited supply compared to the millions of carats of machine cut diamonds made each year now. Their uniqueness and quirks are expected and part of their charm. But as someone who looks at antique diamonds all day, these are quite special in terms of clarity and fire. The slightest warmth that is displayed is lessened by the way they were expertly hand cut to face up brighter.
When really studying the ring, one can detect the differences between the two cuts. Which again is part of their charm as no two hand cut stones are ever exactly alike, with the experts of the time using their knowledge and skill to bring out each individual's best characteristics. The smaller one has a larger culet and a larger girdle, frosted as expected for the time (which we want to see or we would suspect it is a reproduction) which can sometimes reflect around the stone - you may notice this in the photos so I wanted to point out that it is not an inclusion but just the way the stone was cut. The two stones are over all very well matching, but can reflect the light differently upon further, again mostly seen under closer inspection. The spreadier stone has a needle inclusion and a few tiny specks which are not eye visible. The other, chunkier stone has one tiny carbon speck visible only under magnification. For antique stones they are especially fiery and higher in clarity than we typically see.
Each stone has one tiny flea bitten facet point, seen only under strong magnification, which may have occurred in the cutting or as a natural characteristic of the stones. There are no chips or cracks or damage to either stone. They are quite exceptional. I'm amazed by it now as I wear it in low light how glittery and bright it still is.
The bead prongs are in good shape making this interesting beauty ready for wear.
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 : )
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