THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT ~
Type: Ring
Materials: Diamond, Platinum, 18k Rose Gold
Size: 5 1/2, 2.15 Carat Tdw
Era: Victorian (1837-1901)
ABOUT:
Of all the ring requests I receive, the old mine cut cluster is the one in highest demand. And this one is my largest to date with 11 old mine cuts totaling around 2.15 carats total weight in diamonds. Difficult to part with - I'm in love! Amazing glitter factor with a large footprint the finger for that chunky antique sparkle. Other pluses include the excellent prongs making this ready for regular wear (which can be difficult to find on antique pieces.) The diamonds have a wonderful clarity as well. Raised details at each shoulder are set with a smaller old mine cut for an additional glint. A timeless classic and a real show stopper with exceptional sparkle factor.
I purchased this from a reputable source in France. It is hallmarked on the back of the shank but I could not decipher it. Sold to me as 18k gold and tested to confirm. The shank is a rosy gold with the ring face topped in platinum as was customary for the period to set the diamonds in a white metal (it was thought to increase their brilliance).
Antique box in photos is not included but I will include an antique box from my collection as it deserves appropriate housing : ). 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:
Size 5 1/2. Weight is 3.9 grams. The ring face is 14x12mm and 5.8mm off the finger. The three diamonds down the center are intentionally larger than the rest. The center diamond is 5mm, around half a carat alone. The other two in the center at the ends are 4.5mm each. The other six in the cluster are 3 to 3.4mm each. I would not remove them for exact measurements but just using my caliper, honesty : ) and online calculators and estimates by millimeter I am getting around 2.15 carats total weight in diamonds.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
The prongs are in excellent shape so this one is ready to be shown off. Typical antique diamonds with some slight hues - some of the outlining ones seem to read a bit grayer than the center in some light. Something to look for in the photos. Also typical in that they have some natural inclusions but really nothing at all eye visible. Just a speck here or there seen only under magnification. No chips to any of the diamonds, no frosty flakes of loss on the surface, really no major condition issues. Some patina to the rose gold shank and a nicely smoothed over section of the back where it was sized and the hues are slightly more yellow to the gold there but this is not noticeable while wearing.
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
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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.”
