One of a Kind Antique Perpignan Garnet Pear Teardrop Solitaire Ring On Most Ornate Victorian Era Scrolled Band 18k Gold French Crimson Glow

ABOUT:

This is a personal collection release!

I've had this scrolled shank for forever, it came from a broken ring but those gorgeous swirling shoulders with the wonderful patina, I was waiting for something special for it. A few years later I got some broken Perpignan garnet parts, this little pear teardrop was actually purchased there in Perpignan during a sourcing trip. It came from a necklace so it has almost no wear to the stone compared to many rings we often see where the stones are scuffed.

Both components are from the 1800s, now married to live a new life. I have enjoyed wearing it but if you know me, you know I have a lot of Perpignans and I try to keep my PC from becoming too excessive haha so I am offering it up.

The fabulous stone is a deep ripe berry purplish color with a lighter pinkish inner glow from within. It is set in a collet setting with domed, closed and foiled backs, the customary fabrication for these French antique garnet pieces. Crafted in 18k gold which has the sought after, rich and warm antique patina which can't be found on modern jewelry.

These garnets, from the Almandine family are named as such for the region where they were mined in the South of France. They are known for their beautiful color and brilliance, along with the way the stones were cut. These mines have long since closed making them quite collectible and favored by many (me me me!!!).

These are my favorite gems because there is really nothing exactly like them in the rest of the world. Only a small number of craftsmen knew the multi step, intricate methods used to produce them using the foil and collet settings to create this distinctive looking jewelry. In olden times Perpignan Garnets were thought to cure blood disorders and excessive anger, and symbolized constancy and loyalty.

All parts in 18k gold, the shank has the French hallmark for 18k on the back.

Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures. Antique box is not included.

MEASUREMENTS:
Size - It fits at about a 5.5 with the domed back of the garnet which props the shank a bit off the finger.
The center stone is about 11x7mm.
Weight: 4.25g.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
The stone is in better than most condition and the shank is perfection. I pretty much always recommend gentler wear on my 140 year old pieces and with this one having closed back foiled setting, we should avoid getting them wet so as not to deteriorate the foil (although with the rich color of the stone any deterioration is much less visible than a foiled diamond setting where the stone is see through to the back.)

This one needs gentler wear beyond that because the collet set garnet was laser welded to the scrolled shank and does not connect at all parts. Under magnification especially looking at the inside, you can see the laser weld beads of gold although it is tidy while on the hand. But with the collet setting and the shape of the stone, there aren't super strong connection points so it were to get hit hard, it could cause the weld to break. I had no concerns whatsoever wearing it, nothing bends or flexes, it would really be a case where you'd have to crush it to break it, but this one is more suitable for occasional wear by a collector vs. daily wear where that weld could weaken over time.

Please also note that I take some photos / videos in the sunshine because it captures the lovely color and sparkle, but it also highlights any surface wear, scratches, fingerprints, abrasions, buildup or inclusions that can catch the light, making these things appear worse than they would with normal day to day wear. : ) Hopefully the pics in all lightning conditions help as they serve as part of the description. The stone is in better than most condition.

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 as I can add more pics there so you can get extra looks : )

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