Perpignan GARNET Almandine Cluster Ring French VICTORIAN Era Hallmark 18k Gold Floral Daisy Glowing Purple Pink

ABOUT:

This is a personal collection release! I've seen a ton of Perpignan garnets in my day and this one I loved for how uniquely purple the stones are. And of course with that wonderful inner glow of these special gems, this classic daisy cluster ring bears the French Victorian era hallmark for 18k gold used primarily in the 1800s and discontinued by 1918 to confirm age, origin and antique-ness ; ) of the piece.

Note that the video highlights the surface wear / abrasions more than normal wear in real life. They tend to catch the light, in my opinion enhancing them more than in reality. But I am including them to show how it glows and sparkles in direct light.

The fabulous stones are deep ripe berry purplish color with a lighter pinkish inner glow from within. They are 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.

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: 6 3/4.
The center stone is about 5.5mm.
Ring face: 12mm diameter
Weight: 1.8g.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
Shank is dainty in the back and has been sized but the antique hallmark was retained. Some abrasions and scuffs to the domed tops of the rose cuts. Some age and spotting and discoloration to the foil backs seen more under lit magnification.

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, 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.

There are two gold posts that appear like wires used in the fabrication of the piece to secure the center stone. Note that these wires are NOT a repair - they Always used this fabrication in the making of these pieces. Because of this the center stone moves slightly but this again is how these pieces are made.

The edges of the shank are worn thin to leave a blunt edge so the shank is on the thinner side depth-wise, but is stable with a nice width all the way around. The stones are also stable but with a bit of wear to some of the collet edges.

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

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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