Back from my sourcing trip to Europe with many new antique goodies to share! Feel free to follow along on Instagram @MousesHouseAntiques!
ABOUT:
These might be my most favorite earrings... of all time... ever! (Do I say that a lot? Well I buy what I love so I guess that tracks.)
These are so me! These diamonds total about one carat for the pair and they are everything. I seriously considered using them to create a fabulous three stone ring but the earrings are just so pretty, I didn't have the heart to take them apart. I love them because of:
The pear old mine cuts - always nice to find old mine cut diamonds in shapes outside of the more common round / cushion. (Although to be honest, you can't really call any antique old mine cut diamond "common", they are all one of one.)
The all original antique dormeuse style drops in 18k gold buttercup setting with perfect patina.
And then of course the color of the diamonds! That delicious pale yellow that I and other antique diamond enthusiasts are always seeking out from the period.
They have an excellent clarity for the period too.
Super special and uncommon. Minimalist in stature for a more delicate and yet still sparkly and eye catching look to dress up or down. These have the hinged backs and ear wires that are inserted from the back of the ear towards the front, with the hooked portion latching into a catch above the buttercup setting.
Found in Spain, No hallmarks which I have been finding after my last few trips is kind of common with pieces from Spain, but all parts 18k gold which is pretty much the norm there. They don't read as rose gold but they do have a slight rosiness to the hue from age and patina, so sought after since it can't be found on modern gold.
Antique Box IS Included! These old boxes are collectible and hold value. The box is not fitted for the earrings and is not original to them (I think it was a pin box), but I am including it as a gift because it's always fun to store our antique goodies in period appropriate housing : )
Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos, especially with the zoomed images that I am required to present for detail. These are dainty!
SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:
17mm from top of ear wire to bottom of setting.
The buttercup settings are 7.5x7mm.
The pair weighs just 2.3 grams combined.
One diamond measures 6.1x3.9mm
The other measures 6.1x4.1mm
I would not remove them from the setting and can't get a caliper into the setting with the hinged back to get an accurate depth measurement but estimates to about half carat each / 1 carat total for the pair.
But the nifty trick of pear cut diamonds is they appear larger than round stones of the same size because they are elongated and cover more surface area on the finger. So you get a larger visual size per carat.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
Shame on me there was a little residue behind the stones when I first photographed them. I've cleaned that away so the first images are the best representation.
One stone has two crystal pocket inclusions at the bottom of the stone that can sometimes catch the light to be slightly eye visible if seeking it out, but is not glaring are really seen at all while wearing. It has a smaller indented natural inclusion at the top part of the stone that is not eye visible. The other is eye clean with just a few pinpoint inclusions.
The color is so delicious, warm in ambient light lighting up to a pale yellow in direct light. So pretty.
A worn prong here or there but the stones are well held.
These are all things that are typical for the period and that you can seek out in the zoomed photos which will highlight it much more than while wearing.
The hooked ear wires latch perfectly and securely into the catch at the front. Still I don't really ever recommend 24/7 wear on any of my antique pieces due to the moving parts of 150 year old 18k gold (unless they are fortified studs). I gasp at the thought of every lying down on 150 year old gold hinges. : )
These always need a gentle hand when putting on and can take some practice, patience and tactile strength. This is not a condition issue as they were made this way, have always been this way and are always super popular, but inserting from the back of the ear and latching on the front without too much pressure takes some familiarity with the style usually. But still appropriate for wear and the style is always this way and well loved.
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 : )
All items hand picked by me, one at a time from all over the world. All listings individually written by me, and not AI, after studying each piece to discuss its beauties and its ; ) eccentricities (which I am picky to point out).
Many of my listings include group shots – I find the comparisons between pieces help show scale, diamond hues, etc. All items in group shots are inventory, but refer to the website to see what items have sold out and to watch for new listings from the grouping to appear on the home page.
Box#mcc.&2^
