Rare VICTORIAN Foiled AQUAMARINE Rose Cut DIAMOND Halo Floral Ring 18k Gold Silver Pale Blue French Antique

ABOUT:

This is the perfect year round ring! The icy blue color of the aquamarine always makes them a fun choice for winter wear, and this one has the sweetest addition of little forget me not flowers on each shoulder encrusted with rose cut diamonds, making it also appropriate for the warmer months of the year!

This is a rare one as antique foil backed aquamarines are difficult to find (trust me, I've looked as it was both my grandparents' birthstones were aqua and I hunted a long while for a piece to remember them by). And this antique piece in particular has so many special elements. Have I mentioned its booty!? (The affectionate term we use in the trade for an ornamental ring butt : ). The back inside of the ring face has a domed and scalloped design - It is a rarer treat when we find it decorated.

Then we add in the rose cut diamond encrusted halo and those sweet floral details with leaves flaring out at each shoulder, which are also diamond encrusted. These elements are wonderful accents to the pale blue aqua.

This one reads very Georgian era with the rose cuts, foil back and ornate ring butt. But the hallmarks tell us it is actually Victorian era, as it bears the French stamps for 18k gold with a goldsmith stamp in the style not used until beginning in 1838. It is not uncommon for Georgian era trends and designs to carry over into the Victorian period, and that is the case with this piece, which is from the early Victorian 1800s period.

It's also nice to see that the foil is not muddy or rusty, allowing a lovely reflective background to the aquamarine. It is a joy to see antique foil backing doing its job in shooting out that light from within. This was meant to be personal collection and I'm loath to part with it but we have other needs at the moment. She's a special one!

The ring is crafted in a warm and rosy 18k gold with the diamond settings topped in silver as was customary for the period to set diamonds in a white metal (and this is one more element that makes it very Georgian in style). I actually found this in Switzerland but we know it is French in origin from the hallmarks.

Antique box is not included. Please note the detailed measurements that I always provide, as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures where I am required to show zoomed in detail.

MEASUREMENTS:

Ring is a size 5 1/4. The aqua is about 12x6.5mm. Weighs 3.5g.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

Please note that all my pieces are in estate condition. There is a bit of spotting to the foil from age but no glaring dark spots or rust, more typical small frosty spots that make the foil a bit cloudy in direct light. I wouldn't say it makes the stone look cloudy, as you see it when you look through the stone.

The aquamarine has abrasions, some nicks and deep scratches. However the stone does not appear dull or lifeless and does not have a matte finish all across the front. It is more when you study the surface of the stone in a reflection of light that you can see the areas of wear. Again this should be somewhat expected on a piece of this age.

These are typical old rose cut diamonds, cut by hand so they have the beautifully irregular and sometimes imperfect antique look to them. Some natural inclusions, nicks or a tiny frosty / unpolished area here and there to the old cut stones, some from age and wear or possibly just always cut that way. But to the eye they add a nice sparkle and antique look which to me is preferable to the modern, perfectly machine cut diamonds. They also have a warmer hue from patina to the silver and some build up and age, but these closed back pieces cannot be submerged in water so I did not give it an aggressive cleaning. I just noticed some white lotion or soap build up around the stones that you may see in photographs, this was easily removed and is no longer present so I just wanted to mention that it is not adhesive or anything.

There is one missing diamond at one ring shoulder at the top of one leaf but it is honestly hardly noticeable because all the stones in that area on both shoulders are somewhat impressed into the silver from being rubbed over for 175 years. The rose cuts in that area can still catch the light and sparkle but you really have to study the piece under magnification to see them hidden amidst the silver and to really notice that one is missing.

Gentle wear is recommended in that foiled settings shouldn't get wet.
Rare and collectible - A fantastic and eye catching piece with that very pretty coloring and sparkling diamonds that are very eye catching.

Please 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. 

Please also 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).

Box#st.1@2$