Sparkle Bomb ENTIRELY DIAMOND Encrusted French VICTORIAN Chunky Rose Cut Diamond Antique 18k Gold Silver Pocket Watch Case Pendant Locket

ABOUT:

Sparkle Bomb Alert! I'm crazy for this one! Lots and lots of (over 80) chunky Antique Rose Cut DIAMONDS completely encrust this piece.

This striking French Victorian era antique pocket watch case would make the most beautiful pendant for your #neckmess or #neckstack. Crafted in solid 18k gold and silver, it is decorated with tons of small but chunky rose cut diamonds. Even the swiveling little scalloped bale is diamond encrusted for sparkle. Crazy that not a single stone is missing, even on the bale where it would typically rub against chains / chatelaine hooks.

The piece has the most amazing texture because the diamonds are not the really tiny, thinly sliced inset discs that we often see. Instead they are the crowned or dutch rose cuts which actually dome up and out from their flat backs - really putting "crusty" (in a great way!) to the term diamond encrusted. Even the bead prongs used to set the stones add to that texture. It is so striking.

Found in France with their hallmark used in the antique period for 18k gold. I love finding this hallmark to verify the antiqueness of the piece, as the stamp was discontinued in the early 1900s. The piece is also topped in silver with patina around the diamonds, it was customary for the period to set diamonds in a white metal but there are the gold highlights that shine through - all around the rim, the crown / winder, at the hinge, and the inside is gold with the divider plate stamped with a serial number and silver on one side.

NOTE that the inside watch mechanism does not work. It does not appear to be jammed and the mechanism moves but it won't keep ticking. I don't see any rust so it is possible it could be restored but I am selling it As Is - I do not know anything about watches so I am not selling it with the claim to use it as a watch, but rather for wear as a pendant. The watch mechanism could be removed to wear the piece as a shaker locket, or worn as it is, as an amazing pendant with the clock facing the back. Sold as is. It's quite clean inside, not cruddy or rusty. The watch hands do move so you can set the time to a relevant time permanently - like Taylor Swift did when she wore an antique watch as a necklace set to "midnight." One of my customers permanently set it to the time her child was born. Just note that it doesn't tick or keep time after setting it.

NOTE This is a Smaller Size pocket watch, would have been a ladies watch on a chatelaine or watch chain.

Chain in photos is not included. Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos.

MEASUREMENTS:
About 41mm to the top of the bale by 26mm wide by 12mm deep. It weighs a sturdy 18.5 grams with the watch mechanism is inside (so this is not all gold weight).

There are over 80 diamonds in varying sizes, some teeny tiny. Most are 2.3mm give or take, the largest in the center is 3.3mm. The ones on the bale are smaller, around 1.5mm to 1.8? It would be impossible to calculate an exact carat weight as I would never remove the stones and depths would vary but it's at least a few carats worth of diamonds up to somewhere around four carats total weight.

IMPORTANT CONDITION DETAILS:
All my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition considering age. As mentioned the watch mechanism is inside and does not work. I am selling the case as is, as a pendant.

These always need gentler wear due to the many many stones set into the antique setting and all the hinges and glass and old bead prongs. But this one especially with all the tiny diamonds individually set - it needs gentle handling. Unbelievably, there are no stones missing, but considering it is 150 years old, I'm sure it may happen at some point. There are some nicks and frosty spots to the stones but they look like amazing, period appropriate rough cut diamonds, so moody and fabulous with their hand cut irregular shapes and crowned facets. Upon opening the case, the settings behind the diamonds are open backed. Several of the other stones have warm to gray hues, some of this from reflecting patina to the silver. Typical antique rose cuts with some natural inclusions, rough edges, small nibbles and frosty spots, much of this may have always been that way as they were hand cut so long ago and tend to always look this way when they are antique. With varying hues from stone to stone. One stone has a small chip to one edge seen under magnification.
As with all my items - Please see photos closely as this is not a mint condition item. I would think with a lot of opening and closing and Soooo many small stones, it would be quite easy for the piece to lose additional diamonds over time so again - gentle wear and handling.

I dearly love, collect, wear and sell antique jewelry and enjoy matching these little pieces of history with loving homes.

Thanks for stopping by!

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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).

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