ABOUT:
Fabulous larger sized crescent moon pendant or brooch completely encrusted with over 2 3/4 carats of old cut diamonds. The sparkle is incredible. At the center raised in prongs with open backs are an arc of thirteen old mine and old European cut diamonds with a tiny rose cut at each end. Around the outside rim of the moon are 61 further rose cut diamonds in cut down collets with closed backs providing a wonderful texture with the rough hand cut antique diamonds.
French Victorian era piece, hallmarked for 14k gold and silver, the back is a rosy gold with the settings on the front topped in silver as was customary for the period to set the diamonds in a white metal.
The pin back is removable via a little screw with a hinged "handle" or loop to screw it in or remove it. That little handle can be used to clip or run a chain through to wear as a pendant with the points of the moon facing downward as seen in photos. WhenI flip the little handle it actually props the piece up as seen in photos.
Alternatively, the pin back can be removed completely and the buyer can have a loop added by their local jeweler to wear it vertically or two loops to wear it horizontally / however desired. The piece has a lot of options and is currently wearable as is too, so I thought I'd leave it to the buyer to make their own plans and designs for it in the way they like best.
Any chains, props not included but meant to show options. Please note the measurements as I have small hands and it can be difficult to decipher scale from photos..
MEASUREMENTS:
The 39mm by 27mm and 6.5mm deep with the pin back removed. The piece weighs a very sturdy 14.2 grams.
Exact depths of each stone and thereby precise carat weight is unknown as I would not remove them from the setting but estimated total carat weight is over 2 3/4 carats in old cut diamonds.
The largest diamond in the center arc is about 4.5 mm and they taper down as they extend outward on each side. The sixty one rose cuts are 1.5mm give or take with unknown depths in the closed back setting.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
The piece reads quite moody from the dark patina to the silver and some of the warmth to gray hues to the old cut diamonds. Four of the small rose cuts are a noticeable brownish yellow color. One other rose cut reads very gray and the others warm to lighter gray from age to the foil backs. Typical antique diamonds with some natural faint, cloudy or frosty inclusions that can catch the light here or there. There are not a lot of carbon inclusions, but under strong magnification I can see a darker silk inclusion to one stone and some tiny inky specks to another. The largest stone has a frosty inclusion, these things are slightly eye visible if you are seeking them out, but are on track with what we typically see on diamonds of this age, hand cut long before the Four C's system was created for machine cut diamonds with mathematically perfected facets. The rose cuts are also typical irregular cuts with some frosty facets. Even under magnification I see no glaring damage - no cracked or severely chipped stones.
I gave it a light cleaning but I am seeing some build up remains behind a few of the open backed diamonds giving them a warmer appearance than they are - particularly the two diamonds flanking the largest center stone in the arc. You may detect this in the photos but much of that warmth is just buildup. However with the closed back diamonds in the setting one should avoid getting the piece wet or soaking it.
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
Box#Q.2@4
