STARBURST French VICTORIAN Antique Rose Cut DIAMOND Cluster Dormeuse EARRINGs 18k Gold Platinum

ABOUT:

Super sparkly French antique Victorian dormeuse earrings in a round shape with starburst center propping up a rose cut diamond surrounded by a further halo of diamonds. Each earring has 12 rose cut diamonds. These are crafted in 18k antique buttery gold with rosy highlights, with the diamond settings topped in platinum as was customary for the period to set diamonds in a white metal. Many times French dormeuse earrings are inserted from the back of the ear but these go in the front and then you flip the lever back to close. Eye catching and elegant.

Each has the French antique hallmark for 18k gold used primarily in the 1800s and discontinued in the early 1900s on the post.

These earrings are called "dormeuse" in French which translates to "sleeper", meant to be dainty, comfortable enough to sleep in, used in olden times to keep the ear holes open overnight : ) Of course these days we don't recommend all night 24/7 wear on these antique pieces with intricate 100 year old gold hinges.

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

SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:

They measure about 18.5mm top of earwire to bottom, the circular diamond cluster setting is 11mm wide by 5.5mm deep and the center diamonds are about 2.3mm each in diameter with each of the 10 outlining diamonds measuring about 1.7mm give or take with the top one a little smaller.

The pair combined weigh 4.35 grams.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

As with all my pieces this is in estate condition. Typical antique rose cut diamonds that were cut by hand with irregular shapes and natural inclusions but they have a nice bright color to the eye and they provide the most amazing sparkle with all of them catching the light. Especially under magnification you will see the frosty spots and uneven edges, nicks, icy lines, frosty spots. They often look this way and were probably always cut this way, rough cut little shards to add a glint of sparkle. The earrings are still nicely shaped with lovely shine and coloring, I don't see any dents or deep wear. The gold is beautiful and it is a very sweet pair. Some surface wear but don't seem heavily used. The lever backs and nice and tight and springy, with strong hinges that snap closed. You have to guide the ear wires into the backs as sometimes the levers miss the post but once you guide them in place they are all set. They do have hooked ends that nest into a little circular catch in the lever back but they seem to more rest in place there versus clicking or latching. But again once put on they are super secure to wear. But as with all my pre-owned pieces - Please note this is not a mint condition item.

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! : )

Thanks so much for looking at my items!

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