TEARDROP 1.65 Carat Old Mine Cut Diamond CLUSTER Negligee NECKLACE French Antique 18k Gold Victorian Enamel

ABOUT:
One of a kind antique old mine cut diamond necklace. So ornate with beautiful sparkle and movement! This piece is crafted in 18k gold with two old mine cut clusters set into each side of the chain leading down to two teardrop dangles.

The teardrops have alternating enamel highlights between the old cut diamonds in the halo, and at the center is an independent dangling component that is set with one scarce pear shaped and one cushion cut old mine cut diamond in each.

With Forty Six diamonds in total (for around 1.65 Carats), all of these components catch the light and sparkle so beautifully. We see diamond clusters popularly in rings so this is a beautiful necklace to match.

This is certainly a custom made piece, likely made in antiquity by incorporating elements from an earlier piece - perhaps a pair of inherited earrings for someone who preferred to wear the family diamonds in necklace form? Looking at the patina and hallmarks, the necklace itself is antique as well so this is not a recent conversion as all components are antique. It also seems possible to convert them to earrings if that is preferred.

Several French hallmarks, some worn, for 18k Gold on the loop, the spring ring and on each of the loops of the teardrops. The gold has a rich, warm antique patina.

Antique box, props, staircases : ) etc. not included. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures.

MEASUREMENTS:

The necklace is 19 inches in length and weighs 11.9 grams. Each round diamond daisy cluster is 10mm and each teardrop dangle is 27mm from the top loop to the bottom.

The diamond sizes vary with the largest stones being at the center of each of the round clusters.
For the round clusters which hold nine diamonds each - the center stone measure about 3.5mm each with the diamonds in the halo around 2 mm each give or take.
For the teardrop dangles which hold 14 diamonds each - the diamonds in the center dangle are about 2.7 mm each. The top diamonds are 2.2 and the smallest diamonds and the halo are 1.5 to 2 mm give or take.

Forty Six Diamonds in total. Exact depths and thereby carat weight is unknown as I would never remove them but using estimates it is around 1.65 Carats total weight in diamonds in this necklace, with each of the four components holding a little over 0.4 carat in old mine cuts each.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

Antique patina to the gold and you can see where the welds occurred at the tops of the teardrops. The diamonds are quite wonderful with none absent and no chips or cracks. A few nicks and natural inclusions seen under magnification but no dark or carbon spots.

A worn prong here or there, typical and expected for a piece of this age but all the stones are secure. Something to keep an eye on over time. Nice to see the enamel is complete with no major loss considering age.

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 : )

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