THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT ~
Type: Ring
Materials: Diamond, 18k Gold
Size: 6 3/4, 2.2 Carat Tdw
Era: Early 1900s
ABOUT:
Magnificence!
Impactful and imposing French antique navette ring - this one is my largest to date with 21 old mine cuts totaling around 2.2 carats total weight in diamonds. Difficult to part with! Amazing glitter factor with a large footprint the finger for that chunky antique sparkle. The diamonds have chunky cuts and are raised up to display on the scalloped ring face set above an openwork lattice gallery. The ring face is tooled to give the piece a cobblestone look with the high crowned antique diamonds. Raised details at each shoulder are set with a smaller old mine cut for an additional glint. A timeless classic and a real show stopper with exceptional sparkle factor.
French hallmark for 18k, it is worn but I can still make out part of it under magnification as I have seen it so many times. The triple ribbed shank has a beautiful buttery glow and wonderful warm rosy highlights from patina and age.
Antique box in photos. Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures. Feel free to also request more photos or video as I have many besides those allowed here.
SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:
Size 6 3/4. Weight is 6.75 grams. The ring face is 26x12mm and 6.8mm off the finger. The three diamonds down the center are intentionally larger than the rest. The center diamond is 5mm, around half a carat alone. The other two in the center at the ends are 4mm each. The others in the cluster are 2 to 3mm each with a few at 3.5mm and a few at 1.7mm. I would not remove them for exact measurements but just using my caliper, honesty : ) and online calculators and estimates by millimeter I am getting around 2.2 carats total weight in diamonds.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
Typical antique diamonds with some hues including four that read a lovely very pale yellow. As a whole many of the stones seem to read warm to gray. magnification. Some of this is also due to build up behind the stones at the pointed ends, I did give the piece a gentle cleaning but struggled to reach back in under the ring face to really clear it out and I don't like to aggressively clean my antique pieces. Also typical in that they have some natural inclusions but really only slightly eye visible. Some carbon spots, some frosty spots, a speck here or there seen under magnification. One or two of the natural inclusions carry up to the surface leaving a slight shallow crease. A few nibbles to some of the facets again only under magnification, they all appear complete to the eye. Also typical for age in that there are worn prongs here and there with a few of the stones moving just slightly. Something to keep an eye on over time. This could always be fortified by your local jeweler but most of my buyers prefer gentler wear and original condition. If more regular wear is desired, you'd want to inquire locally for someone with a laser welder and ask them to do the minimum to reinforce it, as some modern jewelers can overwork antiques to make them "like new" which most of us in the "antique jewelry addicts" club try to avoid : ) Just being very picky and describing everything I see under magnification to the best of my ability. The ring is quite a site to behold.
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 : )
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! : )
SOCIAL:
Please feel free watch @mouseshouseantiques on Instagram for inventory drops, sneak peaks and previews! And check out my website www.MousesHouseAntiques.com
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The whole "4 C's" of cut, color, clarity, carat didn't come about until the 1940s so prior to that and especially on antique pieces, there was not as much emphasis placed on those things. (Sure people probably appreciated a certain look of a certain diamond as it appeared to the eye but it was not a graded scale like we have today.) So it is difficult to judge antique stones against modern day diamonds and their grading system. No two old cuts are the same as they were crafted in times lacking any modern standards. The diamond cutters of the time were experts at hand cutting each stone to enhance it which means that even lower color grades can be cut to appear whiter. (Although it is also worth noting that many antique collectors prefer and seek out antique diamonds with warmer hues.)
It is also interesting that "lower graded" diamonds in today's scale system, were some of the best on the market during this period! So it is less about their grades and more about the unique play of light and color that each one can offer. I read one article that put it nicely: “When searching for the perfect old cut diamond (for you), you need to view them through different eyes as you would for a modern diamond, Laboratory grading reports don’t offer too much information in regards to their individual beauty or sparkle which are based more on their individual character and uniqueness that each one potentially offers.”
