XL Oval French ANTIQUE 3.2 Carat 29 Old Mine Cut DIAMOND 15 Rose Cluster Ring

ABOUT:

Magnificence!
Impactful and imposing French antique oval ring - this one is my largest to date with 29 old mine cuts with rose cut spacers totaling around 3 1/4 carats total weight in diamonds. To give the ring that completely encrusted sparkle, the prongs are gem set with the 15 tiny rose cuts acting as spacers between the larger OMCs. Difficult to part with! Amazing glitter factor with a large footprint the finger. Raised details at each shoulder are set with an additional old mine cut for an additional glint. A timeless classic and a real show stopper with exceptional sparkle factor.

I love antique diamonds, even those with inclusions or hues typical for the time, because some of those were still among the best available in the market during that period, and were expertly cut by hand to enhance their best characteristics. So I don’t often like to compare antique stones against modern grading standards - BUT these diamond, for old stones are eye clean and have particularly lovely fire reflecting a noticeable flash with the colors of the rainbow. It was actually quite noticeable, especially while trying to photograph it. They also have a bright white color so even though the stones were made long before the 4 C's existed, it sparkles blindingly. I'm amazed by it now as I wear it in low light how glittery and bright it is with the visible rainbow fire. Those who have followed me through the years know I have sold thousands of antique diamonds but these are among the best I've had, especially as a collection of stones (often times in clusters some stand out as warmer, or more highly included, etc). She's a special one.

French hallmark for 18k.

Antique box in photos is not included. 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 8 1/4 on my mandrel. I am not sure the exact size because the shank is oval, it was likely sized up and they added extra room to the back (these are things jewelers can do in sizing to affect the size without bending the ring face).

Weight is 7.1 grams.

The ring face is 31x12.5mm and 5mm off the finger. (1.2 Inches north south!) The largest center diamond is 5mm so around half carat alone. Of the remaining 28 larger diamonds - half the stones are 3 to 3.5mm each and the other half in the 2-3mm range. I would not remove them for exact measurements but it is around 3.25 carats total weight in diamonds.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

One tiny rose cut spacer is missing but it is actually not eye visible because the prong work also provides texture to the ring face and the white metal matches the hues of the rose cuts which are closed backed (all the old mine cuts are open backed). So you really have to study it under magnification to spot it.

Very little of the characteristics we typically find on antique diamonds - no dark, carbon or eye visible inclusions, no noticeably warm hues so even those with the slightest warmth face up bright, no chips, these stones are exceptional. A few needle or feather inclusions seen under strong magnification here or there but for the most part you have to hunt to find them. The largest stones in a line down the middle especially have few if any inclusions even studying them under very strong magnification.

However several of the stones shift when tapping and the prongs have some wear. This one needs gentler wear for that reason but most of my buyers prefer 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 : ) 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

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 for machine cut stones.) It is difficult to judge antique stones against modern day diamonds with their grading system evaluating their mathematically perfected proportions using methods and standards that didn’t exist for hand cut old cut diamonds. No two old cuts are the same as they were crafted in times lacking those 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. It is also interesting that "lower graded" diamonds in today's scale system, were some of the best on the market during this period. I read one article that states: “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.”

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