Antique Victorian engagement ring with humongous rose cut diamond

As the centre of this gold Victorian cluster ring from 1870, the dazzling rose cut diamond set in silver on foil with a red gold domed engraved back is just as gorgeous in quality as it is grant in its diameter of 9,3mm (0.37 inch). Encircled by 15 rose cut diamonds encrusted in silver set on foil with a red gold back as well, no rose cut diamond has ever diffused more brilliance. A timeless grandeur as well as a cute sophistication is established in this one jewel.

Antique jewelry object group: engagement ring (or anniversary ring)

Condition: excellent condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: unknown but not unlikely Dutch

Style: Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.
  -  See also: Victorian or more info on styles

Period: ca. 1870
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

Material: Silver on top and backed with 18K red gold (see explanation on silver on gold).
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Technique: The rose cuts are set on foil. This is a special technique that was used to bring the lustre of the diamonds to its best quality.

Extra information (1): We expect the cluster of this ring to originate from a Dutch pair of earrings from around 1860-1870. The diamonds are set on foil with a silver front and a red gold back of -given the Netherlands as the possible origin- presumably 14K. We were unable to test the gold content of the red gold on the inside of the ring.
We believe that the cluster has been given its new purpose as a ring around 1900, which was a common custom if jewellery pieces had to be disassembled after inheritance arrangements. We did manage to test the shank and framework, which indicated to our surprise 18K yellow gold. Staying true the guestimated period and the origin, we decided to describe this astonishing jewel as being manufactured in 14K gold.

Besides the remarkable assembly of this ring, we want to explicate the craftsmanship in the manufacturing of the cluster.
First of all, we've noticed that there are 15 diamonds around the colossal central diamond. That amount of surrounding diamonds is rare, because of the difficult calculations needed to ensure a precise alliance. Another demonstration of great artistry is the way in which the central diamond is attached into the cluster: on the back, you can see three riveting tubes.

Extra information (2): Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April, and besides being the most popular gemstone for engagement rings, it is also the anniversary gem for the 10th and 60th years of marriage.

Even though the diamond is the hardest of all gemstones known to man, it is the simplest in composition: it is common carbon. The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were splinters of stars fallen to earth. It was even said by some that they were the tears of the Gods or perhaps crystallized lightning or hardened dew drops. The exact origin of diamonds remained something of a mystery for centuries.

In ancient times only kings wore diamonds as a symbol of strength, courage and invincibility. Over the centuries, the diamond acquired its unique status as the ultimate gift of love. It was said that Cupid's arrows were tipped with diamonds which have a magic that nothing else can ever quite equal.

But it wasn't until 1477, when Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, that the tradition of diamond engagement rings began. Even the reason a woman wears it on the third finger of her left hand dates back to the early Egyptian belief that the vena amoris (vein of love) ran directly from the heart to the top of the third finger, left hand.

Diamonds: One huge rose cut diamond with a diameter of approximately 9.3 mm (0,37 inch). We do not have the weight of this diamond which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cuts but the diameter of the stone is comparable with the diameter of a brilliant cut diamond of approximately 3.00 crt.It is reasonably whitish of color and clarity would be something like vs/si/ Around the center stone we find another 15 rose cut diamonds. We do not have the weight of the diamonds which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cuts.
Note: All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since the stones were not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting.

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: No trace.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: diameter of top 1,51 cm (0,59 inch)

Weight: 4,70 gram (3,02 dwt)

Ring size Continental: 53 & 17 , Size US 6¼ , Size UK: M

Resizing: Free resizing, but because of the the way the ring is made, we cannot guarantee to make it on every size; so please ask in advance (only for extreme resizing we have to charge).
  -  (more info on ring sizes)

Reference Nº: 16075-0069

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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