Victorian diamond heart pendant, the domed heart pave set throughout with old cut diamonds in silver over a 15KT gold back, with a diamond set bail.
Silver over gold is the Victorian way with diamonds. Silver was set against the stone because it does not throw warmth into it the way gold does, and gold was kept behind to carry the strength and to keep the silver off the skin. The technique went out with the arrival of platinum around 1900, so it dates a piece closely.
The diamonds are old cut, faceted by hand before modern proportions were fixed, with the small tables and open culets that give them their softer, warmer fire. The heart is domed rather than flat, so the stones sit at varying angles and it lights from every direction.
Supplied in a fitted leather case by The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Ltd of 112 Regent Street, London, stamped with the royal warrant to H.M. The King.
Dimensions -
Length: 3.4 cm
Width: 2.2 cm
Weight: 7.6 g
Metal: 15KT gold and silver
Period: Victorian, 1880s to 1890s
Diamonds -
Cut: Old cut
Colour: G to H
Total carat weight: 4.00 ct approximately
Setting: Pave, in silver
Condition :
Very good antique condition, stones bright and secure. The retailer's case carries a royal warrant to H.M. The King, so it dates from 1901 or later and was supplied to the pendant rather than made with it. Stone weights and grades are careful estimates taken in the setting, not laboratory certified.
Victorian diamond heart pendant, the domed heart pave set throughout with old cut diamonds in silver over a 15KT gold back, with a diamond set bail.
Silver over gold is the Victorian way with diamonds. Silver was set against the stone because it does not throw warmth into it the way gold does, and gold was kept behind to carry the strength and to keep the silver off the skin. The technique went out with the arrival of platinum around 1900, so it dates a piece closely.
The diamonds are old cut, faceted by hand before modern proportions were fixed, with the small tables and open culets that give them their softer, warmer fire. The heart is domed rather than flat, so the stones sit at varying angles and it lights from every direction.
Supplied in a fitted leather case by The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Ltd of 112 Regent Street, London, stamped with the royal warrant to H.M. The King.
Dimensions -
Length: 3.4 cm
Width: 2.2 cm
Weight: 7.6 g
Metal: 15KT gold and silver
Period: Victorian, 1880s to 1890s
Diamonds -
Cut: Old cut
Colour: G to H
Total carat weight: 4.00 ct approximately
Setting: Pave, in silver
Condition :
Very good antique condition, stones bright and secure. The retailer's case carries a royal warrant to H.M. The King, so it dates from 1901 or later and was supplied to the pendant rather than made with it. Stone weights and grades are careful estimates taken in the setting, not laboratory certified.
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