I take regularly scheduled inventory trips to Europe and around the USA to find unique antique items to bring you! My offerings were all hand picked one at a time to assemble a collection that I hope you will enjoy! Thanks for stopping by!

ABOUT:

I'm having trouble coming up with the words to describe the magic of this old cut stone. I don't use AI to write my listings so I'll do my best here to try and describe this special one.

I purchased this one in France and I haven't stopped wearing it since - I love the classic low setting but there is a bit more to it. This special hand cut antique diamond is slightly oval which I love, and it's set east west which I also love. The stone is eye clean, cuz... why not? : ) And the cut is super spready. This makes the stone face up larger than it is in actual carat weight.

But combining all of that leads to the most interesting faceting on the piece. It is certainly a hand cut antique old mine cut diamond, but with its shape and spreadiness the facets appear almost ... larger and more simplified so you get a somewhat similar affect as you'd have with a rose cut if that makes sense. Even though this stone has a pavilion, it has a sort of less "busy" appearance to the stone compared to many other even antique diamonds, resulting in the most wonderful softer antique twinkle. When you look down into the stone you can see the eight fins extending out from the large octagon culet. This one shoots rainbows from within so while the play of light is softer, it is not a dull stone in any way, but quite a lively antique one.

I don't know if my wordy words make sense so in case it helps, I've also taken a picture of it next to another old mine cut diamond solitaire that I love, so you can sort of compare and hopefully see what I mean. This is just one of those things that makes antique diamonds so special, with no two ever exactly alike.

The diamond is beautifully set in a crown like pronged setting with length and sturdiness to it making it ready for regular wear, another special attribute to find on original antique rings. It is crafted in 18k white gold. It's just so.... pretty! The diamond has a slight warmth in color, does not read yellow but again is just a softer white which is lovely.

Found in France but no hallmarks remain. This is common for French pieces as they stamp in the back and they are often lost from wear and sizing. It tests at 18k gold but the metal has none of the warmth to it that we sometimes see so it reads more as platinum. I like it in a mixed metal stack with a chunky gold band!

I don't prefer to grade my antique diamonds with the Four C's grading scale which came about way later for machine cut diamonds with mathematically perfected facets. The scale does not do antique stones justice as they were expertly hand cut to their best advantage, in a much more limited supply compared to the millions of carats of machine cut diamonds made each year now. Their uniqueness and quirks are expected and part of their charm, but do read the detailed notes above and below. My items do very well without paperwork so there is no certification included since it doesn't apply very well to these one of a kind stones anyway.

Comes as pictured in a vintage maroon leather box with lid graphics and metallic gold detailing (not original to the piece).

Please note the measurements as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures.

MEASUREMENTS:
Size 5 1/2. With the sturdy prongs, this could be a good candidate for sizing by your local jeweler although the back of the shank is on the slightly thinner side. Usually they say within 2 sizes is a good guide for sizing but this is something to discuss with the person doing the work as opinions vary.

The diamond measures about 9.6mm by 8.6mm old mine cut that is a slightly elongated oval. I do not remove antique stones from their settings for exact measurements but it estimates to around 1.75 carats. It was actually sold to me as larger due to its face up appearance, facing up closer to 2.5 carats.

The ring face is 9.8mm north south (intended to make the stone look even a bit larger by surrounding it in white metal) and stands 5.7mm tall off the finger.

The piece weighs 2.9grams.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:

All original antique setting and stone. There is one indented natural inclusion, very small, that extends from one of the prongs like a tiny crease, this is only seen under magnification. That is really all that can be found under magnification aside from maybe the tiniest speck here or there again not at all eye visible. To the eye and while wearing the stone is clean.

It does have some nibbles to the girdle edge, evidently a byproduct of the shallower cut, making that area slightly more susceptible to nicks. I count four areas under magnification that have this little bit of unevenness, although it's possible some of this was done in the cutting as it has the unpolished girdle we would seek and expect to find for an authentic antique stone. One of those areas has a small oval flake of loss to the top surface edge leaving a small unpolished spot. If you have excellent eyes you might be able to seek this out, but for sure can find it in the photos provided with the 20x zoom feature. There is one other small unpolished spot but it is hidden under one of the prongs. As a whole, the stone appears complete, also assisted by the white gold halo at the base of the setting, so you'd really have to study the stone edge to pick it out.

The prongs are in good shape and sturdy so the stone is well held and ready for regular wear. When off the finger, if you view the setting from the side, it appears to list just slightly. This is not noticeable while wearing the piece.

Note the nibbles though, she does have signs of age. But wow what a special stone!

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 as I can add more pics there so you can get extra looks : )

All items hand picked by me, one at a time from all over the world. All listings individually written by me, and not AI, after studying each piece to discuss its beauties and its ; ) eccentricities (which I am picky to point out).

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