General Information:
- Total Carat Weight: 0.10 ctw
- Precious Metal Weight: Estimated 5.38 dwt
- Precious Metal Material: This brooch tests as 14k to 15k throughout, while the stem pin is base metal.
- Dimensions: This brooch faces up about 30.52 mm north to south (length) x 31.06 mm east to west (width) x 11.11 back to front (depth) including the pin and c-clasp. When the bezeled glass locket and existing photographs are removed, the locket compartment is roughly 5.50 to 6.00 mm deep. As is characteristic of pre-1900 jewelry, the pin's stem extends beyond the face of the brooch.
- Weight: An impressive 8.37 grams
- Markings: This piece does not bear a maker's mark but it does have a set of roman numerals hand-inscribed on interior (hidden) lip of locket bezel which read "XVII", the equivalent of the number 17.
- Era: This brooch is believed to date to the mid to late Victorian period, sometime between 1870 to 1895.
- Buyer Notes: A perfect mix of sophisticated refinement and undeniable luxury, this brooch feels as en vogue today as the day it was made a century and a half years ago. Late 19th century Etruscan Revival jewelry is widely available on the market, though this brooch proved to have very, very few direct comparables, elevating it to a desirable scarcity. This brooch conveys with the pair of photos it housed when it arrived to our shop, one of which is a cutout of a gentleman, possibly circa 1900, and the other a cutout of a woman, circa 1960. Please note that there is a small loop affixed to the pin's reverse, wherefrom a delicate safety chain may have once been hooked.
Specifications:
- Center Stone Type: Diamond
- Center Stone Count: One (1)
- Center Stone Dimensions: 2.55 x 2.60 mm, as measured within mount so as to preserve the piece's integrity
- Center Stone Carat Weight: 0.10 ct by formula per the specific gravity of diamond
- Center Stone Shape: Rose cut
- Center Stone Color: I-J
- Center Stone Clarity: SI and foiled, which may obscure exact color grade
- Center Stone Notes: The aged foiled backing causes the stone to appear darker and makes clarity difficult to specify. Rose cuts, and especially foiled rose cuts, were designed specifically to catch the glimmer of low candlelight and reflect the glittering flames. Such stones were not scientifically faceted to emit the same "fire" as brilliant full cut diamonds, and rather, twinkle in historic lighting conditions.
The Story:
A lovely work of art hailing from the mid to late 19th century, this Victorian Etruscan Revival brooch features a swath of decorative elements evoking the tastes of ancient civilizations. This trend was brought on by re-discoveries of the ancient world, and in the decorative arts, craftsmen drew deep inspiration from all that was recovered during excavations. It was at the London International Exhibition of Industry and Art of 1862 that many jewelers presented another variation of the Revival styles, which harkened to a slightly more recent past; Neo-Renaissance designs were en vogue and just as praised as the Etruscan Revival designs, of which this brooch shows hints of both.
Characteristics of both Archeological (Etruscan) Revival and Renaissance Revival style jewelry include a dependency on symmetry, allusions to organicism, the arrangement of featured gemstones into a recognizable shapes such as crosses, florals or stars, and a tendency toward a sculpted quality evoked through the three-dimensionality of gold. The aesthetic characteristics of revivalism are on brilliant display in the making of this brooch, and its original maker cleverly crafted the piece using wirework and molded components arranged in a geometric fashion.
Of note is the patinaed character of the gold. Made by hand over a century and a half ago-- as evidenced in its ever so slightly imperfectly applied wirework-- this piece was delicately fabricated with 15 warm yellow gold, and boasts a nearly iridescent-pinkish patina that makes the gold appear deeper and warmer in color. This patina is a prized attribute by collectors, as it is seen as well-earned from age, a characteristic that invigorates the dimensional details which cover the entire surface of the brooch.
Boosting the central rose cut diamond is the dynamic nature of the star-set etchwork of the stone's setting. Celestially themed jewels have been popular for virtually millenia, as many ancient cultures deeply revered the mystery of the heavens, relating to it both divinity and destiny. Stars represent hope, determination and purpose, their fiery luminosity symbolizing wisdom and courage. While this brooch's celestial motif has ancient roots, this piece is also reflects taste of the late Victorian era. Today, this brooch persists as a stunning treasure that is powerfully bespoke, and abundant in history. A lone silvery "star" set against a backdrop of gold, this piece is luxuriously enchanting and twinkles in elegance.
By placing an order, you accept and agree to uphold all of Revival Fine Jewelry's terms, conditions and policies.
General Information: All additional jewelry boxes, ring boxes, and other jewelry items pictured alongside a featured listing are considered props, are for photographic and display purposes only and are not included in the transaction unless otherwise noted. Items do not come with physical documentation, appraisals, or certifications, unless explicitly stated in the item description and/or title. While jewelry is inspected upon procurement by the shop as well as prior to shipment, Revival Fine Jewelry cannot guarantee a warranty once items leave our inventory, given the delicate and individual nature of secondhand articles and the unaccountability of buyer handling post-purchase.
Shipping: All orders are carefully packed within a branded Revival Fine Jewelry gift box, secured with recycled materials when possible, and shipped within a discreet outer shipping parcel. All orders ship with tracking, insurance and signature confirmation. Shipping options are presented at checkout. Per law and inegrity, international orders are always marked as commodity imports and customers are responsible for any and all customs expenses, VAT taxes and import fees, as well as any clearance costs legally dictated by their respective destination countries. These expenses are not calculated into the pricing structure, and returns based on import costs will not be permitted.
Returns: While Revival Fine Jewelry aims to provide a smooth experience from start to finish, customers are encouraged to reach out regarding any issue or dissatisfaction, so that we may work together toward a resolution. If a return is desired, the shop must be notified of an intention to return within 3 days of confirmed delivery, and item(s) must be shipped back to the shop within 7 days of confirmed delivery. All materials (gift box, inserts, cards) must be returned with the item(s). Returns declared after the 3 day window and/or postmarked after 7 days of receipt will neither be accepted nor refunded. Customers are responsible for generating an insured return shipping label (international customers included) and relaying the tracking information to Revival Fine Jewelry. Returns that do not include full insurance and/or tracking, and are damaged or lost in transit, will not be refunded. If a return is accepted, customers will be refunded less the original cost of shipping, handling and insurance, the expense of any damages incurred, and a 10% restocking fee (of the original purchase price). All sale items, items altered or resized by the buyer post-purchase, and all storage/ boxes are considered final sale and are ineligible for a return or refund.
Sale Terms: Sale prices are only valid within the prescribed sale window, unless otherwise stated by Revival Fine Jewelry or agreed upon between Revival Fine Jewelry and a designated customer. To maintain business sustainability and general fairness, individual customers are not entitled to exclusive notification of, or owed access to, store sales antecedently. Orders processed prior to a promotion or sale, items placed on layaway prior to a sale, and payments paid through layaway prior to a sale will not be retroactively adjusted to reflect sale pricing or terms.
Specially Negotiated Deals: Items purchased at specially negotiated discounts, deals or prices through any platform between Revival Fine Jewelry and a designated customer are considered final sale, including rates arranged and agreed upon via Facebook, Instagram, email or any other method. Closing deals at special rates reflects a desire by both parties to reach an expeditious and absolute sale. The intention of specially negotiated discounts, deals or sale prices through any platform between Revival Fine Jewelry and a designated customer, is to eliminate extra expenses and/or use of time and resources to formally list or re-list items per their specific and inherent value-determining qualities, as well as avoid unseen overhead business costs, stocking obligations, and all other disclosed or undisclosed monetary and nonmonetary expenditures.
Pricing: Revival Fine Jewelry reserves the right to decrease, increase, alter and modify inventory pricing to meet market rarity, demand or value; to offset platform, transaction or seller's fees; to adapt to economic inflation and fluctuation; and to defray specific business expenses. Pricing is the sole discretion of every small business.
Regarding Brooches & Pins: Often significantly and curiously undervalued jewelry items, brooches, pins and stick pins are treasured pieces of history in this shop. Accordingly, their pricing is calculated analogous to other fine jewelry, including their symbolic meaning, rarity and historical prestige. Such pieces are typically converted to other forms of jewelry, and are therefore becoming increasingly rare in their original states. Aside from being perfectly wearable as sophisticated lapel ornaments, brooches and pins of all kinds are prime candidates for many kinds of fine jewelry conversions, including rings, earrings, pendants, and charms, if so desired by the consumer post-purchase. Revival Fine Jewelry does not perform conversion projects for customers.
Regarding Storage & Boxes: All specifications, including but not limited to the measurements, age, origins, and material compositions are supplied in good faith as professional estimations constructed using professional grade tools, years of learned and honed skills, educational resources and academic scholarship, and refined research methods. Regardless of our confidence in our descriptions and the photographs deemed viable extensions of these descriptions, we cannot guarantee the definitiveness, faultlessness, or exactitude beyond our knowledge and expertise. Kindly keep in mind that this and all items are sold as-is vintage, antique and estate secondhand wares, and consequently bear conditional wear in matter and operation commensurate with age and use.
More information on these, and more, topics may be found in the shop policies.
All layaway terms may be found here, and all shop policies may be found here.
Layaway is available for full priced, non-sale items priced $600.00 USD or greater, and items may not be combined to attain price-eligibility. Plans are offered as 3-month/90-day maximum terms.
In exchange for offering interest-free plans, customers agree to abide and uphold the following nonnegotiable terms and conditions:
- A 30% deposit is due upfront to reserve the item for layaway and pull it from public sale on all of our shopping platforms. Shipping expenses are added to this first payment unless otherwise requested.
- The remaining 70% balance is divided up into three subsequent monthly payments due on the same day of the following three months. If delinquent, a $20.00 USD late fee is added per day to an overdue payment until paid.
- In the event that a layaway installment is left unpaid for seven (7) days and no communication is received from the designated customer, the layaway plan will be presumed abandoned. While the item will be returned to public sale, all payments made hitherto are still considered final.
Layaway items are promptly boxed and shipped to the designated customer once the final payment successfully processes. Taxes, import and other legal fees are not calculated into the payments, and are the sole responsibility of the customer, whether a domestic US or international buyer. Revival Fine Jewelry is not responsible for calculating, covering or adding such costs into purchase prices.
All layaway payments as well as all items purchased through layaway plans are considered final sale; neither payments nor items may be refunded, transferred, exchanged or returned. Revival Fine Jewelry does not issue store credit.
Revival Fine Jewelry reserves the right to cancel any layaway plan at any point for any reason if fraudulent activity is suspected. In this event, the designated customer will be notified prior to the intended cancellation of their plan.
Request a layaway plan via email here. Remember to specify your desired item by providing its link, title or SKU/code.