Victorian 14k Bloomed Gold 0.05 CTW Diamond & Paste Fleur-de-Lis Cigar Cutter Fob

General Information:

• Total Carat Weight: 0.05 ctw
• Precious Metal Weight: 3.97 dwt
• Precious Metal Material: This piece was sold to the shop as 10k, though electronic shop equipment tests it for between 14k and 15k yellow gold, and acid testing reveals a purity between close to 18k with a higher karat bloomed (matte) finish. Read below to understand more about the blooming process.
• Dimensions: This fob measures about  41.28 mm top to bottom (length), including the  ring/bail x 11.38 mm back to front (depth) x 15.35 mm wide when the blade is closed or 22.20 mm wide when the blade is open.
• Weight: A very impressive 6.17 grams
• Markings: No maker's mark or purity stamp appears to be present save for the engraved initials to the fob's reverse.
• Era: This construction, glass fabrication type, finishing details, gemstone faceting matrices, stylistic elements and motif, precious metal composition and finish technique all point to circa 1870, which is just before the last quarter of the Victorian era.
• Buyer Notes: This palm-sized masterpiece is a beautifully aesthetic, highly collectible object of virtue, boasting luxury at every angle. While a historically utilitarian component, today this piece exists as a treasure of a more opulent era, saturated in symbolism and artistry alike. There are no exact comparables on the open market at the time of research and listing, making this piece a delicate rarity, with a verbal valuation of about $1,950. This is not a formal, written appraisal but may be assistive to prospective buyers considering an investment.

Specifications:

• Center Stone Type: Diamond
• Center Stone Count: One (1)
• Center Stone Dimensions: 1.37 x 1.55 mm, measured as mounting permits
• Center Carat Weight: 0.017 ct
• Center Stone Shape: Old Mine Cut
• Center Stone Color: I-J
• Center Stone Clarity: SI1-SI2

• Center Stone Type: Red Paste (Ruby Simulant)
• Center Stone Count: One (1)
• Center Stone Dimensions: 1.66 x 1.60 mm, measured as mounting permits
• Center Carat Weight: 0.021 ct, by historic formula per the dimensions and using the specific gravity of glass
• Center Stone Shape: Antique Cushion Cut
• Center Stone Color: Deep pinkish-red (visually identical to pigeon's blood red ruby), color attributed to chromium deposits
• Center Stone Clarity: Semi-translucent

• Center Stone Type: Blue Paste (Sapphire Simulant)
• Center Stone Count: One (1)
• Center Stone Dimensions: 1.26 x 1.45 mm, measured as mounting permits
• Center Carat Weight: 0.015 ct, by historic formula per the dimensions and using the specific gravity of glass
• Center Stone Shape: Antique Cushion Cut
• Center Stone Color: Deep Kashmir blue (visually identical to unheated southern Asian sapphires), color attributed to cobalt deposits
• Center Stone Clarity: Semi-translucent

The Story:

An exceptionally rare and deeply desirable collector's item, this one of a kind cigar cutter hails from the second half of Queen Victoria's reign. This little accessory boasts functionality as boldly as it does its aesthetic appeal, and is a relic of a specific window in history, as it is believed to date to the 1870s at the very earliest. This date coincides with one of the earliest records of a cigar-punching device from 1868, a record established just after the publication of Frederick William Fairholt's 1859 first edition book Tobacco: Its History and Associations, which itself, also describes a similar knife-cutter for cigars.

Enhancing this piece's roots in historical context is its unparalleled beauty: this matte gold accessory is dotted with a perimeter of finely raised repoussé demi-domed metalwork, which creates a traces both sides of the piece and perfectly frames the iconic fleur-de-lis design on one side and a pair of beautifully engraved initials on the other. Fashioned with three radiant gems of bright color, the stylized flower is geometrically grounded by a diamond-cut 'stem' to the lily form, which catches the light in suit with the gems and beaming gold finish. From the topmost leaf beams a bright and sparkly Old Mine Cut diamond, while the left leaf holds a ruby-red paste, and the right leaf holds a sapphire-blue paste. Selected as alternatives to untreated ruby and sapphire, these gems certainly do not disappoint, and brightly exude color and sparkle with every move. 

The Victorians are a venerated people within storied jewelry history, as they are known for their creative interpretations of stylistic elements, attributing symbolism to every last detail. In sum, every article, every pattern, every motif, design and emblem could be woven together and 'read' to reveal the depths of their deliberate significance. This piece can be read in this way, and offers loads of meaning of its own: 

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.

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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.