General Information:
- Total Carat Weight: 0.02 ct
- Precious Metal Weight: 0.57 dwt
- Precious Metal Material: Acid tests for 14k yellow gold
- Dimensions: This carm measures 15.70 mm long including the top bail ring x 10.75 mm wide x 5.62 mm deep; interior diameter of the bail ring is about 1.20-1.25 mm.
- Weight: A very comfortable 0.89 grams
- Markings: Unmarked
- Era: This piece is presumed to be a conversion from either a shirt stud or a cravat (stick) pin, and is believed to date to the mid to late Victorian period, sometime between 1860 to 1870.
- Buyer Notes: Perfectly petite, this charm is exactly what every collector adores about antique jewelry-- it's versatile, intriguing and no detail is spared, even at such a delicate scale!
Specifications:
- Center Stone Type: Diamond
- Center Stone Count: One (1)
- Center Stone Carat Weight: 0.02 ct by formula per the specific gravity of diamond
- Center Stone Dimensions: 1.65 x 1.60 mm, as measured within mount so as to preserve the piece's integrity
- Center Stone Shape: Rose cut
- Center Stone Color: Believed to be I-J
- Center Stone Clarity: SI and foiled, which may obscure exact color and clarity grades
- Center Stone Notes: The aged foiled backing causes the stone to appear a silvery hue 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 super sweet, super petite work of art hailing from the mid to late 19th century, this Victorian Revival style jewel features a swath of decorative elements evoking the tastes of both the ancient world and the gothic/renaissance eras. Archeological Revival style was a trend 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, praised as much as the Etruscan Revival designs and complimented them with elegance. This tiny charm, which is thought to have begun life as a shirt stud or cravat pin for a gentleman, exists today as a lovely embodiment of all such styles.
Characteristics of both Archeological (Etruscan) Revival and Gothic/Renaissance Revival styles include a dependency on symmetry, allusions to organicism, the arrangement of featured gemstones into recognizable shapes such as crosses, florals or stars, or the like. These Revivalist styles also leaned toward an overall sculpted quality, evoked through the artistic three-dimensionality of formed gold. The aesthetic characteristics of revivalism are on brilliant display in this piece, and its original maker cleverly crafted it using great attention to detail in every molded component. The topmost element is that of an architectural quatrefoil as one might find on adorning a gothic cathedral, an emblem of spiritual might and geometric fashion.
Framing the central quatrefoil are a series of cyma swirls, which are stylized variations of the acanthus plant, which has been a valued motif in the decorative and wearable arts for virtually thousands of years. The acanthus symbolize perseverance and strength, as these plants are known to survive in even the harshest of conditions. The swirling cymas reference the ebbs and flows of the unknowns and knowns of life, a subtle compliment to the unwavering tenacity of the acanthus bloom through them all.
Of note is the lightly patinaed character of the 160+ year old gold, as is evidenced in its precious irregularities that remind us of its handcrafted origins. This aged characteristic, no doubt, invigorates the dimensional details which cover the entire surface of the charm. A lone silvery rose cut diamond proudly perches atop the piece set against the broader backdrop of gold to add a delicate luxe twinkle to the charm. This diamond, being that its backing is closed and given its 19th century roots, is foiled.
A note about foiled diamonds: Foiling was a clever trick of the trade in which slips of foil were carefully placed in the cupped setting beneath the semi-translucent gemstones of choice, achieving a stunning glimmer in low candlelight which reflected the fire flames in dazzling brilliance. The effect of foil backing is characteristic of Georgian and early to mid Victorian jewelry, as it created a hypnotic twinkle under historic candlelit lighting conditions, prior to the invention of electricity.
One must keep in mind that the original owner for whom this cross was originally crafted did not occupy the kind of lifestyle or perform the same tasks we do today. This being the case, this foiled diamond relic was simply never intended or designed to withstand today's living. So, while this foiled jewelry is especially alluring attribute for collectors, they are quite vulnerable to water damage if even slightly wet. Water causes foil to discolor and darken, to somewhat dissolve, and it can get trapped between the stone and the setting. Thus, to prolong the life of secondhand jewelry, it should not be worn during physical activities and buyers should be mindful of condition notes and any presence of treatment-specific care.
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.
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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.