General Information:
- Total Carat Weight: 0.425 ctw
- Precious Metal Weight: 2.57 dwt
- Precious Metal Material: 14k patinaed yellow gold
- Dimensions: 40.67 mm long x 19.16 mm wide x 12.19 mm deep
- Weight: 4 grams
- Markings: Unmarked but tests for 14k yellow gold
- Era: circa 1850-1870
- Buyer Notes: The center aquamarine shows two chips, as pictured, which do not detract from the character of the jewel and are not readily apparent when worn. The stem pin and closure are early 20th century welded replacements, and are base metal. The locking mechanism does close but does not always stay closed, and there are a few areas that evidence expected maintenance over the pin’s lifetime. As such, the pricing has been adjusted to reflect all mentioned imperfections as commensurate characteristics from age, time and loving wear. This brooch is an excellent candidate for conversion to a knuckle-to-knuckle spreading statement ring, a stationary necklace or a vertical drop pendant.
Specifications:
- Center Stone Type: Aquamarine
- Center Stone Count: One (1)
- Center Stone Dimensions: 3.46 mm x 3.55 mm x 1.65 mm
- Center Stone Carat Weight: professionally estimated 0.084 ct
- Center Stone Shape: Round faceted
- Center Stone Color: Light blue
- Side Stone Type: Rhodolite Garnet
- Side Stone Count: Four (4)
- Side Stone Dimensions: 2.48 mm, 2.81 mm, 2.66 mm and 2.90 mm
- Side Stone Carat Weight: professionally estimated and corresponding to the above dimensions: 0.074 ct, 0.090 ct, 0.083 ct, 0.094; 0.341 ctw
- Side Stone Shape: Round faceted
- Side Stone Color: Pinkish with ever so slight purplish undertone
The Story:
Crafted by hand in the 19th century, this early to mid Victorian brooch is a wonderful example of Archeological Revival jewelry. Such revival styles date to the Georgian years of the 1820s and 1830s, and grew to peak popularity during the 1850s and 1870s. Yet, such styles continued to be in demand through the end of the 19th century and even into the first decade of the 20th.
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 elements of both.
This piece is a sweet example of mid Victorian design, with a handmade composition emphasizing hand cut stones. The gems are natural, cut by the hand of an artisan at least 160 years ago. The centermost aquamarine gemstone encircled by a quatrefoil of rhodolite garnets with interstitial granulated gold roundels. Interestingly, rhodolite garnets are much, much rarer than the common almandine garnet (the deep red wine colored garnet), and are much beloved for their ruby-like appearance and vivid coloration. Rhodolites have a chemical composition that is a mix between almandine and pyrope garnets, chemically leaning toward the latter.
These five gems are closed back, gripped by the tiniest triangular claw prongs carefully folded over atop the gems’ girdles. It is likely that they are foiled, a technique designed specifically to catch the twinkle of candlelight. Foiled stones have a slip of metallic material placed delicately between the back of the stone and the gold cup in which it sits, so as to catch the light and reflect a vibrant coloration and sparkle.
This long lost technique shoots light across and out of the stones, visually saturating the rhodolite garnets and aquamarine with a spectrum of moody tones. Foiling was employed for hundreds of years, even up through the end of the 1890s. While incredibly lovely, it must be noted that foiling within a jewel renders that piece a bit more susceptible to damage from water and dampness. As such, it is best to keep foiled jewelry well away from water to extend the life and quality of the piece.
These central features sit proud of the surface of the brooch atop a concave circle that is decorated with hand looped gold wire, milgraining and twisting cannetille style smithing. Flanking the gemstone center are a pair of kite-shaped gold forms that are intricately etched by hand with enchanting sunburst motifs, both complete with three dimensional globes of solid gold. More hand etched gold components sweep toward the tapered ends, and boast subtle zigzag patterns and linework. Altogether, the complexity of the details divulge the story of archaeologically inspired craftsmanship.
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.