A truly magnificent piece we have here. A cameo that is cut in such a meticulous and skillful way that we just couldn't stop looking at it; every time we discovered something  More »

A truly magnificent piece we have here. A cameo that is cut in such a meticulous and skillful way that we just couldn't stop looking at it; every time we discovered something new to gaze at. If you want to know if a cameo is of good quality you don't look at the flyaway veiles and voiles or curly hairEras. You don't because those give the artist the liberty to make it as he wants. No, one has to look at the faces and hands and when those are realistic then the artist is good. With this cameo, although the faces are really small (and therefore harder to make realistic) they are not just good, they are terrific and showing the hand of a true master engraver. The artist took his inspiration from a ceiling fresco by Guido Reni, done in 1613-1614. This fresco, a monumental work that meisures 280 cm (110 inch) x 700 cm (275 inch), can be found in a palace in Rome “The Palazzo Pallavicini-Rospigliosi” built by the Borghese family on the Quirinal Hill. It depicts Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn as she leads the sun god Apollo on his chariot and surrounded by the Horae, in bringing daylight into the world. We added a picture of the original fresco. Guido Reni (1575-1642) was an Italian painter, draughtsman and etcher. He was one of the greatest and most influential of the 17th-century Italian painters, whose sophisticated and complex art dominated the Bolognese school. An artist deeply influenced by Greco-Roman art and by Raphael. Although we believe the mounting of this cameo to be French the chance that the cameo is also French we think is rather small; we believe it to be Italian. It was not uncommon in those days that specialized workshops just made cameo's that they would export; a process that actually still exists in our days. Since the cameo is made after a fresco it wouldn't make much sense trying to find period specific characteristics on it. Therefore we have to study the mounting thoroughly. Easiest would be if it there were hallmarks giving away the date. Unfortunately they are unfindable. The only mark we found is most probably a master mark, and to find out who owned that mark is like finding a needle in a haystack. We added a picture of this master mark. When looking at the characteristics of the mounting it has clear signs of the Baroque period. Only problem we have here is that the Baroque period lasted roughly 150 years, from 1600 till 1750 and that we found a French hallmark depicting a ram's head. This mark was in use since 1817. The piece was most probably part of a tiara or belt. There are braces at the back of the piece through which a ribbon can be lead. There is also a little hole with screw wire at the bottom of the piece, we think that this is the part where the mounting could have been attached to the skeleton of a tiara. Carved cameo "Aurora" ref.09177-4345 18 carats yellow gold, ram's head hallmark date: 1817-1820 origin: France - Italy(?) dimensions: 12.34 cm (4.86 inch) by 6.72 cm (2.65 inch) weight: 66.10 grams   « Less

We are proud to offer you here this magnificent piece of 17th Century goldsmith craftsmanship. It is amazing that this jewel has survived for over 300 years and still is in  More »

We are proud to offer you here this magnificent piece of 17th Century goldsmith craftsmanship. It is amazing that this jewel has survived for over 300 years and still is in this superb condition. The only thing that is not original to it is the brooch-system in the back, which is added to it in a later stage; most probably somewhere in the first half of the 19th Century. The gold has the warm yellowish shine so typical for Southern European 17th Century jewelry. The solid gold work is beautifully finished and contains no less then 23 table rose cuts (one of the very first versions of rose cuts as we know it today). Cross 17th century ref.07162-0181 18kt yellow gold origin: Spain or Portugal date: 1650-1660 height: 5.75 cm (2.26 inch) weight: 17.50 grams   « Less

Georgian golden earrings 1720s with table cut rose cut diamonds. Details: Antique jewelry object group: earrings Country of origin: Although it does not carry any  More »

Georgian golden earrings 1720s with table cut rose cut diamonds. Details: Antique jewelry object group: earrings Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe it to be of Belgian origin. Era: Georgian, the way the diamonds are cut and the manner of setting them in the gold plus the shape of the settings themselves is typical for this period. Period: ca. 1720 Material: 18K warm yellow gold Diamonds: 18 table cut rose cut diamonds. We do not have the weight of the diamonds which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cuts. Condition: excellent condition Dimensions: Diameter approximately 1.71 cm (0.67 inch) Weight: 6.60 gram (4.24 dwt) Reference Nº: 09104-0188   « Less

Platinum Edwardian diamond pendant in garland style with pear shape diamond. The fineness of line and lacey aspect of the piece are typical for the Edwardian  More »

Platinum Edwardian diamond pendant in garland style with pear shape diamond. The fineness of line and lacey aspect of the piece are typical for the Edwardian period. Details: Era/Period: Edwardian, circa 1910 Precious Materials: platinum and silver Precious Stones: One old mine pear shape cut diamond with an estimated weight of approx. 0.70 crt. (color H, approx. si), 61 old mine brilliant cut and old single brilliant cut diamonds (also called 8/8) with a total estimated weight of approx. 1.96 crt. Dimensions: Height pendant approx. 1.35 inch Weight: 6.90 grams   « Less

Amazing French Art Nouveau ring with fancy color diamond and sculptured irises circa 1900, country of origin France, 18kt yellow gold, one ovalish old cut diamond, natural  More »

Amazing French Art Nouveau ring with fancy color diamond and sculptured irises circa 1900, country of origin France, 18kt yellow gold, one ovalish old cut diamond, natural brown color with an estimated weight of 0.80 carat, the French control mark for 18K gold representing an eagle's head that was in use in France from about 1838. Excellent condition. Dimensions: length of top of ring 2.16 cm (0.85 inch) Weight: 8.90 gram Ring size Continental: 56 & 17¾ , Size US 7½ , Size UK: O½ Ref.10343-0048   « Less

This brooch was offered to us in the shop in the same condition we offer it here too. Made somewhere between 1300 and 1400 (always hard to pin-point exactly). We decided to  More »

This brooch was offered to us in the shop in the same condition we offer it here too. Made somewhere between 1300 and 1400 (always hard to pin-point exactly). We decided to leave it the same condition as we think that any repair on this jewel won't do it justice. What do we see? Born as a cross, with a center stone that is either ruby or spinel and three remaining settings, most likely for the same type of stone as the center stone. Three remaining as it is obvious that there was a fourth setting. The little pins sticking out of the center, where most likely meant to keep pearls in its place. We can still see the rubbed ends of the pins, showing a sort of riveting technique. We also think the brooch has been in the ground for a long time, long enough to have the pearls solved. It still has its original stick pin and closure. Just imagine when people ask you "What strange thing are you wearing?" and you can say that it's a piece that is some 800 years old! A piece with a true charisma! Details: Era/Period: Middle Ages, circa 1350 Country of origin: Western Europe Material: higher carat gold Precious stones: the red stone can be either ruby or spinel Dimensions: 2.05 cm (0.81 inch) Weight: 4.00 gram Ref.11265-0007   « Less

An imperial antique gents gold ring, crafted circa 1820s, featuring an intaglio engraved carnelian stone with man's head, ring in excellent condition. Details of this  More »

An imperial antique gents gold ring, crafted circa 1820s, featuring an intaglio engraved carnelian stone with man's head, ring in excellent condition. Details of this antique gold gents ring: Era/Period: Georgian, circa 1820s Condition: excellent condition Material: 18K yellow gold and cornelian Technique: An intaglio or engraved gem is a small gemstone, usually semi-precious, that has been carved, in the Western tradition normally with images or inscriptions only on one face. Weight: 8.60 gram Dimensions: top of ring 2.07 cm (0.81 inch) x 2.30 cm (0.91 inch) Ring size US: 11¼ (free resizing)   « Less

We are very proud to have this brooch in our collection. Althought the brooch is a stunner by itself, the pearl hanging from the bottom is a once-in-a-life-time pearl to be  More »

We are very proud to have this brooch in our collection. Althought the brooch is a stunner by itself, the pearl hanging from the bottom is a once-in-a-life-time pearl to be found. Through the ages, big pear shaped pearls in this quality are a rarity and were worn mostly by royalty and the higher nobility. Because of their rarity and the scarcity of new big natural saltwater pearls coming into the market, prices are climbing year after year. Already in March 2013, at the US auction house Skinner in Boston a pendant featuring a big natural saltwater pear shaped pearl (and two big diamonds) was sold for almost $ 96,000 (hammer price $ 78,000 + 23% commission). Condition: excellent condition Country of origin: unknown Style: Belle Époque Period: ca. 1900 Material: Two tones of precious metal, the main part being 14K yellow gold and the white part is platinum. Diamonds: 77 old European cut and single brilliant cut diamonds (also called 8/8) with a total estimated weight of approx. 4.46 crt. Precious stones: Two exceptional beautiful natural saltwater pearls. One button shaped pearl with the dimensions 10.10-10.14 mm width x 8.0 mm thick and one drop shaped pearl with the dimensions 8.10-9.9 mm width x 18mm height. See pictures for certificate of the pearls. Dimensions: height 6,40 cm (2,52 inch), width 5,40 cm (2,13 inch) Weight: 21,10 gram   « Less

Late 18th Century cameo gem-set ring depicting Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The layered agate cameo is engraved with the to the right looking profiles of Louis XVI and  More »

Late 18th Century cameo gem-set ring depicting Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The layered agate cameo is engraved with the to the right looking profiles of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. The hard stone cameo is surrounded by rose cut diamonds and the top of the cameo has a diamond and ruby set crown. Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette got married in 1770, reigned between 1774 and 1789, the year when the French Revolution started. They got executed on the guillotine in 1793. During their reign, they got frequently portrayed in miniatures, ceramics and hardstone cameos. As in our days one would receive a signed photograph of a famous person, in those days works with their faces on would be given to their friends, political and diplomatic allies and courtiers. Most of the portraits were just of either the king or queen and double portraits of this kind are therefore rare. Some experts claim that rings like this (we know of the world-wide existence of three similar rings) were made specially with the birth of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette's eldest child Marie Thérèse of France in 1778. Another factor that could have influenced the scarcity of such rings is that after the Revolution possession of such jewelry would have been regarded as evidence of treason. Details: Period: ca. 1774 Condition: excellent condition Material: 18k yellow gold and silver Diamonds: 46 rose cut diamonds and senailles. The rose cuts are set on foil. This is a special technique that was used to bring the lustre of the diamonds to its best quality. Precious stones: Eight rubies and one agate cameo Dimensions: top of ring 1,64 cm (0,65 inch) x 2,73 cm (1,07 inch) Weight: 5,30 gram Ring size Continental: 54 & 17¼ , Size US 6¾ , Size UK: N Resizing: Resizing is possible but because of the age of the ring we prefer to leave it untouched. We could make an additional inner ring so the ring itself is not harmed, for this work we have to charge. We cannot guarantee to make it on every size; so please ask in advance. Return policy on this ring is not valid anymore once this work has been done.   « Less

Rare 18th century diamond and gold ring - French antique ring 18k yellow gold table cut diamonds c.1750. Details: Country of origin: France, Tours Style: Baroque -  More »

Rare 18th century diamond and gold ring - French antique ring 18k yellow gold table cut diamonds c.1750. Details: Country of origin: France, Tours Style: Baroque - Baroque is an artistic style prevalent from the late 16th century to the early 18th century in Europe. It is most often defined as "the dominant style of art in Europe between the Mannerist and Rococo eras, a style characterized by dynamic movement, overt emotion and self-confident rhetoric". Period: ca. 1750 Condition: excellent condition Material: 18K yellow gold Hallmarks: French hallmarks for the city of Tours around 1750 and a typical French control mark representing an owl, we cannot be sure it is actually French as the owl was also used for items in finished condition that were brought to be examined by the French Assay office (the eagle’s head was used for items brought in unfinished). Diamonds: Seven table cut diamonds set on foil. This is a special technique that was used to bring the lustre of the diamonds to its best quality. We do not have the weight of the diamonds which is normal in our trade when it comes to table cuts. This cut was introduced in the early 15th century and continued until the introduction of the rose cut in the mid-17th century. A later modification has, extending downward from the girdle, 4 triangular facets that meet at a point at the bottom instead of a culet. Such table-cut stones are described as 'thin cut' or 'thick cut', depending upon the depth of the stone. Ring size Continental: 58 & 18½ , Size US 8¼ , Size UK: Q Resizing: Resizing is possible but because of the age of the ring we prefer to leave it untouched. We could make an additional inner ring so the ring itself is not harmed, for this work we have to charge. We cannot guarantee to make it on every size; so please ask in advance. Return policy on this ring is not valid anymore once this work has been done.   « Less