Catalog: Estate Jewelry (1390)

An unusually nice Victorian gold-filled locket in the aesthetic taste. The front features a marsh scene of reeds and flowers growing alongside the water’s edge, all worked in different shades of gold. The design is enclosed within an engraved border. The back of the locket is engraved with multiple designs akin to a crazy quilt.

• Origin: probably America, ca. 1860
• Condition: excellent, no wear to gold
• Dimensions: 7/8” x 1-3/8” (excluding jump ring)

A handsome set of two-sided cufflinks, the round faces enhanced with off-centered concentric engraved lines radiating out from the sapphires. The overall effect is like a blue sun sinking below the horizon. The sapphires have nice pale violet blue color typical of Ceylon stones. The backs are marked 14K and have the maker’s mark for Fisher & Co.

• Origin: America, ca. 1925
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: faces, 9/16” diameter
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .52 carat
• Weight: 10.5 grams

A lovely pair of Victorian 14K gold earrings featuring a rose gold lily with green gold foliage against a yellow gold background. The flower petals and leaves are stippled for added texture. The edges are finished with ornate beading, rope-twists, and appliqués. In Victorian floriography, lilies represented virtue or purity, though in Queen Victoria’s personal floriography, the white lily represented “majesty.” The earrings appear to have been converted from a pair of cuff buttons with the addition of ear wires. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

• Origin: America or England, ca. 1850
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 11/16” x 11/16”; 15/16” long from top of earwire
• Weight: 6.9 grams

An elegant pair of Art Nouveau cufflinks worked in 14K yellow gold and set with round blue sapphires. The oval faces are pierced, decorated with a modified acanthus leaf motif and finished with a soft bloomed texture. The sapphires have nice coloring. The cufflinks are stamped with the 14K mark for Whiteside & Blank.

• Origin: America, ca 1900
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: faces, 7/8” x 1/2"
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .26 carat
• Weight: 8.4 grams

A wonderful Victorian hinged bangle bracelet worked in 14K yellow gold and featuring a design of crescent moons and stars. In Victorian jewelry, crescent moons were used to evoke the goddess Selene (Roman “Luna”) as a representation of feminine power while stars represented wisdom and divine guidance. The pearls’ white color further suggests “purity.” This bracelet was likely a bridal gift intended to remind the young woman that she was not going into her marriage without power and guidance. The bangle is hinged and has a generously sized safety chain, so it is quite easy to get on and off. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

• Origin: America, ca. 1880
Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 1/2” wide at front; 5/32” wide at back; inner circumference, 6-1/2”
• Weight: 14.4 grams

An elegant solid bangle bracelet worked in 14K yellow gold. The bangle has pierced foliate motif, and is set with sapphires and diamonds. Three round sapphires interspersed with four single-cut diamonds are set in platinum at the front of the bangle, and three additional sapphire stations are at the back. The stones have vibrant pure blue coloring and are unheated, likely from Ceylon. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

• Origin: America, ca. 1900
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3/16” wide; inner circumference, 7-5/8”
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: sapphire, 1.19 carats; diamond, .04 carat
• Weight: 9.4 grams

A very fine lapis plaque (Afghan quality) with beautiful even violetish-blue color set in a 14K gold mounting. The stone is held in place by gold scrolls reminiscent of cresting waves. The same design follows down the side of the shank. Afghan lapis has no eye-visible white calcite spots, but may have some sparkly pyrite, and is the highest quality level. The interior of the shank is stamped “14K China” and has an unknown maker’s mark. The quality of the mounting matches the quality of the gemstone. The ring could be worn by a man or woman.

• Origin: China, ca 2010
• Condition: excellent
• Finger Size: 8-1/2
• Dimensions: 7/8” x 9/16” at crown; tapering to 1/4” at back of shank
• Weight: 8.3 grams

A classic Venetian Etruscan 18K gold charm set with round amethysts. The gold surfaces are ornately worked with rosettes, beaded and rope-twist decoration. The amethysts have nice medium-light violet color that contrasts beautifully with the surrounded gold. Charms of this type are usually extremely large, but this example is in a rare smaller size that’s easier to wear on a bracelet or as a pendant. Tested and guaranteed 18K.

• Origin: Italy, ca. 1955
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3/4" wide x 1” high (excluding jump ring)
• Approximate Total Amethyst Weight: 3.04 carats
• Weight: 6.2 grams

A particularly nice Art Nouveau four-leaf clover honeymoon watch pin, the leaves beautifully enameled in shades of translucent green, yellow and rust. The 14K yellow gold crescent moon is set with a graduated row of pearls, while an old European cut diamond centers the clover. The back retains the original clasp and watch hook. In Victorian flower language, the clover symbolized "good luck." When flowers and crescents were used together, the symbolism was "honeymoon," and these were popular gifts given to new brides by either their grooms or close family. Since the meaning here is "good luck on your honeymoon," we'd have to assume that this particular pin was a gift from the bride's mother rather than from her groom. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

• Origin: America, ca 1900
• Condition: excellent, no enamel damage
• Dimensions: 1" x 1"
• Weight: 3.7 grams
• Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .025 ct

A lovely Art Nouveau 14K yellow gold honeymoon pin in the form of a crescent moon decorated with blue and white enamel forget-me-nots surrounding an enameled pansy set with a .025-ct round brilliant diamond. The pansy is the more uncommon type where the petals have elegantly-chased decoration. In Victorian flower language, both the pansy and the forget-me-not symbolized “think of me.” When flowers and crescents were used together, the symbolism was “honeymoon,” and these were popular gifts given to new brides by either their grooms or close family.

• Origin: America, ca. 1900
• Condition: excellent, no enamel damange
• Dimensions: 7/8” x 11/16”
• Weight: 2.8 grams
• Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .025 carat

A handsome pair of double-faced silver cufflinks, the faces decorated with finely-detailed enamel portraits of English or Italian greyhounds. The backs and chain connectors are stamped with French silver hallmarks.

• Origin: France, ca 1910
• Condition: no enamel loss, one face has light surface wear to the silver (visible in the photos but only visible upon close inspection in person)
• Dimensions: 9/16 x 11/16” (14 x 17 mm)
• Weight: 7.0 grams

An extremely attractive pair of cufflinks worked in 18K white gold, the faces featuring plaques of black mother of pearl set with diamonds. Black mother of pearl is much less common than the usual light color and displays a beautiful pearly luster with overtones of green and rose that can be clearly seen in the photos. The diamonds have bright color, estimated at F, and VVS clarity. Solid connectors join the faces to hinged toggles. The connectors are marked “750” for 18K gold, and have an unidentified maker’s mark “LG”.

• Origin: probably Continental Europe, ca. 1980
• Dimensions: 5/8” diameter
• Weight: 7.6 grams
• Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 2.0 carats.

A very large, heavy 18K gold Venetian Etruscan fob charm pendant set with oval red coral cabochons and pearls. The gold surface is heavily decorated with applied wirework and rosettes. The coral has intense, even color, and the pearls display good luster with a slightly creamy color that nicely accents the coral. The jump ring is marked “Italy 18K.” This is among the largest and heaviest Venetian Etruscan fob/charm/pendant we’ve had.

• Origin: Italy, ca. 1955
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 1-3/8” x 15/16” x 2” long (excluding jump ring)
• Weight: 26.5 grams

An elegant pair of classic Edwardian double-sided cufflinks, the octagonal faces decorated with engine-turned engraving in the form of a spray of acanthus leaves against a stippled background. The faces are completed with an octagonal platinum border. The backs are marked “14K-Plat” and have the maker’s mark for Carter, Gough & Howe. The backs are also engraved with a period “RD” monogram.

• Origin: America, ca. 1915
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 1/2" diameter
• Weight: 8.0 grams

An elegant pair of classic Edwardian double-sided cufflinks, the octagonal faces decorated with engine-turned engraving in the form of a spray of acanthus leaves surrounded by a laurel wreath border. The connectors are marked “14K.”

• Origin: America, ca 1910
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 9/16” diameter
• Weight: 7.0 grams

An 18K yellow gold Sputnik charm or pendant by H Stern. The sphere is bezel-set with round amethysts, citrines, aquamarines, garnets, and green tourmalines. The Sputnik design was created in the 1950s to showcase the variety of colored gemstones available from Stern’s Brazilian mines. It later came to be called “Sputnik” for its resemblance to the spiky Soviet satellite launched in 1957. Each piece has a different appearance depending on the specific colors of the stones and their arrangement. This pendant has soft, mostly darker tones. Since it’s a complete sphere, this piece is technically a charm, but can be worn as a pendant. Charms are among the most difficult Sputnik forms to find. Marked 18K.

• Origin: Brazil, ca. 1955
• Condition: very good; one green tourmaline has a surface chip
• Dimensions: 7/8” diameter
• Weight: 5.0 grams
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 4.96 carats

A classic pair of French 18K yellow gold cufflinks in a variation of the “mors de filet” or “snaffle” design. Each of the flip-up ends is pierced in a woven design. Each cufflink is fully hallmarked and has the master goldsmith's mark for Gaetan de Percin.

• Origin: France, ca. 1955

• Condition: excellent, all original

• Dimensions: 9 x 16 mm (5/8 x 3/8 in)

• Weight: 9.9 grams

A rare pair of late Victorian or early Edwardian silver double-sided cufflinks, each face decorated with a finely detailed painted enamel English greyhound. Each face is also set with a row of three single-cut diamonds inside a milgrain border. The faces are joined by chain connectors.

• Origin: Continental Europe, ca 1900
• Condition: excellent, normal age-appropriate wear visible at 10X magnification, no enamel loss
• Dimensions: 7/8 x 9/16” (15 x 21 mm)
• Weight: 8.0 grams
• Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .12 carat