Posted 10 years ago
whoopie
(2 items)
This is my best guess as to what this item is, and it's approximate age (Victorian) but would love to know if anyone has come across something similar to this? Any thoughts appreciated!
This appears to be brooch made from a ring. The ring was halved and then the two halves were mounted with an elaborate metal harness around a piece of smoothly polished clambroth glass. The diamond shaped center of the brooch would have been the centerpiece of the ring, but once the ring was disassembled, this piece was soldered between the two pieces of the ring band. The pin clasp has an old style hinged mount that terminates in a c-clasp that is equipped with a tiny safety clasp.
There is an initial "T" letter, with a pin clasp attached, that is attached to the brooch by means of a tiny chain. The chain goes to a jump ring that fits into a tiny drilled hole beneath the tube hinge on the pin.
The glittering gemstones test as diamonds with my gem tester. I believe these are mine cut diamonds (definitely the centermost diamond) and the diamond chips accenting the band are nick set I believe.
The only mark found is on the safety clasp for the pin and it is difficult to read. It may be Ste5606 or BuS605, just not sure, will have to get different equipment to try and see the mark better.
One of the prettiest things I've ever seen. To me, it looks like something made special from sentiment. Who know what the story could be.
Just lovely. Love it
Since I posted I was able to read one of the marks on this piece which is Bte SGDG which is an old French abbreviation for "patented, not guaranteed by the government" so this piece is probably French. I'm also leaning more toward circa 1900-1930 as time frame as the design of the diamond ring (if that is what it once was) looks Art Deco-ish to me.