Antique Diamond Cluster Ring

It is December and we are finding ourselves in glittery and sparkling outfits, that during the rest of the year would be seen to be a little OTT but now is just right!  So I thought that it was time to revel in all this extravagance and this Georgian style diamond cluster ring is the perfect place to start:

Georgian Style Diamond Cluster Ring at Richard Ogden

So I didn’t used to be in to cluster rings, I suppose coming from Sweden/Finland where there is a great appreciation for clean and simple designs, cluster rings were never a consideration for me.  However, having seen so many beautiful Victorian and Georgian rings here in England, and seeing what a beautiful part in the history of jewellery design they are, I now absolutely adore them and always enjoy viewing them when one comes around the shop.  There is such a romantic look around a really beautifully set diamond cluster ring and the one that I have hijacked for this post is a perfect example: 

Georgian style diamond cluster ring in a cut down setting

This is a Georgian style diamond cluster ring set with a cushion cut centre diamond.  This beautiful cushion is surrounded by old brilliant cut diamonds and it is all set in a Georgian style cut down setting in 18ct white gold, with the shank of the ring mounted in 18ct yellow gold.
Let’s take a closer look at what this actually means: first of all the Cushion Cut is in my eyes the most romantic cut of diamond that there is and it makes a wonderful choice for an engagement ring.  It has a soft and subtle sparkle to it, which (and I know that I have mentioned this before) is best viewed in candle light where the brilliance comes to its own right when the flames are reflected in the facets of the diamond.

Victorian Style Diamond Cluster Ring at Richard Ogden

As for the Georgian cut down setting: this is a different style to what we are used to seeing in contemporary designs, as today quite often diamonds are held in place with gold or platinum claws, however here you can see how the white gold surrounds the diamonds in a very period typical design.  In order to bring out the whiteness in the diamonds the white gold is closest to the stones, whereas the yellow gold makes up the shank, which I think is the ideal design for a classic cluster ring.

The ring is beautifully finished off with fleur de lis design shoulders, which you can see quite nicely in the photo below:

Fleur de Lis design shoulders

This ring was made up by one of the most wonderful craftsmen that I have met here in London, who specialises in Georgian and Victorian designs, and it is just a joy to see all the amazing designs that he comes up with, often using old cut diamonds.  I hope you enjoyed this just as much as I did, I would love to hear your thoughts below!

 

Diamond Jewellery from Moira Fine Jewellery

So I must say that my favourite part about working in an antique jewellery shop is trying on the pieces, as well as getting exciting previews of new items that come into the shop!

A previous of a diamond riviere necklace from Moira Fine Jewellery 

The other day we were putting a few items up on Moira’s Instagram page for all the lovely brides-to-be, so I was wearing this stunning diamond riviere necklace (and never wanted to take it off, but I had to in the end)….  It is Moira’s own design, a classic necklace set with 18.32 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds in 18 carat white gold – how stunning it would look when worn by a bride on her wedding day!

Moira Fine Jewellery, Diamond Drop Earrings

I also tried on these diamond cluster drop earrings with two beautiful old cut centre diamonds, and a total approximate weight of 8.44cts..!  There is something very special about bridal diamond drop earrings; I loved the ones that the Swedish Princess Madeleine wore on her wedding day, but I wonder if I might prefer the ones above, by Moira, since they are of a more delicate design, and would pair up beautifully with any other diamond or pearl jewellery that you might choose to wear on the day.  We swoon!

My February Brooch Wearing Challenge

 

Vintage Brooch in Silver with Blue Topaz

Good morning my dear, I hope you are having a fabulous week so far!  So I have been thinking about brooches a lot lately, as customers at the antique shop bring in their antique and vintage brooches on a regular basis and want to break them apart, because “no one wears brooches anymore!”  Well, fashion comes and goes, right?  I am certain that brooches will make a comeback, and how sad will we be when we have broken them all apart and turned them into eternity rings, necklaces and earrings!?

Vintage Silver Brooch with Marcasites

So I have taken on the challenge of wearing brooches twice a week in the shop, to hopefully inspire our customers to keep their beautiful pieces in their original design.  One day I saw this stunning 1920’s Art Deco diamond brooch, that the owner just didn’t know what to do with!  Let’s stop this nonsense and bring them back into fashion, shall we?

Vintage Cameo worn as a hairpiece

And please feel free to join me!  Do you have any brooches lying around?  If you do, then please wear them and send me a photo, as I would love to share it with all you other readers.  Also, do you have any suggestions as to how I can wear my brooches at work throughout February?!  I am thinking fastening my scarves with them and also wearing them as hairpieces.  I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!

Vintage Brooch worn as a hairpiece

The Fascinating Fire Opal

The other day a fire opal and diamond ring made it into my hands for a few moments, and I obviously took the chance to photograph it for us here on the blog:

Fire Opal and Diamond Ring

Our love for fire opals date back to ancient times, when it was the symbol of passionate love in India, the Persian kingdom, and in the Americas.  The Mayas and Aztecs called it Quetzalitzlipyollitli – ‘the stone of the bird of paradise’, as they believed that this kind of beauty could only ever have been created in the waters of paradise. (1)  The most significant fire opal deposits in the world can be found in Mexico, and it is Mexico’s national gemstone.

Fire opals reach a hardness of 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale (where a diamond is a 10 and sapphires are a 9) so it is quite a sensitive gemstone and must be worn with care.  The extraordinary colour in the stone comes from little traces of iron oxide, and some fire opals display the play of colours that we see in regular opals, however they are mostly known for their vivid body colour, as opposed to other opals, where the play of colours is what determines the value.

These beautiful gemstones bring us a feeling of warmth and well-being, and they are thought to bring courage, will-power and energy to their wearer.

 

Sources

(1) International Coloured Gemstone Association

April Diamond Dreaming

“She who from April dates her years,
Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow; this stone,
Emblem of innocence, is known.”

Antique chandelier diamond earrings at Westleigh Antiques, Grays Antiques Market

The traditional birthstone for April is the Diamond, which is known to bring all you lovely April children balance, clarity and abundance in life.  It is of course a symbol of eternal love, and the word Diamond comes from the Greek work “adamas” meaning “hardest metal (1).  It is after all one of the hardest substances on the globe, dating back billions of years in time!

Rough diamonds are found in nature and skilled diamond cutters cut them into various forms, creating reflecting facets that lead to the incredible brilliancy that we know so well (2).  Diamonds are also though to increase a person’s energy, whether positive or negative, as well as the healing properties of other crystals.  In other words, if you wear a diamond with an amethyst, it will increase that crystal’s soothing and calming properties.

Diamonds are believed to increase the powers of other gemstones when worn together.  Antique diamond rings at John Joseph, Grays Antique Market

As always, we must look into the legends that surround this birthstone, and the Diamond doesn’t disappoint: ancient Hindus believed that diamonds were create by lightning bolts and they would attribute so much power to diamonds that they placed them in the eyes of statues of deities.  The Greeks believed that diamonds were tears of the Gods, splinters of stars and crystallised lightning (oh I do love that!).

So enjoy your birthday month all you lucky April born ones, and here is to hoping that a diamond crosses your path on your day!

Sources:

1. American Gem Society

2. Birthday Gems

April Diamond Dreaming

“She who from April dates her years,
Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow; this stone,
Emblem of innocence, is known.”

Chandelier diamond earrings at Westleigh Antiques, Grays Antiques Market

The traditional birthstone for April is the Diamond, which is known to bring all you lovely April children balance, clarity and abundance in life.  It is of course a symbol of eternal love, and the word Diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas” meaning “hardest metal”, as it is one of the hardest substances on the globe – dating back billions of years!  

Rough diamonds are found in nature and skilled diamond cutters cut the gemstones into various forms, creating reflecting facets that lead to the incredible brilliancy that we know so well.  Diamonds are also thought to increase a person’s energy, whether positive or negative, and also the healing properties of other crystals.  In other words, if you wear a diamond with an amethyst, it will increase that crystal’s soothing and calming properties.

Diamonds are thought to increase the powers of other gemstone when worn together.  Antique Diamond Rings at John Joseph, Grays Antique Market 

As always we must look into the legends that surround this birthstone, and the Diamond doesn’t disappoint: Ancient Hindus believed that diamonds were created by lightning bolts and they would attribute so much power to diamonds that they placed them in the eyes of statues of deities.  The Greeks believed that diamonds were tears of the Gods, splinters of stars and crystallised lightning.  So enjoy your birthday month all you lucky April born ones, and here is to hoping that a diamond crosses your path on your day!

Sources

1. American Gem Society

2. Birthday Gems