There is something wonderfully otherworldly about this one.
A beautifully unusual antique winged jewel, set throughout with twinkling rose-cut diamonds and centred by a softly frosted rock crystal column. The sweeping wings are exquisitely detailed, with graduating rose cuts following each individual feather and larger diamonds accenting the inner sections, all set into a wonderfully darkened silver front that makes antique diamonds sparkle so beautifully.
The reverse is formed in rosy-toned gold, testing at approximately 16ct, while the diamond-set front tests as silver. The construction, materials and wonderfully romantic wing design are characteristic of the late Victorian to Belle Époque period, and we would date the original winged section to circa 1890-1910.
The jewel came to us without its original fitting and appears to have originally formed part of a brooch or stick pin. Rather than recreating the missing fitting, we have converted it into this completely one-of-a-kind necklace using antique elements.
Beneath the rock crystal is a beautiful Victorian diamond drop, repurposed from a separate antique jewel. The drop measures approximately 5 x 4 mm, and the diamond itself is an especially lovely antique cut - cushion-shaped with wonderfully chunky, irregular hand-cut facets and a tall crown and table profile, sitting somewhere between an early single-style cut and a Peruzzi-type cut. It has been fixed in position rather than left freely moving, creating a little flash of brilliance directly beneath the wings.
We paired the centrepiece with an antique 15ct gold round-link chain, finished with its original 17mm dog clip and a small “15ct” tag to the end link. The yellow gold tone makes a fabulous contrast against the cool silver, diamonds and misty rock crystal, while 18ct gold end rings complete the conversion.
At approximately 17.25 inches long, it sits beautifully around the collarbone, with the winged centre taking all the attention. A wonderfully eccentric piece of antique jewellery - part celestial, part talismanic, and completely unique in its present form.
