An original flat-cut garnet stands between two old mine cut diamonds which were set in silver, as was the trend at the time, because it highlighted the clear brightness of the stones. Why silver? It was the only white metal available at the time. White gold wasn't fully developed until the 20th century and while platinum had been recently discovered, it wasn't widely used in jewelry (in the western world) until the 19th century.
thedetails
- Materials
14k gold (tests), silver, 2 3.2mm old mine cut diamonds, 7mm x 6.7mm flat cut garnet
- Age
c. 1780
- Condition
Very good - a few small abrasions to the table of the garnet; mark on the shank from a previous resizing
- Size
6.75, can be resized; 7.2mm head, 1.4mm shank
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![Georgian](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/xvxyz9su/production/0548be05ee86e46cea487161e10b9ee2ab5c69ab-1000x858.jpg?w=3840&q=75&fit=clip&auto=format)
Aboutthe
GeorgianEra
1714 — 1837
As imperialist war raged in the Americas, Caribbean, Australia, and beyond, the jewelry industry benefited: colored gems from all over the empire became newly available. A mix of artistic influences from around Europe contributed to the feminine, glittering jewels of the era. Dense, ornate Baroque motifs from Italy showed up in Georgian jewelry, as did French Rococo’s undulating flora and fauna. Neoclassical style made use of Greek and Roman motifs, which were newly popular due to the recently uncovered ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Lapidary methods improved: the dome-shaped rose cut was popular, as was the “old mine cut,” a very early iteration of today’s round brilliant cut.
The boat-shaped marquise diamond cut was developed around this time, supposedly to imitate the smile of Louis XV’s mistress, the marquise de Pompadour. Paste — an imitation gemstone made from leaded glass — was newly developed in the 18th century, and set into jewelry with the same creativity and care as its more precious counterparts. Real and imitation gems were almost always set in closed-backed settings, lined on the underside with thin sheets of foil to enhance the color of the stone and highlight it's sparkle. This makes Georgian rings tough for modern women to wear, especially on an everyday basis: genteel, jewelry-owning ladies of the 18th century were not famous for working with their hands like we are. Nor did they wash their hands as much as we do. Water will virtually ruin a foiled setting, so take special care with your Georgian ring. Very little jewelry from this period is still in circulation, and it's very difficult to repair.
please note:Terms of Sale
Antiques can be returned unworn and in original condition within 10 days of delivery for an exchange or refund minus the cost of shipping. Once a piece has been altered, including ring re-sizing, it is FINAL SALE.
![The Dawn of Diamond Cutting](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/xvxyz9su/production/338558dd2ad73470440bd6d46353b61fcf57a848-1329x1790.png?w=3840&q=75&fit=clip&auto=format)