Description
Date: c.1860s, Mid-Victorian
Materials: natural rubies, natural pearls, solid 18k gold (unmarked; tested with nitric & muriatic acid)
Weight: 14.6 grams
Length: 41.5 mm (including bail), 31 mm excluding bail
Width: 25 mm
Depth (when closed): 14 mm (including large inclaid pearl)
Dimension of largest pearl: 7.6 x 5.8 mm oval
Dimension of rubies: 2.75 – 2.25 mm baguette cuts (twenty-two stones total)
Condition: Overall in excellent condition for the age, with all stones original and none missing. Under 60x loupe magnification, I can spot some surface wear to the rubies (nibbling to some facet edges, one pin-sized micro-chip; however none noticeable with naked eye, and no missing corners or raw chips). There is also some surface wear to the gold. The back of the locket shows some very subtle depressions to the corners, only really noticeable when held at a slant against the light and not deep to be considered a dent.