Description
Date: c. 1760-80s
Materials: natural South American emeralds (likely Columbian), solid 18k gold (marked and tested via acid & electronic gold tester)
Workmanship origin: Spain, probably Cordoba
Marks: – [A lion sergeant] punched in three places, for solid 18k gold
Weight: 9.3 grams
Height: 47 mm
Width (at widest point): 27.5 mm
Total emerald count: 78 (39 in each earring x 2)
Dimension of emeralds (in mm):
Six largest: 4.5 x 3.2, 4 x 3.4, 4 x 3, 4 x 2.7, two at 3.7 x 3.2
The rest: sixteen at 2 x 1.5, thirty-nine at 1.6 x 1.6, eleven at 2x 2, two at 1.8 x 1.8
Approx. Emerald Total Carat Weight: 2.6 – 3 ctw
Condition: One earring in the pair is in nearly pristine condition, aside from some minor dings and surface wear to the back. The other earring has had some repair work done to the bottom drop: the center emerald appears to be a later replacement (its color and saturation is slightly difference from the rest), and a small metal rivet runs from the top of the drop through and out of the back; there are minor bits of old solder in the crevices, and the gold surface to the back has some splits near the top (please see pictures). My trusted jeweler will inspect and make any necessary reinforcements prior to the earrings shipping out.