Description
Materials: natural emeralds (likely Columbian), solid 18k yellow gold (marked & tested with electronic gold tester + nitric-muriatic acid)
Weight: 13.3 grams (6.6 g & 6.7 g each)
Workmanship origin: Córdoba, Spain
Marks: [lion passant] Córdoba, Spain guarantee for solid 18k gold
Height of earrings: 55 mm
Width of earrings (at maximal point): 33.7 mm
Dimension of emeralds: 78 total — (in mm) two 4 x 4.5, 4.2 x 3.5, 5 x 3.75, 4.25 x 4, 4 x 3.6, two 3 x 2.2, two 2.4 x 2, two 2.4 x 2.2, 2.5 x 2.5, 2.5 x 2.3, three 2.75 x 2.75, 2.9 x 2.5, five 2.7 x 2.2, 2.8 x 2.4, 2.75 x 1.8, 2.5 x 2, two 3 x 2.75, 3 x 2.5, five 2 x 2, four 2.2 x 1.7, ten 2 x 1.7, five 1.6 x 1.6, 1.7 x 1, 1.8 x 1.7, three 1.4 x 1.4, 1.2 x 1.2, 2 x 1.5, six 1.75 x 1.75, three 2.2 x 2, four 2.2 x 1.75, 2.5 x 1.2
Approx. carat weight of emeralds: 4.07 ctw (0.29 x 2 + 0.22+ 0.3 + 0.27 + 0.21 + 0.07 x 2 + 0.04 x 2 + 0.05 x 2 + 0.06 + 0.05 + 0.08 x 3 + 0.07 + 0.06 x 5 + 0.07 + 0.04 + 0.04 + 0.09 x 2 + 0.08 + 0.03 x 5 + 0.03 x 4 + 0.02 x 10 + 0.02 x 5 + 0.01 + 0.02 + 0.01 x 3 + 0.01 + 0.02 + 0.02 x 6 + 0.04 x 3 + 0.03 x 4 + 0.02)
Condition: one of the small 1.75 x 1.75 emeralds is a later replacement (matched table cut, but coloring is deeper). Some small dents to the convex gold backs, including a 2 mm hairline split to the upper corner of one component (common age-related issues for nearly all earrings of this type). Due to emerald being a softer gem, age-related surface wear is inevitable: under loupe magnification, I can spot light scratches, abrasions to facet junction, and some tiny corner chips to the smaller stones. However, the emeralds look sharp and well-preserved to the naked eye, with no major flaws. Overall, this pair is in better condition than most examples of its type: the original ear wires have been preserved, and there are no major repairs or losses to the gold.