Description
Date: c. 1730-40, second quarter of the 18th century
Materials: table & rose cut diamonds, silver, solid 18k yellow gold (unmarked; tested with electronic gold tester)
Workmanship origin: Spanish
Weight: 116.5 grams
Height of necklace: 185 mm (7.2 in) (drop from D-hooks to bottom of central pendant)
Width of necklace: 210 mm (8.2 in) (from left D-hook to right D-hook)
Length of necklace: 400 mm (15.7 in) (measured as a V-shape)
Diamond total count: 167 (49 table cuts, 118 rose cuts)
Dimension of table cut diamonds (measured in mm): 5 x 4.5, 6 x 3.75, 4.6 x 4, 4 x 3, two 3 x 2.6, 4.2 x 2.75, two 3 x 2.4, 4.2 x 2.4, 3.25 x 2, three 2.5 x 2, 2.6 x 1.7, 3.4 x 2.6, 3.2 x 2.4, 2.2 x 2.2, 2.4 x 2, 2 x 2, two 2.25 x 2, 2.25 x 1.7, 3.5 x 2.75, 3.75 x 2.25, 2.75 x 2.25, three 3 x 2.2, 1.7 x 1.7, 3 x 2.4, two 1.8 x 1.4, 4.2 x 3.4, 3.6 x 2.75, 3 x 2.5, 2.7 x 2.4, 2.6 x 2.2, two 2.2 x 2, two 2.8 x 2.5, 2.4 x 2.4, two 2 x 1.5, 3.6 x 3, 2.2 x 1.8, 3.8 x 2.6, 3.2 x 3.2
Dimension of rose cut diamonds (measure in mm): 2.4 x 1.4, two 1.8 x 1.8, 2.4 x 1.7, eight 2 x 1.4, two 2 x 1.2, 2.3 x 1.6, five 2.2 x 1.4, three 2.6 x 1.6, 1.8 x 1.2, four 2 x 1.8, 2.8 x 2.6, two 2 x 1.6, 4.4 x 2.2 triangular, two 2.2 x 2.2, two 2.6 x 2.4, 3 x 2.5, 3 x 2.7, 2.7 x 2, 2.6 x 2.5, 3 x 2.6, 3 x 2.4, 3.2 x 2.6, two 2.8 x 2, five 2.4 x 2, six 2 x 2, three 2.4 x 1.8, 2.8 x 1.7, three 2.6 x 1.2, two 1.6 x 1.5, two 2.6 x 2, 2.2 x 1.7, forty-nine between 1-2 mm
Approx. carat of diamonds: 6.22 ctw (5.02 ctw table cuts + 1.2 ctw rose cuts)
Condition: this necklace original had four small tear-shaped drops; the two lower ones remain while the two upper ones are missing. About six of the smallest rose cut diamonds have nibble(s) to the edges, resulting in small gaps between stone and bezel. One of the smaller side table cut diamonds has a chipped corner (not noticeable with the naked eye).The terminal D-hoops may be old replacements or reattached; there’s some reinforcement solder at the joints. In general, the diamonds have natural and age flaws associated with historic diamonds: loupe-visible inclusions (feathers, needles, twinning wisps etc), cavities or tiny nibbles at the edges. Overall however, the diamonds are all original, with none missing, and have a nice watery quality. Some tarnishing to the silver foiling. General age-related patina and surface wear to the gold and silver.