Victorian Fly Earrings
For secrets in your ear... A pair of Victorian fly earrings dating from the latter half of the 19th century, circa 1880. Each fly, perfectly formed, is set with a greenish-yellow chalcedony cabochons and seed pearls with cute wire-work legs and beady golden eyes. They're crafted in 18 carat gold.
The fly, to the Victorians, had a surprising dual symbolism: on the one hand it represented memento mori - the brevity of life and human mortality - but also, on the other, secrets. Or more specifically, they were secret keepers - think fly-on-the-wall. And here we have two, whispering those carefully kept secrets right into your ears.
Era: Victorian, circa 1880
Size: 16.8mm (from top of ear wire) by 12.0mm
Stones: Chalcedony & Seed Pearls
Marks: None, tested as 18ct gold
Condition: Great antique condition. Ear wires are later additions
Full appraisal document provided with each item.
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable).
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
Shipping
UPS Express shipping is free of charge on international orders over £300 and it's carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
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Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
A 25% deposit will be taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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info@lostowl.com