Georgian Brooch of the Heavens
A remarkable 18th century celestial brooch after the ...au Firmament tradition. Diamonds are set like stars over blue guilloché enamel with a pearl 'moon' at the centre... rings like this, popularised by Marie Antoinette, are known as Bague au Firmament, or 'Rings of the Heavens' representing the night sky populated by the various celestial bodies. There's a lot going on here: the guilloché enamel is subtle but stunning, with apparent light rays radiating out from the stones; the diamonds are peruzzi cuts, an old variant of the brilliant cut that pre-dates old mine and old European; and it dates from the latter half of the 18th century, a time when the French monarchy fell to the revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity - the idea that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. To quote from our upcoming blog post on Celestial jewellery:
"Back then, the universe was a small place... there was not yet any knowledge of other galaxies. The stars of Marie Antoinette’s 18th century firmament rings were fixed in place on the deep blue celestial sphere in the constellations of the zodiac ... There were only the planets and beyond them the celestial sphere rotating and the stars themselves, those “shining glorious lights”, were motionless…"
This brooch dates from the 1770s and it's crafted in 15 carat gold. And we haven't even addressed its Evil Eye vibes...
Era: Georgian, circa 1770
Size: 3.4cm by 2.7cm
Stones: Peruzzi cut diamonds & natural pearl
Marks: None, tested as 15ct gold
Condition: Great antique condition, brooch clasp has been replaced at some point
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
Express shipping is free of charge and carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
UPS Express (International)
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
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Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£35 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, 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.
More Questions?
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alex@lostowl.jewelry