Catalog (382)

We love the patina of this antique delicate carved amethyst intaglio depicting a charming bird perched on solid ground, beak pointed upward mounted in a later, retro hammered 24K gold band. The ring is substantial at .38 inch high but not overwhelmingly large. At almost 14 grams and 24K (stamped), this ring is solid gold yet feels surprisingly light. This modern looking signet ring is easy to wear and marries beautifully with other rings. Not to be missed. The ring fits a size 9-9.5 finger.

Georgian chased fob of 15K in the shape of a stirrup cup with a chased built in bale for hanging from your favorite pendant. The fob is filled with clear unadorned citrine. With the gold-work chased on every surface, this is a fob to behold. A nice hefty size, this Georgian fob is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite gold chain.

This wonderful 18K Scottish fob features an imposing tower, the symbol for the Mason family crest. The fob is carved with a motto which reads "Demeure Par La Verite" and translates to "Keep Fast By the Truth". Keep fast by the truth is rooted in the bible: from the Gospel of John, it means remain faithful to the word of God and one will be rewarded with a fruitful life. Our fob is 1.5" tall and just shy of 1.5" wide. Family crest information sourced from Fairbanks' Guide (see photo of fortress d...

A most interesting mourning ring style of the period; the two sided mourning ring with a swivel bezel. One side has a lock of hair under crystal and is bordered with pearls, representing tears, in a pinched gold setting. The other side is a black enamel rectangle inscribed with Mark Hodgson ESQ died 12 July 1810 aged 52 in gold letters. Our ring is in near perfect condition and appears as if it could have been made yesterday, impossible of course, as the Georgian goldsmith's skills cannot be...

Fabulous Berlin iron ring decorated with symbols associated with faith (dove) love (heart) and loyalty (dog). The heart is surrounded by a leafy wreath and surmounted by the dog and the dove. The band has a floral motif, probably laurel leaves. The band has a floral motif. Berlin Iron jewelry was popular in the early 1800's. During the Napoleonic war German women gave their precious jewelry for the war effort and it was replaced with Berlin iron jewelry some with the inscription "Ich gab gelt fu...

Fabulous Berlin iron ring decorated what appears to be agricultural tools, including a scythe. The band has a floral motif. It is possible the ring was owned by a landowner farmer. Popular in the early 1800's, during the Napoleonic war German women gave their precious jewelry for the war effort and it was replaced with Berlin iron jewelry some with the inscription "Ich gab gelt für eisen", I gave gold for iron. The iron jewelry was made by the Royal Berlin Factory, which produced iron for i...

15K gold fede or love ring with two hands coming together to enclose a gold heart with a single rose-cut diamond embedded in a carved star at the center. The word "fede" means faith. The clasped hands motif has been used since Roman times. The ring is US size 8.25.

Regency Period, circa 1820 fob seal with a translucent image of an 18th century bearded man in a beret, perhaps robed. This swivel fob is 1 1/4 inches in width with a beauifully carved repousse jump ring that is just shy of 1 inch. This is really a two-fer- you get a beautiful swivel fob to hang as a pendant and the built in hand forged matching repousse jump ring allows you to hang it from your chain, along with additional pendants if you choose. The jump ring is attached to a 15K stationary ba...

This wonderful lava ring was sold in Naples to travelers on the Grand Tour as souvenir jewelry in the 1820’s to 40's after the discovery of the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the 18th century. Made by Pompeian stone cutters, each of the seven round heads of the ring is distinctly carved and is of a different hue as well as a different mythological figure and comes from a different organic material sourced from Vesuvius. The cameos represent the days of the week, The grey cameo represents ...

Exquisite Georgian rock crystal riviere set in silver with a 15k gold mount and an open back. Rock Crystal is transparent quartz often seen in fine antique jewelry. It is extremely hard and was thought to transmit positive energy and to have healing properties. This rare necklace is wonderful for evening wear. With its mass of crystals gems mounted perfectly next to its neighbor, with little to no metal clasps visible in between, this necklace creates a lovely composition on one's neck. The neck...

This romantic amethyst 18k necklace has a smooth and sultry snake chain that feels as good as it looks. The glittering large five amethysts fall symmetrically about the chain and always fall perfectly on the neck, with the central largest amethyst positioned exactly at the center. The clasp is hidden in the chain and remarkably easy to attach as it slides right in and holds firmly and securely. The necklace can easily be clasped by the wearer. Amethysts were very popular in Georgian times and be...

The devil is in the details. Every detail of our 18K woven gold gloved hand bracelet with guilloche enamel cuffs are is a beauty to behold. Our bracelet was handcrafted by skillful Georgian goldsmiths who took care to make sure that every part of this bracelet met their exacting standards. And it shows. We call this a "woven" gold bracelet because during the Georgian period goldsmiths were adept at weaving gold so that it resembled and felt more like fabric than metal chain. This weaving styl...

We love these royal blue mirror glass earrings which shine a brighter Bristol blue with the slightest head movement. the beveled hand carved edge is a lovely detail which was clearly time consuming for the maker. The plate glass factory at Vauxhall was known for its production of mirror glass, but in addition, the company employed skillful artisans to produce jewelry out of the remaining shards. Thus was created Vauxhall glass jewelry, much loved then and by collectors today. The earrings are 1 ...

This unusual mid nineteenth century Gold and Silver Diamond Cluster ring is a variation of the classic Victorian cluster ring with a twist. The twist is that the the flower cluster is actually set in a mount of silver, with pear shaped diamonds set in 8 "leaves" of gradually increasing size, perfectly asymmetrically symmetrical. Then the silver mount is further set atop a gold mount and the band is finished in gold. Such a design could only be accomplished with rigorous and exacting hand labor ...

Lovely 18K stone coral ring with 8 small diamonds. Five stone rings were classic Victorian forms. Our ring has smooth polished cabachon coral stones and ten small perfect flat cut diamonds at each corner. During Victorian times and earlier, coral was believed to have mystical properties and to ward off illness. The rose pink color was the most sought after. The ring is a size 8 and can be sized.

Our glass earrings, in the form of a Latin crosses, are made of Vauxhall glass, popular as jewelry in the 1860's and sold along the pleasure Gardens in Chelsea, where courting couples strolled on summer evenings. Made by skilled artisans who were employed by the Vauxhall Glass Company in an effort to make use of the leftover glass shards from the mirror glass they produced, the jewelry was much loved for the skillful carving of the glass into unique and creative forms. Crosses, animal, and insec...

Hardstone Portrait Cameo signet ring of a gentleman in profile. The ring was likely commissioned by a wealthy individual or statesman as a self portrait. The ring has a maker's mark for Henry Griffith & Sons, is hallmarked for the year 1852, Birmingham and stamped for 18ct. It was one of the earlier rings made by Henry Griffith & Sons which began in the year 1850 and continued in business until the early 1970's. The ring has slight engraved indentations along the shoulders which follow the sh...

C.1860 18ct Pietra-Dura Flower Brooch Antique 18K Gold Pietra Dura Brooch, Italy C.1875. Oval shape brooch with fine pietra dura floral green, robins egg blue inlay colors,and white and gold flowers as accents. 18K surround gold mount with 8 gold X's soldered symmetrically around the gold border.

This amethyst ring is a striking example of gold-work decoration that became popular in the second decade of the 19th century. A type of filigree work known as "cannetile" and named for the gold embroideries of the Napoleonic years, cannetile work made the most of a small amount of gold and required highly skilled goldsmiths. The amethyst stone is particularly eye-catching. The combination of the cannetile work next to the amethyst makes this an extraordinary ring. The ring is a US size 6.

This is an original nineteenth century sterling watch chain with a round interlocking link. Close-up photos reveal the interlocking nature of the links. A great deal of ingenuity went into making chains, and there is nothing like an original long Victorian watch chain that retains its original length. Watch chains of the nineteenth century served the function of allowing the watch to be retrieved from the pocket without losing grasp of the watch itself. If you favor chains that are fu...

Victorian Forget Me Not ring 15K set with six turquoise stones in a radial pattern, 3 supporting turquoises on each side and a diamond at center. The flower literally means “Forget me not” and the small rose diamond in the centre signifies eternal love. The band is ornately carved to enhance the delicacy of the ring. The ring no longer has hair behind crystal back but few examples have survived with this intact. The ring dates to C1880 and is a size 8.

Wonderful tactile slinky watch chain. To be a proper watch chain, the chain must be over 50" long, as they were originally made (shorter chains are simply cut up watch chains). Snake chains are a favorite link because of the slinky smooth texture and the way the link bounces back when adjusted. The watch chain terminates in a barrel clasp, a nice feature as the clasp allows you to unhook the chain and wrap the chain around your neck several times to be worn as a collar, in addition to doubling o...

Lovely early Victorian angel skin coral ring with 10 carved florets and one large carved coral flower at the center, set in a pleasing symmetrical pattern. This ring has a 9K gold band while the coral florets are set in a metal bed. The Victorians loved angel skin coral, which is a red-orange or light pink colored coral, and they especially loved coral cut into cameos, flowers, or fruit. This ring has a rather large head and is therefore best worn alone. This ring is a US size 7.75.

Lightweight, hand forged 72 inch long 15k belcher long guard chain which can be doubled or tripled or quadrupled as a necklace. The belcher link is sometimes called a box link chain and is an interlocking square open link that remains popular to this day. Note that this is an original Victorian chain that has remained intact through the years and not chopped up into shorter chains. It has a threaded dog clip that is easily unscrewed to attach a pendant or two of your choice. We have doubled the ...

This attractive antique full length 18K watch chain has alternating carved ornamental solid gold by-pyramid link (what we call a "fancy" link) which connects to a pair of linked rings, which connects to simple solid gold by-pyramid link. The C1880 chain measures 59 inches long. It can be worn in various lengths, doubled or tripled, with a locket or pendant, or just as is, shown in the images below. A screwed in bolt clip allows you to add a pendant, if desired. The chain weighs 35 grams and feel...

C1890 60 inch long original full length French watch chain features lovely handcrafted filigree elements with its traditional links and filigree circles within the links. The chain can be worn doubled or tripled and with a pendant attached. An 18K French chain is a must for every woman's jewelry wardrobe! The hallmarks consist of a French eagle head (18K), bigorne marks, and a goldsmith's mark. The hallmarks are located on the ring that attaches to the clasp. The chain weighs 50 grams.

Delightful 18K hand over heart fede ring. - the word fede means faithful. The Victorians were fond of such romantic sentiments. The ring has a tiny diamond set on the ring finger of the gold hand, a lovely and surprising detail. The ring is a US size 8 1/4.

18K pendant of rock crystal with a reverse intaglio of the head of an adorable Pekingese, with an inscription on the reverse side, Ed. Van den Hove & Fils, Bruxelles, C. 1880. This pendant is stylistically characteristic of the work of the Pradier family, whose speciality was painting miniature works of domestic animals. These miniature works of art were widely popular in the United States as well as on the Continent. They are often erroneously referred to as Essex Crystals.

Our star stamped chain link bracelet is made up of two strands of 9 carat gold chains set parallel to each other and soldered together in at three places along the length of the bracelet, which gives it movement. The bracelet has small round links each of which are stamped with little stars. The back of the bracelet is identical to the front, also stamped with stars on each round link. The double strands terminate at both ends in a square prism set on the angle of a diamond, with the square pris...

A good example of the remarkable talent behind the wonderful Austrian Bronze handmade, hand painted bronze miniature figurines. Austrian bronzes are individually cast from sand molds used only once, then sculpted and cold painted by hand with several coats of paint. This rare painted butterfly is approximately 1 inch long and 1 1/4 inches wide. A perfect collection for the entomologist or botany professor in your life. A someone who just wants to start a collection who has only a small amount of...

Victorian 18K Carnelian agate swivel ring of a bearded man in profile. The fiery orange red glow of the Carnelian stone mesmerizes and the feel of the revolving swivel makes this a unique and very pleasant ring to won. The bearded unknown man is beautifully carved on one side while the other side is plain. The ring is .75 inches long and .5 inches wide and fits a size 7-7.5 and fairly large in scale and has great presence. The last photos show the scale of the ring relative to other signets.

Lovely carved bracelet of polished jet. Jet was a form of fossilized coal that was discovered in the town of Whitby, England in the late 18th century. This gave rise to a cottage industry that employed many in the town of Whitney in the 19th century, as jet formed the material for lightweight striking black jewelry forms which were perfect i to meet the unending demand for mourning jewelry during the Victorian era (owing to Queen Victoria's long extended period of mourning for hur late husband ...

This is a good example of the remarkable talent behind the wonderful Austrian Bronze handmade, hand painted bronze miniature figurines which were made around the turn of the 20th century in foundries in Austria and Vienna. Austrian bronzes are individually cast from sand molds used only once, then sculpted and cold painted by hand with several coats of a special and secretive type of enamel paint, resulting in very detailed and life like miniature figures. Our pair of dachshunds, both with red c...

Translated as "pierce" in French, the word pique describes a classically Victorian type of jewelry made by heating tortoiseshell and piercing it with gold and silver inlays to create beautiful geometric or floral patterns. This describes the beautiful art of pique jewelry, made from the upper shell and lower belly of the hawksbill turtle and considered the highest quality of turtle shell and used for the production of beautiful boxes, objet, hair ornaments, and in the nineteenth century, jewelry...

Often confused with Whitby Jet, French Jet is polished glass with a more brilliant luster and flashier. Like Whitby Jet, it is truly antique, of the (Victorian) period, and no longer made, and therefore highly collectible. Like Whitby Jet, it was often used for mourning. This lightweight collar has a classic and unique look, looks terrific on and can be adjusted to different lengths about the neck, as it has a simple ribbon tie closure. There are scratches on the backs of a few of the fre...

Attractive bracelet with 8 nicely proportioned brilliant cut rock crystals set in individual gilt metal rope bezels attached to one another with a double set of links. The bracelet fits a medium-sized wrist and hangs attractively. The clear stones and gilt metal would make a nice addition when worn with other gold bangles as the clear rock crystal stones and gilt metal compliment gold.Fits a small to medium sized wrist.

Unusual lightweight original watch chain of made of gunmetal, a material used to make decorative chains, purses, brooches, buckles and other items during the Victorian era. Gunmetal is an alloy of copper and tin. Our chain has a lovely complex knot link that is shown closeup in the images. It is hard to imagine the time it took to construct such a chain by hand, and a similar link could not be made today. Gunmetal watch chains were both decorative and functional. People would hang their key...

Unusual lightweight original watch chain of made of gunmetal, an alloy of copper and tin that was used to make decorative chains, purses, brooches, buckles and other items during the Victorian era. Our chain has alternating links and balls throughout and the pattern is consistent and uninterrupted (this is something we look for and is important because it shows the chain is in its original condition with no links removed). Besides being decorative, such watch chains were useful; people would ha...

Authentic Murphy family crest ring, complete with the motto and crest, all artfully carved in bloodstone (bloodstone is a dark green variety of chalcedony with red specks). The Lion Rampant stands in profile at the top holding a wheat sheath between his paws, the crest sits below and the banner with Latin motto Fortis et hospitales adorns the bottom of the ring face. The wheat is representative of abundance and the lion of strength and bravery. Irish crests always include a shield and a motto in...

We adore this c 1880 Shakudo ring featuring a We adore this c1880 Shakudo ring depicting a Japanese samurai warrior with two swords, dressed in traditional garb, writing his wishes on strips of paper that he will hang from bamboo branches, in Japanese tradition said to make wishes come true. Shakudo is an ancient Japanese art form which developed from the Samurai tradition of sword making. The metalwork used in the Shakudo technique consists of inlays of alloys of gold and copper on a dark cop...

This is a rare example of the remarkable talent behind the wonderful Austrian Bronze handmade, hand painted bronze miniature figurines which were made around the turn of the 20th century in foundries in Austria and Vienna. Austrian bronzes are individually cast from sand molds used only once, then sculpted and cold painted by hand with several coats of a special and secretive type of enamel paint, resulting in very detailed and life like miniature figures. Our spider, approximately 1 inch square...

Substantial silver bangle bracelet with an elliptical border of open cutwork featuring delicate daisies and swirl designs. The delicate openwork border surrounds smaller raised ellipse at center which with a delicate carved composition of a bird and a bee together in flight. An arabesque design flanks each side of the elipse to complete the symmetrical arrangement. These were Western interpretations copied from the Japanese aesthetic movement, but were made by Birmingham manufacturers for mass c...

The symbolism and motifs behind the Victorian bangle bracelets, with their quaint floral bouquets and plants and trails of leaves well known. Our Sterling silver bangle has two carved stylized vases of flowers on either side, a vertical array of flowers next to each and at center, what appears to be two vertical daisies and leaf tendrils. This bracelets are quintessentially Victorian; sentimental jewelry always had associated meanings behind different flowers. Flowers were known as "messengers o...

This is a sterling silver Victorian chain with a fine link intertwined with 9K ornamental gold balls that add interest and color. The gold balls are spaced evenly and symmetrically around the chain, as they should be, on a properly fabricated chain. We have attempted to show this in the photos. AT 55 inches long, it will hang 2 or 3 times around the neck. Because of the combination of gold and silver used together in this chain, it can be worn with gold or silver pendants (note the large bolt ri...

The longest watch chain we have ever come across, this authentic Sterling Victorian slinky watch chain has an unusual link. Victorian watch chains were worn by women, as well as men, to hang a watch, which would snap into the end of a long chain and tuck into a pocket or a belt at the waist. (This is why original watch chains were always very long. Shorter watch chains are part of a larger chain that has been cut down to make 2 or 3 necklaces). At 78 inches in length, our chain can be looped ove...

This is a long silver watch chain with alternating lengths of longer and shorter fetter links. For the better part of the nineteenth century, chains were fashioned laboriously using hand-working skills. A fetter link refers to a longer link which was used to reduce the number of links needed to fabricate a chain, thereby cutting down on the labor. The longer links are polished smooth while the shorter links have an interesting texture. If you appreciate chains that are fully fabricated by ...

his is an original nineteenth century sterling watch chain with a substantial square shaped link called a Venetian or box link. Closeup photos reveal the interesting interlocking pattern of the links. A great deal of ingenuity went into making chains, and there is nothing like an original long Victorian watch chain that has never been chopped up into shorter chains, but retains its original length. If you favor chains that are fabricated by hand, this chain is a real find. The links are full...

This is a rare example of the remarkable talent behind the wonderful Austrian Bronze handmade, hand painted bronze miniature figurines which were made around the turn of the 20th century in foundries in Austria and Vienna. Austrian bronzes are individually cast from sand molds used only once, then sculpted and cold painted by hand with several coats of a special and secretive type of enamel paint, resulting in very detailed and life like miniature figures. Our tarantula, approximately 1 inch squ...

The ‘toi et moi’ style describes an engagement band on a coiled band, with two gemstones coming together where the band meets around the finger. The toi et moi translates to "you and me" and symbolizes the union of two people, a wonderfully romantic sentiment. Our Toi et Moi diamond ring has two rose cut diamonds set in a yellow gold band trailed by 5 graduated accent diamonds on each side along. The piece de resistance is the small diamond that endearingly reaches out from each toi et mo...

C. 1880 Hand carved Wood Box Engraved mother of pearl box measures just over 2 inches square. The top slides cleanly off the base to uncover beautiul mother of pearl "puzzle pieces", probably intended as a game whereby one must get the pieces back in the same order. A lovely Victorian box for the discerning box collector.

Our keeper ring once had hallmarks but they are worn off, so we are estimating this ring to be from the late 1890's. Our ring has plaited gold work on the underside, a work of art of itself. A "Keeper" ring is a snug fitting ring worn to prevent the loss of a more valuable ring by keeping the larger ring from sliding off. Keeper rings were also known as magic, or illusion rings, because of the illusion created by rotating the band causing it to appear to widen, to narrow, then to widen again...

Known as a box link or Venetian chain, this 60 inch Victorian long guard watch chain is hand forged and was made by welding together hollow section rings. Such chains were called " long guards". Often shortened to "guard chains" , these chains were ultra-lightweight and long, anywhere and over 50 inches long. They were designed to hold watches with a dog clips and were originally worn with the chain tucked into a woman's belt, and the watch dangled from the chain. Today, one could attach the...

Our C1890 15K link original watch chain has 19 natural pearls interspersed symmetrically along our exceptionally long chain at 67", with 18 pearls arranged around the chain in perfect symmetry and the 19th single pearl arranged symmetrical to the clasp. The chain feels incredibly light and silky smooth about the neck, almost weightless. It is so long it can be worn tripled without even removing it from your neck, simply fold it over another time around your head and it is tripled. The pearls giv...

Charming 18K Victorian gypsy ring with a solitaire diamonds set in an unusual carved pointed petal setting with incised flourishes along the shoulders which are a nice detail.. This type of mounting was popular through the 19th century and into the 20th. The gem is set flush with the gold band creating a secure setting for people with active lifestyles. The ring is great for stacking or alone. The diamond is roughly 30 points old cushion cut and the face of the ring measures 2cm x 7.5mm and w...

Wonderfully painted enamel ring depicting the love between Cupid and Psyche, the universal symbol of everlasting love. The ancient Greeks viewed the butterfly as a symbol of the immortality of the soul. The painting on the enamel ring shows the goddess Psyche, which means "soul" or "spirit", in the form of the butterfly, being chased by Cupid. The ring is 18K, circa 1910, size 6.5 and can be sized.

Jewelers produced tie pins in the 19th century to meet the increasing demand for novelty jewelry. The spiral ridge near the top of the pin helps to hold the item of clothing, whether it be a tie or a scarf, securely in place. The increasingly liberated and activism of women toward the later half of the 19th century gave rise to a new class of sporting jewelry. Many an equestrienne was wearing horseshoe pins to the lapel of her riding clothes by the 1880's. We love the detail of the riding belt...

This beautiful gold chain has a nice thick substantial link and its smooth texture reminds one of the "slinky" toy of old, in that it falls smoothly in place no matter how it lands. The chain is quite long at 44 inches and it has a well functioning dog tag to hold your pendant. There is no clasp. The chain is 44 inches long and 1/8 of an inch wide and can be looped over the head and worn 2 or 3 times around. The chain easily stands alone. It looks well with bulky sweaters or open necklines, with...

A good example of the remarkable talent behind the wonderful Austrian Bronze handmade, hand painted bronze miniature figurines, made in the late nineteenth century. Austrian bronzes are individually cast from sand molds used only once, then sculpted and cold painted by hand with several and secretive colors of enamel paints, known as "dust" paints. This resulted in very fine and realistic studies of the different models. This adorable miniature sculpture of a husband and wife Inuit couple with ...

We love the pleasing niello design of the dotted squares on these substantial cufflinks. The word "niello" is a derivation of the Latin word for "niger" meaning black. Niello was an ancient of silver decorative technique revived by a German jeweler in Paris in the early part of the nineteenth century. It is done by engraving a design on the silver, and filling the recesses with an alloy of lead, copper, sulphur, and silver. The artistry of Niello-work is such that it embodies pleasing geome...

Beautifully miniature hand painted rectangular signet ring of the tree of life. The tree of life has its origins in both Judaism and Christianity, it is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, and symbolizes connection to the larger world, the earth and the sky. This ring is 17x 11.4mm and sits about 3.6 mm off the finger. It is 5/8 long and almost ½ inch wide. The size is 6.25 US. The Weight is 3.0 Grams.