DATE: Victorian, c.1900

Striking pair of Victorian lever-back earrings each featuring a two clusters of rose cut diamonds - one round, one oval - around a vivid central red paste gemstone. They're crafted in 18 karat yellow gold with French eagle head control marks and the diamonds set in star/floral motif platinum halos. The top paste gemstones (round) are actually doublets (garnet-topped-doublets, to be precise), enhanced by a layer of almandine/pyrope garnet fused to the paste at the crown that effectively gives them a much brighter lustre and sparkle than ordinary paste. An elegant pair of antique earrings, made in France circa 1900.

STONES 

Red Paste Gemstones - the round examples are actually Garnet-Topped-Doublets, the crown comprising a section of garnet fused to the paste to give a much brighter lustre to the stone

Rose Cut Diamonds

MEASUREMENTS 

Drop: 3.7cm

Width: 1.3cm

WEIGHT 

7.8g (pair)

MARKS 

French control marks for 18k gold (eagle head)

CONDITION 

Very good, some general wear to the paste stones commensurate with age