Antique Opal and Diamond Brooch, Silver Upon Gold, Circa 1900

An antique Belle Époque diamond buckle design brooch, with old-cut diamonds, with an estimated total weight of 13.65ct, with an Edwardian-cut diamond in the centre, weighing approximately 1.60ct, in a millegrain edged rub over setting, with a flower cluster, with leaves set either side, with single rub over set diamonds above and below, with three, diamond set swags, top and bottom, hanging from the frame edge, with single diamonds set at each point, in rub over settings, with a flower cluster in the two central swags, with a diamond set curved rectangular surround, millegrain edged, with grain set diamond trefoils in each corner, mounted in silver-upon gold, circa 1890. The back frame unscrews. The diamond set front is then flexible and can be adapted to wear as a belt buckle or choker plaque. Either end of the pin is marked with an A'M maker's mark, for Abraham Metzker, Austria 1867-1922. In our opinion the diamond colour range is I to J and our opinion the clarity is VS2. Maker's mark image with thanks to Lang Antique...

A French antique diamond and silver-upon-gold bow brooch, set with two rows of old mine cut diamonds, with a total weight of approximately 6.00 carats, in silver grain settings, back...

A Victorian oval diamond openwork brooch, with a centre cluster, set with a cushion shaped old-cut diamond, surrounded by old-mine cut diamonds, in claw settings, enclosed by four tr...

An antique, Austrian, Burma ruby and diamond chequerboard brooch, with French-cut rubies, in claw settings, surrounded by old-cut diamonds, in silver cut down settings, mounted in go...

An antique diamond crescent brooch, set with old-cut diamonds, weighing an estimated total of 4.50ct, in a three row design, with an inner row and outer row, set with graduating old-...

An antique crescent moon brooch, the body is set with two rows of old mine-cut diamonds, graduating in size, weighing an estimated total o...

A fine opal and 0.22 carat diamond, platinum set, 15 karat yellow gold brooch; part of our antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. The elongated shaped pierced decorated frame of this fine antique opal brooch...

A stunning, fine and impressive antique 2.23 carat white opal and 0.82 carat diamond, 9 karat yellow gold brooch; part of our diverse brooches collection This stunning, fine and impressive antique cabochon cut brooch has been crafted in 9k yellow gold with a silver setting. The rectangular 9k yellow gold frame is ornamented to the center with a feature sixteen-claw set 2.23Ct cabochon cut white opal. The stunning cabochon opal is surrounded by sixteen millegrain decorated individually bezel set Dutch cut diamonds. The pierced decorated brooch is ornamented with a further twenty-eight millegrain decorated bezel set Dutch cut diamonds to the rectangular frame, completing the design. The antique opal brooch...

18ct gold & silver set Art Nouveau Diamond Opal Pendant/Brooch dated circa 1900 Five round opals with an articulated pear shaped opal drop, very well matched with lively play of colours and iridescence in reds, greens, blues and gold. Set in 18 carat yellow gold claw collets Two main transitional cut (old mine) diamonds 0.70ct. Mix of old mine and rose cut diamonds in an 18 carat yellow gold with “silver Set” channel setting , approx 1 ct total. G/H/I, VS2-SI2. Total diamond weight: approx 1.7carats Setting diamonds in gold with a thin layer of silver, “silver set”, was a technique used in the Georgian/Victorian/Art Nouveau period as white coloured gold and platinum were not yet available. A very thin layer of silver was applied to the gold, on which the diamonds were set, to show them off to their best advantage (as the yellow would reflect and distort the white colour of the diamonds). The Art Nouveau period was a short lived but worldwide movement which reached its peak at the end of the 19th Century and the first decade of the 20th Century. It had its roots in the Pre Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts movements in Britain in the 1860’s. Artists, such as William Morris, took their inspiration from the flora and fauna of nature and rejected the mass industrialisation and mechanisation of the Victorian age. Art Nouveau continued with this theme and has a distinctive appearance with soft, curved shapes and lines and often depicted natural designs such as flowers, birds and the female form. Before the Art Nouveau period, the emphasis had been to design pieces with an emphasis on gem stones, diamonds, rubies emeralds etc. However, during the Art Nouveau period, jewellers adopted the idea of using other semi–precious stones “from nature” such as agate, garnet opal, moonstone, aquamarine and experimented with a wide variety of new techniques e.g. enamelling. The “New Art” style became a worldwide movement encompassing all disciplines of the arts, and world class artists as far afield as Gaudi with his “modernisme” architecture in Spain, Louis Comfort Tiffany in New York with objects, Galle Glass in France and the Liberty & Co Archibald Knox designs in Britain, Jugendstil in Northern Europe and Faberge in Russia. The movement flared brightly but briefly and by 1910 it was already going out of style to be replaced by Art Deco. In fitted period box. Detachable 18ct brooch...

18ct gold & silver set Art Nouveau Diamond Opal Pendant/Brooch dated circa 1900 Five round opals with an articulated pear shaped opal drop, very well matched with lively play of colours and iridescence in reds, greens, blues and gold. Set in 18 carat yellow gold claw collets Two main transitional cut (old mine) diamonds 0.70ct. Mix of old mine and rose cut diamonds in an 18 carat yellow gold with “silver Set” channel setting , approx 1 ct total. G/H/I, VS2-SI2. Total diamond weight: approx 1.7carats Setting diamonds in gold with a thin layer of silver, “silver set”, was a technique used in the Georgian/Victorian/Art Nouveau period as white coloured gold and platinum were not yet available. A very thin layer of silver was applied to the gold, on which the diamonds were set, to show them off to their best advantage (as the yellow would reflect and distort the white colour of the diamonds). The Art Nouveau period was a short lived but worldwide movement which reached its peak at the end of the 19th Century and the first decade of the 20th Century. It had its roots in the Pre Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts movements in Britain in the 1860’s. Artists, such as William Morris, took their inspiration from the flora and fauna of nature and rejected the mass industrialisation and mechanisation of the Victorian age. Art Nouveau continued with this theme and has a distinctive appearance with soft, curved shapes and lines and often depicted natural designs such as flowers, birds and the female form. Before the Art Nouveau period, the emphasis had been to design pieces with an emphasis on gem stones, diamonds, rubies emeralds etc. However, during the Art Nouveau period, jewellers adopted the idea of using other semi–precious stones “from nature” such as agate, garnet opal, moonstone, aquamarine and experimented with a wide variety of new techniques e.g. enamelling. The “New Art” style became a worldwide movement encompassing all disciplines of the arts, and world class artists as far afield as Gaudi with his “modernisme” architecture in Spain, Louis Comfort Tiffany in New York with objects, Galle Glass in France and the Liberty & Co Archibald Knox designs in Britain, Jugendstil in Northern Europe and Faberge in Russia. The movement flared brightly but briefly and by 1910 it was already going out of style to be replaced by Art Deco. Detachable 18ct brooch...

This fabulous antique brooch, masterfully designed with elegant Art Nouveau accents, features a wonderful black opal cabouchon measuring 20 x 17mm, rub-over set in the centre in an 1...

A stunning Antique late Victorian brooch featuring a large, winged insect decorated with sparkling Old Mine cut Diamonds and red cabochon Ruby eyes. It’s perched on a long bar set wi...