Men’s Diamond Ring Victorian Three Carats

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Men’s Diamond Ring Victorian Three Carats

About the Item

This Victorian 3-carat diamond ring was created for a man around 1890. Much of the jewelry created during this era was ornate, featuring deeply carved and pierced metal, with filigree and other curlicue embellishments. But this ring is sleek, spare: simple. I often wonder about the man who first purchased it. Did he recognize its streamlined Art Deco lines several decades in advance? Did he also own one of the first cars? Crafted in time-smoothed 14k yellow gold, this ring features three old European cut diamonds, each of which has tremendous fire. The "4 C's" that we associate with choosing a diamond had not been invented when this ring was created. There was no standardized way of grading the subjective quality of diamonds. As a result, diamonds from this era were chosen not for their technical perfection and complete lack of visible "inclusions" but for their feel-it-in-your-chest beauty. The 4 C's are extremely useful in quantifying the technical excellence of a diamond but I find they fail to do justice to stones such as those in this ring. Though they lack technical perfection, they surpass a modern brilliant in less tangible and quantifiable aspects such as "character" and "emotional impact." If I were to grade them for color, they would be M/N, which is faintly yellow. Warm. The diamonds are eye-clean and fall within the VS2-SI1 range. Because of the deep cut of these stones combined with their small tables (the top flat facet), they display wide, deep flashes of color as opposed to a multitude of smaller "sparks." There is a languid brilliance to them, a fire of depth. The center stone measures approximately 7 mm in diameter and weighs a hefty 1.50 carats. The stones on either side measure approximately 5.5 mm and weigh approximately .78 carats each, for a total of just over 3 carats. The open culet on the bottom is something you won't see on a modern diamond and lends these stones tremendous style and character. This ring is otherworldly-beautiful by the light of the fire or a candle or even an incandescent bulb. The stones are expertly set into the ring in the "gypsy" setting style, which utilizes no bezel and creates a much smoother and more streamlined look. This is not a ring that's going to get caught when you slide your hands into the pockets of jeans. Three carats of diamonds—six times the amount of diamond in the average American woman's engagement ring—yet somehow the ring isn't supersonic-flashy. You can be an understated, laid-back guy and forget you have this on after five minutes because your hand practically absorbs it, it becomes such a part of you. You will love pumping your own gas because every time you extend your arm and catch a glimpse of your hand with this ring on your finger, you get a little jolt in your chest, you actually feel the sparks that come shooting out of the stones. I never had any interest in diamond rings until I put one on: this one. This is the ring that made me understand that diamonds didn't have to be shopping-mall white and sharply-sparkly; diamonds could be sultry and impress you with their innate geological intelligence; turning white light into rainbows like nothing else. Just shy of a size 9, it would be a cinch for your local jeweler to resize. This ring would make a great wedding band for a modern young—or young at heart—man. Of course, a woman could steal it and make it her own, absolutely.

Metal:
14k Gold
Stone:
Diamond
Stone Cut:
Old European Cut
Weight:
8 g
Style:
Victorian
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Late 18th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1890
Condition:
I feel a little guilty not checking the box that reads, "wear consistent with age and use" but in truth, that's not true. There really isn't any sign of use. No damage, no evidence of prior resizing, no chips, no dents, no scratches.
Seller Location:
Southbury, CT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU158916782962