Antique Victorian Fancy Fleur de Lis & Cut Steel Earrings, 14k Ear Wires, $1NR

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Antique Victorian Fancy Fleur de Lis & Cut Steel Earrings, 14k Ear Wires, $1NR:
$59.00

We are a long time bench jeweler and jewelry appraiser who finds ourselves with A LOT of treasures stashed in boxes and drawers. After many years of collecting, we have some very fine jewelry and some unique creations to sell.

Please note that we now have a \"AS IS\" no return policy...offer accordingly. We have a long \"5 Star\" history here on but look carefully at the pictures as they are there for you to judge quality and condition FOR YOUR SELF. Assume nothing: ASK. We can usually answer an email within a couple of hours.

Finally, we require PayPal payment within 48 hours... will step in at that point.

This sale is for a ornate pair of later Victorian cut steel earrings.

The diamond shaped face of these beautiful earrings features a intricate embossed and pierced design of beaded swags with wee fleur de lis \"leaves\" decorating each compass point corner. Glimmering at the very heart of the earrings are nine cut steel \"gems\" captured in to a diamond shape. This beautiful earring is made in bright gold gilt brass; the antique style ear wires are solid 14k yellow gold.

Cut steel jewelry dates are far back as Elizabethan England but became highly popular during the French \"Seven Years War\". They aren\'t easy to make! Each tiny stud must be faceted, polished and set in place by hand...but this didn\'t stop them from being popular right through the end of the Victorian era. Buckles, earrings, brooches, bracelets: most pieces have been lost to rust and corrosion of the steel; happily buttons, sitting in sewing boxes, survived fairly well.

These beautiful earrings started life circa 1885 part of a set of ladies clothes buttons. We\'ve pictured a lovely Victorian gal wearing her best dress just LOADED cut steel buttons and applique decorations. Even her earrings are studded with tiny gems!

So the earrings measure a 18.5mm at their widest with the earrings hanging 1 and 1/8th inches long in the ear. They weigh a 3.4 total grams or a whisper light 1.7 grams each. For reference, a single US dime measures a slightly 17.9mm in diameter and weighs a heavier 2.3 grams. The earrings are in excellent ready-to-wear, antique condition.

We are professional \"to-the-trade\" jewelers who make the special, one of a kind pieces that you might see in your local store. While these can be expensive and certainly beautiful, it\'s the OTHER work we do that holds a special place in our heart...restoration of vintage and antique jewelry. Too often, when a precious, admired piece was no longer useful or in style, it was put away and later forgotten. That\'s a shame! We have an eye attuned for these neglected treasures and for the last ten plus years, we\'ve been reinventing the last century\'s cast offs: cufflinks, clothes buttons, lingerie pins, into one of a kind earrings.We take a great deal of pride in our work and to show that, we sign our pieces with a tiny \"A\" within a diamond...for \"Ace_of_Diamond\".

To upcycle these charming earrings we opened the old thread loop to act as \"catcher\" and attached 14k shepherd hook wires using our laserwelder. We always use solid 14k so you have good gold for your sensitive ears...we wouldn\'t want less, why would you? You\'ll love the shepherd hook and catch! So easy to use and they give the earrings a eye capturing bit of swing. A few gals have been worried about wearing wires, but have been relieved to find that the \"catchers\" make the earrings very secure. The laser welder is what makes our earrings possible; it\'s a $30,000 machine which fuses the gold and steel together, no torch flame, no ruinous heat and no sloppy solders.

We love these striking earrings...where have they been for the last century? What happiness or heart break did they witness? If you\'ve been looking for a pair of antique earrings but have hesitated because of you were unsure of the metals, or even that they were true antiques, hesitate no longer; these genuine Victorian buttons, now earrings, are everything we promise and more.

To our long time friends and buyers:We realize that by changing to a \"no returns\" policy we\'ll lose our \"best seller\" badge along with other \"perks\" offers. Know that our 10 plus years of 5 star service to you and to all fair minded buyersWILL NOT CHANGE. If you have any questions or concerns, please don\'t hesitate to contact us.