RARE Antique FRENCH Gold DIAMONDS Chatelaine BROOCH-Pendant-LAPIS-

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RARE Antique FRENCH Gold DIAMONDS Chatelaine BROOCH-Pendant-LAPIS-:
$4850.00

DESCRIPTION: This is one of the finest and most unusual chatelaine brooches - necklaces I have ever seen. The piece is French and tests 18 - 22Kt yellow gold. It dates to the mid to late 1800\'s and is crafted in a Naturalistic style with Rococo Revival accents.

The center of thechatelaineis a boldflower in full bloom. The bud is an approximate 1-1/2 carat European cut flower (approx. 6.5 mm) with petals radiating out from the center and also set with small European cut diamonds.The center diamond is quite nice to the naked eye and has no obvious imperfections although it is not perfectly clear in cut under a jeweler\'s loupe.The enveloping border is also set with numerous diamonds to provide true brilliance to the piece. These pieces are made of silver to highlight the cut of the diamonds.

The yellow gold frame of thebrooch isadorned withcascading gold flowersof great detail. The individual veins in the leaves and petals in the flowers are quite crisp.

Perched on top of the chatelaine like a crown is a silver shell set with diamonds. A similar sweet piece is attached to the bottom of the frame.

Cascading from the chatelaine are three gold link chains , interspersed with silver rosettes containing small diamonds. The chains terminatewith threespecial, and highly decorative mementos. The first is a gold locket. It has an applied flower on the front set with diamonds in similar relief to the central flower. The locket easily opens and bears what is likely the original crystal under which a picture or memento was secured. The second chain bears something like a fob. It has a royal blue piece of lapis that is set in a detailed gold cap containing a few, cut diamonds. The third chain bears a lovely seal. The body of the seal has the same gold and applied diamond flower relief and a piece of polished lapis as the seal.

The chatelaine has its original pin with a \"C\" clasp and winding loop, allowing it to be worn as a pendant. Everything appears original and in fine condition.

MEASUREMENTS: 5\" long top to bottom.Body is 1-1/2\" at widest point. Chains are 2-1/2\" long.

CARATS: Center stone is approximately 1-1/2 carate. All of other stones combined are at least 3 - 4 carats --total is somewhere north of 5 carats.

WEIGHT: 32.5 Grams

AGE: 1860\'s - 1880\'s

ORIGINS: French (could not find any marks)

CONDITION: Very good to excellent. One small diamond appears to be missing from the shell but all others appear original and intact. Fantastic for its age and clearly well preserved for years.

The chain is for display purposes only.