[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by jerin

... Still, the price is quite high with regard to the old type of cut of the diamonds, which prevents them from showing the sparkle I like in diamonds.

That, I'd be ready to dispute... not just because there are enough fine cut oldies, but because the 'old style' proportions don't seem to justify the statement, IMO. Anyway, Since it comes down to matter of preference, both of us can be right and have their diamonds too

Either pieces of jewelry seem to be at an arm's length above discounting for the 'old cut' details... Could be wrong... Would definitely LOVE to get a fakey pieces worked like that I'd find where to wear it, no prob.

Wonder how much it would cost to have such a thing reproduced credibly today?

[Bogus]

I agree with Valeria on this...I'm one who actually prefers old cut diamonds over modern sparklies...broader flash, more fire. In fact it's the old mine cuts on that slide which makes the piece especially appealing to me.

I do have a pearl question...what exactly is a 'button pearl'? Is it a baroque that's shaped like a button, or is it like a mabe that grows on the shell?

For anyone who's interested, here's Skinner's description, and more pictures of the bracelet:

484: Antique Pearl Bracelet
diamonds with very nice sparkle, but are SI/I clarity stones
bezel-set diamonds with silver-topped gold bezels, the geometric links
platinum-topped gold
very minor evidence of old solder between bezels and geometric links
wear commensurate with age
later safety chain
central element with diamonds and pearl approx. 3 1/4 in.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Bogus

I do have a pearl question...what exactly is a 'button pearl'? Is it a baroque that's shaped like a button, or is it like a mabe that grows on the shell?

I use the attribute 'button' to describe a pear that is roundish top-down, and has a flatter side that is also covered by nacre (unlike a mabe pearl). All in all, the shape of a fat acorn. The measurements in the Skinner catalog show that in one direction the pearl is 'thinner'... it looked round in the pictures, so that led me to conclude it should be a 'button' shape.

Some button shaped pearls do have the flat side with less lustre, some may have been attached to the shell there, so there is a scruffy patch... but they are not mabes.

THIS is a typical button shape (picture below), as I understand it.

That's about all I know about what's a 'buuton' and what isn't. IMO, this is the most wearable shape for largish pearl studs

[Bogus]

While we're on the subject... Here's a picture of an old ring of mine that I always thought was a mabe pearl. Now I'm thinking it's a 'button'....do you agree? And while I'm at it...what's your guess? FW or SW? (C.1925)

Bogus

[Valeria101]

You can tell better than I: I cannot see the bottom of the pearl - if it is a flat bit of mother of pearl, it is a mabe... if it is smoothly rounded and the nacre layer is not interrupted... it would be a button.

If you can see at all around the metal rosette that covers the bottom of the pearl... that's about as much as I would know to look for, other than unsetting the pearl.


Btw. I had no idea that your pear looks like this (tall)! And colorful (with orient)

Hopefully someone else will pick up the ID bit... I don't quite know what it could be. As far as I know, mabe pearls were around then. I don't think other cultured pearls would have been that large yet. Basically, I am wondering myself what it is ... wishing I could see the thing in flesh, as usual...


[edited to add a possible caveat to the above: earlier still, some natural mabes or irregular button pearls were finished with rounded MOP base... like a dublet of sorts. So the back of a really OLD mabe could be roundish... but MOP nonetheless. 'Seen this only twice, on much smaller pearls, dated around 1900... but natural pearls are casually 'recycled' into updated settings, so 1925... is not that far]

[Casey.R]

OMG those pieces are both amazing. Is that the bracelet your getting?

[Perle]

There seems to be a continuing (and growing) market for the old cuts:

http://www.professionaljeweler.com/a...3/0303dn2.html

Beauty, romance, and uniqueness among some of the reasons cited for their popularity.

Button: Jeremy has some on his site:

http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=31

Perle

[Bogus]

Originally Posted by Casey.R

OMG those pieces are both amazing. Is that the bracelet your getting?

It's the one I was thinking of bidding on, but I've decided not to.

Bogus

[Bogus]

Well, the auction is over. The bracelet went for close to the top of it's estimated value, the slide a wee bit more.

Here's a pic of another piece I was tempted by, but resisted: Edwardian longchain, plat and seed pearls, 74 inches. (Can you tell I like small pearls?

Bogus

[Bogus]

...but there was an item that tempted me...and I didn't resist: Freshwater pearl drops.

To my consternation, I won the auction!!

I've wanted something like these for a long time and investigated having one of the vendors here put a pair together for me. Decided this way would be easier.

Anyway...here's a pic of MY 'new' earrings!

[Perle]

Those are lovely! Congratulations!

Perle

[Joan A]

Very Nice! I love that shape.. Enjoy them.

[knotty panda]

Bogus! You got them! I window shopped the link and those are drop dead gorgeous. Pics please!

[Ingykiz]

Beautiful earrings! I love dangles, it is like art in motion. What is the size of those pearls?

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by Bogus

...but there was an item that tempted me...and I didn't resist: Freshwater pearl drops.

Good for you! When I saw them listed, the first thing that came to mind was your thread about buying a pair of drop earrings, LOL!

A (seed) pearl chain shouldn't be impossible to find... although that one looked quite nice, and I'm not happy to have lost the chance either.