Antique, Victorian novelty brooch / pin in the form of a lobster. Gold set with colourful gemstones - tourmalines, garnets, topaz. Made circa 1870-1890. Measures 1 3/4 inches  More »

Antique, Victorian novelty brooch / pin in the form of a lobster. Gold set with colourful gemstones - tourmalines, garnets, topaz. Made circa 1870-1890. Measures 1 3/4 inches long. Weighs approx 6 grams. Victorian sense of fun and tremendous imagination in this lobster-shaped brooch. Made of low-carat (9carat) gold, beautifully modelled and set with most colourful gemstones: tourmalines, garnet, topaz. Utterly charming with 4pairs of little legs and large pincers. Great detail in the cabochon, deep blue eyes. Good, original condition with no damage/restoration.   « Less

Antique, Victorian Day and Night drop earrings. Made of both 9 and 14 carat gold, silver, set with turquoise. Made circa 1850-60. Length:2 inches including the loops, 1 3/4  More »

Antique, Victorian Day and Night drop earrings. Made of both 9 and 14 carat gold, silver, set with turquoise. Made circa 1850-60. Length:2 inches including the loops, 1 3/4 inches excluding the loops. Weigh 4.5grams - lightweight make them very comfortable to wear and is typical of early Victorian jewellery. Day and night earrings - the upper section / surmount in the form of a flower in 2 shades of gold. The gold in two layers of petals, the upper layer swivels around the central axis, which is set with a turquoise bead. This section can be seperated from the bottom and worn alone for a simpler, daytime look. The central section on a gold fan-shaped frame with sculpted layers of foliage enclosing another pretty flower, also set with a turquoise bead. Above the flower is a finely modelled silver bird with red eyes. Fine detail to 14k gold foliage and flowers. A set of gold elongated pear-shaped dangles suspended from loops at the bottom of the middle section. The loops seperating the sections allow swinging action of all parts as the wearer moves. The length of these earrings is classically elegant. The light weight makes them comfortable to wear despite their wonderful presence and appearance. Not only are the flowers and birds wonderful themes, but they are beautifully and thoughtfully designed with 3 precious metals that play off each other and add contrast and interest, making them all-the-more appealing. Very good condition. One earring has a tiny sign of restoration on the back, not noticeable from the front at all, and quite commensurate with the condition one would expect of a piece of this age and delicacy.   « Less

Estate drop earrings: green amethysts, rose cut diamonds set in 18k yellow gold. Fairly recently made - post 1990. Earrings approx 1 3/16 inch long. Weigh 7 grams. Amethysts  More »

Estate drop earrings: green amethysts, rose cut diamonds set in 18k yellow gold. Fairly recently made - post 1990. Earrings approx 1 3/16 inch long. Weigh 7 grams. Amethysts weigh approx 10 carats. Marvellous antique - style drop / dangle earrings. The sparkling stones are modern with many facets, showing off their splendid pale blue-green colour. Set in plain gold colettes. Joined to each other by links and a flower-like arrangement of 3 rose-cuts on each earring, giving a very Victorian feel and enabling the earrings to swing freely as the wearer moves. Rare colour looks fabulous with all complexions and design suits every occasion from gala ball to jeans. Good, original condition.   « Less

Victorian gold and diamond mesh, plaited / braided bracelet with Classic Revival clasp. Made circa 1860-80. Measures 6 7/8 inches long (not including the tongue of the  More »

Victorian gold and diamond mesh, plaited / braided bracelet with Classic Revival clasp. Made circa 1860-80. Measures 6 7/8 inches long (not including the tongue of the clasp). Clasp is over 3/4 inch accross; Braid approx 5/8 inch accross. Weighs 27.6 grams. Beautifully braided mesh in 14k gold. Silky smoothe, with luxurious texture. Totally supple and simply enfolds the wrist. Wonderful Classic Revival clasp with applied filigree and granulated decoration. The clasp is also set with 3 diamonds, each approx 15-16 points and facet cut with a lovely sparkle and shine. There are loops for a security chain, but currently none is present. The tongue of the clasp is hallmarked 14k. Very good condition. Unusual for such delicate work, there are no snaggy bits/broken pieces. For comparison: page 61 of Kaplan's 2005 book on Antique Jewelry shows a number of mesh bracelets, none with diamonds, priced from $5000 (for a Cartier example) to $2200 for a very simple Victorian example and a pair for $6500.-   « Less

Antique, Victorian snake earrings set with gemstones and pearls. Made circa 1840-1880. A little over 1 inch long. Weigh 3.1grams. Marvellous snake earrings - the reptiles  More »

Antique, Victorian snake earrings set with gemstones and pearls. Made circa 1840-1880. A little over 1 inch long. Weigh 3.1grams. Marvellous snake earrings - the reptiles twist around themselves, forming a figure 8, the tails and heads overlapping the edges. Bodies are golden tubular with a diamond-shaped indented pattern on the surface. Raised diamond shapes on the bodies are set with pearls and pink rubies. A raised collar forms the border of body and smoothe-surfaced head, with small dotted engraved decoration and raised stones in the center of a diamond-shape on the head and in the raised eyes. Lovely detail that reflects the Classic Revival craze in style. Loops are very comfortable and easy to insert in the ear. Secure clasp. We assumed the gold was 14k, but it actually tests for 18k although there are no hallmarks. Good condition.   « Less

Antique Art Deco ring. 2-colour 14carat gold, enamel and large natural blue zircon. Made 1920's. Approx US size 5 1/2 (slightly smaller); Weighs 6.5grams. Zircon is approx 5  More »

Antique Art Deco ring. 2-colour 14carat gold, enamel and large natural blue zircon. Made 1920's. Approx US size 5 1/2 (slightly smaller); Weighs 6.5grams. Zircon is approx 5 carats. Rectangular stone with canted corners. The stone is a wonderful, bright cornflower blue, faceted to maximise the wonderful colour and sparkle. It is set in a fabulous seting with various forms of decoration: green enamel with red detail; ropetwist borders of gold, luxurious, full fluted back and a shank with raised flowers. Bows on the shoulders in bright pink gold; the canted corners with moulded swirling shapes. Top quality workmanship. Hallmarked inside shank with an engraved C inside a diamond and 14k. Very good condition.   « Less

Antique, Victorian ring, made in the Arts and Crafts era. 14carat gold set with a natural, pale blue zircon gemstone. Made circa 1880 - 1900. US size 8. `Weighs 3.3grams.  More »

Antique, Victorian ring, made in the Arts and Crafts era. 14carat gold set with a natural, pale blue zircon gemstone. Made circa 1880 - 1900. US size 8. `Weighs 3.3grams. Ring folds around the finger in a domed circle, culminating at the apex in a simply faceted blue zircon. Colette set gemstone. Surrounded by openwork scrolls and beads in graded sizes, twining around golden foliage in a mixture of naturalistic and symbolic design. Highly pleasing and looks lovely on the finger. Great workmanship. Hallmarked for 14k gold and with a maker's mark inside the shank. Good condition.   « Less

Antique, Victorian 18 carat gold ring. Buckle with Memento Mori Memorial, including woven hair. Made in ENgland circa 1880. US size 7 3/4. Weighs 5 grams. Very solid,  More »

Antique, Victorian 18 carat gold ring. Buckle with Memento Mori Memorial, including woven hair. Made in ENgland circa 1880. US size 7 3/4. Weighs 5 grams. Very solid, beautifully made Memento Mori Memorial ring. Thick 18carat gold ring in the form of a belt. The top in the form of a buckle - very realistically modelled, with super-fine chased decoration. Each of the 'loops' is gold and has a pair of letters that together spell out the word MEMORY. The sections inbetween are very finely woven hair, bordered by gold on either side. The inside of the ring is engraved M.A. Obt 30th July, 1882. The ring is fully hallmarked with Maker's mark W G M; crown and 18 for 18k gold. Another two marks represent the town (possibly Chester) and the date, which is somewhat worn. Ring is in very good condition. High magnification shows that even the original hair is in fine shape, with no snags or breakages.   « Less

Antique genuine Poniatowski intaglio carved carnelian in a new gold pendant mount. Made circa 1820's in Europe. Carnelian is approx 1 1/8inches accross. Including the mount,  More »

Antique genuine Poniatowski intaglio carved carnelian in a new gold pendant mount. Made circa 1820's in Europe. Carnelian is approx 1 1/8inches accross. Including the mount, measures approx 1 7/8 inches accross. Weighs 14 grams. Outstanding carved scene of mythological figures in battle. A warrior is about to stab his opponent with his spear. The latter holds a young beauty on his opposing hip. Both warriors are naked, as is the woman, except that a flying robe is held in one of her hands and the warrior on the left wears both a heavy helmet with huge plumage and decoration as well as a large oval shield. Details are quite phenomenal. Signed in Greek letters near the bottom. Prince Poniatowski (1754-1833), the nephew of the last king of Poland, amassed one of the greatest collections of all time. In particular his gem collection gained huge fame, especially the intaglios of ancient Greek and Roman mythological subjects, literary and historical figures. At his death, approximately 2600 intaglios were discovered to be in his possession and later, a huge controversy arose as to whether they were actually Classic or made by master European carvers of the day. It is generally believed that the latter holds true, but the quality of the carving is so superb that these items , (now 200 years old themselves), are highly sought after and held in the world's most famous museums such as the Victoria and Albert in London and in Oxford. I received this email: Dear Ms Ginsberg, I have been collecting pictures of Poniatowski gems for my database in the Beazly Archive (Oxford University) for several years, and I wonder if you would give me permission to add your ebay pictures to my record. The subject of the gem is: MARS KILLING HALIRRHOTIUS WHILE CARRYING OFF ALCIPPE, the signature is Apollonides. In my database (http://www.beazley./poniatowski/) it is the reference number T239 - after Captain Tyrrell, who bought it in the Poniatowski sale in 1839 and published it as no. 239 in his catalogue. I am curious where you found it. Was it already in the States? After Tyrrell I have no collection history for this gem. Best wishes, Claudia Wagner ()   « Less

Vintage, estate ring. PLatinum, set with 2 carats of emeralds and at least one carat of diamonds. Made circa 1960's. Weighs 7.8 grams. US size 6.75. Classic crossover ring  More »

Vintage, estate ring. PLatinum, set with 2 carats of emeralds and at least one carat of diamonds. Made circa 1960's. Weighs 7.8 grams. US size 6.75. Classic crossover ring from the 1960's. A row of gently graded, emerald cut diamonds, extremely finely set, lead to an emerald terminal. Cross an identical line of diamonds and emeralds so that the emeralds are placed at the corners of one another. The best materials were used and workmanship is very good. Diamonds have a great sparkle. Hallmark in the shank is slightly worn, but the letters PLAT for platinum are clearly visible. Good, original condition.   « Less