Kensington House Antiques and Sterling Silver Kensington House
Antiques
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1485469
Kensington House Antiques
$750.00
A very pretty pierced wedding band depicting rose gold Tudor roses alternating with yellow gold clusters of cherries. Each rose is centered with a synthetic ruby. Rubies from the Retro period are almost always synthetics because the mining of natural rubies was not possible during World War II. The design is very crisp. Tested and guaranteed 14K.
  • Origin: America, ca. 1940
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 9/32" wide
  • Finger Size: 6-1/2
  • Weight: 4.6 grams
  • Approximate Total Ruby Weight: .28 carat
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1940 item #1484422
Kensington House Antiques
$2,995.00
A superb Retro 14K gold ring in the form of a buckle set with round brilliant cut diamonds and calibre cut natural rubies. The design is enhanced with a prong-set .65 carat diamond solitaire. The diamond is G/H color and VVS2 clarity. The smaller diamonds are of similar quality. All the diamonds are set in platinum. The rubies have fine color and excellent color. The interior of the shank is stamped “14K.”
  • Origin: America, ca 1940
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: crown, 3/4" x 17/16” and sits 1/4” high above the finger
  • Finger Size: 6-1/2
  • Weight: 9.7 grams
  • Approximate Total Diamond Weight: diamond, 1.05 carats; ruby, .66 carat
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1940 item #1481754
Kensington House Antiques
$12,500.00
One of the nicest Retro buckle bracelets we’ve seen, this 18K gold and platinum example comprises a strap of honeycomb-shaped links set off with a large buckle pave-set with rose cut and single cut diamonds in platinum. The buckle’s tongue, frame and loop are set with calibre cut synthetic rubies. This bracelet has a particularly sculptural appearance. Rubies from the Retro period are nearly always synthetics because the usual shipping lanes from the gem mines of southeast Asia were cut off because of World War II. The bracelet bears French marks for 18K and platinum.
  • Circa 1940
  • Condition: excellent, all original
  • Dimensions 7” circumference; strap, 1” wide; buckle, 1-1/2” wide
  • Weight: 90.7 grams
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: ruby, 4.5 carats; diamond, 1.0 carat
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1481483
Kensington House Antiques
$3,250.00
A very good Retro tank ring worked in 14K yellow gold and platinum set with diamonds and natural sapphires (natural sapphires in a Retro ring are rather unusual). The larger diamonds (.40 ct, .25 ct, and .25 ct) are all old European cuts. The smaller stones are single cuts. The ring is broad across the finger and is laid out in a very geometric style typical of tank jewelry. The diamonds I color and VS2 clarity. The sapphires show no indication of heat treatment. It is very uncommon to have natural colored stones in a piece or Retro jewelry. The back of the shank is stamped with French import marks for 14K gold and platinum.
  • Origin: America, ca. 1940
  • Condition: excellent, all original
  • Dimensions: crown, 7/8” x 5/8”; shank tapers to 7/32” at the back
  • Weight: 11.3 grams
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 1.5 carats; sapphire, .44 carat.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1476627
Kensington House Antiques
$2,195.00
A 14K gold and natural ruby Retro figural brooch worked in fashioned as a stem of cherries. The fruit are fully three-dimensional and set with round unheated natural rubies. The design is finished with a gnarly branch and a pair of gold leaves. The rubies have fine clarity and intense color, without the pinkish cast frequently seen in rubies in Retro pieces. The back retains the original pinstem and clasp marked “14K”.
  • Origin: America, ca. 1940
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 3-3/16” x 1-7/8”
  • Approximate Total Ruby Weight: 4.2 carats
  • Weight: 28.0 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1960 item #1472137
Kensington House Antiques
$1,675.00
A wonderful vintage 14K yellow gold charm featuring a gem-set heart and key. The symbols are an acrostic puzzle for "Key to my heart." The heart is bordered with rubies and centered with seed pearls. The head of the key is set with a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald. The background is enhanced with a satin finish and the disc's edges have a rope border. The back is marked for 14K gold.
  • IrugubL America, ca 1955
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 1-5/8" diameter
  • Weight: 16.8 grams
  • Total Gemstone Weight: ruby, .75 ct; sapphire, .05 ct; emerald, .05 ct.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1465960
Kensington House Antiques
$5,500.00
A chunky French tank bracelet worked in rose and yellow gold. The 1937 World’s Fair gave rise to a fashion for “tank jewelry,” so called for its perceived resemblance to the treads of armored tanks. This bracelet features angular ridges alternating with rounded elements that creates a woven visual effect. The angular segments are reeded, and the center reed of each is stippled for textural interest and is worked in bright yellow gold to contrast with the rose tint of the rest of the bracelet. The tongue of the clasp is marked with French 18K marks and an unidentified master goldsmith’s mark.
  • Origin: France, ca 1940
  • Dimensions: 13/16” x 7-1/2”
  • Weight: 56.0 grams
  • Condition: excellent, no dings
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1456189
Kensington House Antiques
$1,795.00
A marvelous pair of Retro Moderne 18K yellow gold dress clips formed as a bouquet of diamond-studded platinum flowers, the stems tied with a ribbon set with calibre-cut rubies, all against a scrolled gold background. Buds represented by diamonds set in platinum and rubies set in gold are scattered around the flowers. The design is quite sophisticated and the stones are of very nice quality. The clips are perfectly sized—one worn alone isn’t so small that it gets lost, but the two worn together aren’t overwhelming, either. The pair can be worn on jacket lapels or on either side of a dress neckline. The backs retain the original hinged double-prong coat clip and anchor pin often seen on better French jewelry of the period. A good jeweler could convert the clips to be worn as either pierced or clip-back earrings. Tested and guaranteed 18K gold and platinum.

Origin: probably America, ca. 1940.

Condition: excellent, all original.

Size: 1-1/4” x 3/4".

Weight: 16.5 grams.

Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .9 carat; ruby, .6 carat.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1455993
Kensington House Antiques
$650.00
An elegant 14K rose and yellow gold bow brooch featuring a “knot” invisibly-set calibre-cut green tourmalines. The brooch is also accented with a pair of pearls set in white gold. The tourmalines have very fine bright coloring. The golden bow is worked in both a polished surface and a micro-beaded finish. The latter is a technically difficult texture to achieve and shows the hand of a master jeweler. The back of the pin is marked “RMU” and “585” for 14K gold. The back retains the original trombone clasp.

Origin: Europe, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 2-3/8” x 1-1/4”. Weight: 11.5 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .76 carat.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1454591
Kensington House Antiques
SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN!
A lovely antique 14K yellow gold floral wide band depicting twining branches of roses, each set with a ruby at the center of the petals. The flowers are separated by round brilliant cut diamonds. The band is finished with scalloped edges. The diamonds range from SI1 to I1 with G color. As is typical of the wartime period, the gold has generous weight and the rubies are synthetic. The interior is stamped with “14K” and with an unidentified American maker’s mark.
  • Origin: America, ca 1945
  • Condition: very good, typical surface wear to rubies
  • Finger Size: 6
  • Dimensions: 3/8” wide
  • Weight: 6.2 grams
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: ruby, .5 carat; diamond, .18 carat
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1940 item #1434149
Kensington House Antiques
$1,395.00
A fine Retro brooch worked in 14K yellow gold and set with diamonds and blue sapphires. The brooch is shaped as a stylized bow when worn vertically or a comet when worn sideways. The gold surfaces are pierced to lighten the overall effect. The center is set with a cluster of round brilliant and single-cut diamonds (J/SI1) surrounded by blue sapphires of slightly violetish-blue color and excellent clarity. The back is marked 14K and also has a mark for an unidentified maker.
  • Origin: America, ca. 1940
  • Condition: excellent, all original
  • Dimensions: 2-5/16" x 1-7/8"
  • Weight: 18.8 grams
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .6 carat; sapphire, 2.0 carats
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1430503
Kensington House Antiques
Sale Pending
An elegant pair of Retro 18K yellow gold earrings shaped as bows. Each of the dangling ribbons suspends an old European cut diamond. The diamonds are graded J color and I1 clarity. These earrings would look just as good with jeans as they would a cocktail dress. Tested and guaranteed 18K.
  • Circa 1940
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 1" x 9/16"
  • Weight: 7.0 grams
  • Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .4 carat
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1427403
Kensington House Antiques
SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN!
A wonderful, generously-sized Retro period 14K yellow gold charm or pendant depicting a spaniel. The dog is finely detailed and is offset with sparkling blue sapphire eyes. Ruser, the foremost Beverly Hills jeweler of his time, was a favorite of Loretta Young and Joan Crawford. His famous line of poodle jewels were inspired by Crawford's poodles. Other breeds of dogs are exceedingly rare. The back is marked "14K" and is signed "Ruser."
  • Origin: America, ca. 1945
  • Condition: excellent; all original
  • Dimensions: 1-1/4" wide; 1-3/4" long (excluding bail); 1/2" deep
  • Weight: 19.9 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1413044
Kensington House Antiques
$1,850.00
A fine Retro leaf brooch worked in 14K yellow gold and platinum set with diamonds and sapphires. The curved leaf is lightened by the use of wire construction, a technique often seen in French jewelry of the period. The lower edge of the wire leaf is enhanced with antique cushion and old European cut diamonds, and the upper edge with a row of blue sapphires. Two larger old European diamonds are nestled among the solid leaves to one side. The three largest diamonds range from .55 to .30 carat. All are SI1 clarity I-J color. The sapphires have bright pure blue color and eye-clean clarity. The design is versatile and the pin can be worn horizontally with the wire leaf to the left or vertically with the wire leaf at the bottom.

The use of such a range of antique diamond cuts in a piece of this era suggests that the pin was custom-made using diamonds (and possibly the gold) from one of the client's older jewels. This was a common practice during the shortages of World War II. The pinstem is stamped "14K."
  • Origin: America, ca 1948
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 1-23/32" x 1-1/8"
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 1.66 carats; sapphire, .46 carat.
  • Weight: 7.5 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1940 item #1411641
Kensington House Antiques
$350.00
A pretty pair of 14K yellow gold earrings in a stylized floral design, each centered with a round opal cabochon. The stones have white body color and a “pinfire” pattern of play-of-color. The shape of the gold setting creates an interesting reflecting pattern with the opals. Tested and guaranteed 14K.
  • Origin: America, ca 1930
  • Condition: excellent, converted from screwbacks
  • Dimensions: 1-1/16” long from top of wire; 5/8” wide
  • Approximate Total Opal Weight: 1.2 carats
  • Weight: 4.9 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1940 item #1406927
Kensington House Antiques
SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN!
An outstanding Retro 18K gold mesh buckle bracelet generously set with diamonds and rubies. The bracelet is constructed with alternating bands of rose and yellow gold, creating a subtle striped pattern. The buckle is topped with platinum and is set with old European cut diamonds around the frame and calibre-cut synthetic rubies (typical of the period) on the prong. The tip of the bracelet strap is channel-set with synthetic rubies. The diamonds are H/I color and VS1 clarity. The mesh has a series of six small "belt holes" that allow the bracelet to be sized appropriately in 1/4-inch increments anywhere from 6 to 7 1/4 inches. The buckle is further secured with a safety catch. Tested and guaranteed 18K and platinum.
  • ORIGIN America, ca. 1935
  • DIMENSIONS: overall length, 8 3/4"; strap width, 7/8"; buckle width, 1 5/16"
  • WEIGHT 80.3 grams.
  • APPROXIMATE TOTAL GEMSTONE WEIGHT: diamond, 1.18 carats; ruby, 2.16 carats
  • CONDITION excellent
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1940 item #1406369
Kensington House Antiques
$1,095.00
A substantial Retro 18K rose gold bow pin set with diamonds and natural rubies. The center knot features an old mine cut diamond flanked by small rose-cut diamonds set in white gold that extend out across the loops of the bow. Two rows of natural rubies accent the design. The rubies have fine red coloring without the hint of purple often seen. Tested and guaranteed 18K.
  • Circa 1940.
  • Dimensions: 2 3/8" x 1 1/2".
  • Weight: 17.5 grams.
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .30 carat; ruby, 1.09 carats.
  • Condition: excellent, all original.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1393879
Kensington House Antiques
SOLD
A vintage 18K yellow gold heart-shaped pendant/charm, the border set with alternating cushion cut Burmese rubies and old mine cut diamonds. Like most Retro pieces, the large size has great presence. The rubies have fine, bright red color and VS clarity, and display all the characteristics of Burmese rubies. There are no indications of heat or other treatment. The diamonds are of similarly fine quality, graded as I color, SI clarity. The bail is marked “750” for 18K gold. The pendant is ideal for monogramming, but there is no evidence of any previous engraving.

NOTE: The pendant is shown with a 16" 14K gold chain available for an additional $125.
  • Ca. 1940.
  • Condition: excellent, all original.
  • Dimensions: 1” x 1-1/8” (excluding bail).
  • Weight: 6.1 grams.
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: ruby, .6 carat; diamond, .4 carat.