Catalog: Estate Jewelry: Platinum (33)

A large Edwardian puffed heart pendant/brooch worked in finely pierced platinum and set with nearly six carats of old European cut diamonds. Most Edwardian hearts are somewhat smaller than this generously-sized example. The design depicts a central blossom surrounded by scrolls around the edge of the heart. The center diamond is .60 carat, L color and SI2 clarity. The remaining 36 diamonds, totaling approximately 5.27 carats, are I/J color and SI1-I1 clarity. The back of the heart has a removable 14K yellow gold brooch fitting, as well as a platinum folding bail, so the piece can be worth as either a pendant or brooch. This fitting is very distinctive, and we have see puffed heart brooches of this sort signed Tiffany & Co. Tested and guaranteed platinum.

Origin: America, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent, all original. Dimensions: 35 x 35 mm (1-3/8 x 1-3/8 in). Weight: 21.2 gr. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 5.87 cts.

An exquisite Edwardian pendant and brooch featuring a large oval rubellite (pinkish-red tourmaline) cabochon surrounded by old European cut diamonds mounted in elegant buttercup settings. The diamond flower buds are mounted in an intricately interlaced knife-edge platinum setting. The back has a removable mounting so the piece can be worn as either a brooch or a pendant. Removable mountings of this type are very complex and appear on only the finest pieces from the period. The rubellite has fine color. Rubellites are usually very included, but this stone has far better clarity than most, graded as Type III slightly included. The diamonds range I-J in color and SI1-SI2 in clarity. Tested and guaranteed platinum.

Origin: probably France, ca. 1905. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: Weight: 6.6 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 1.6 cts; rubellite, 5.08 cts.

A stunning French Belle Epoque platinum negligee necklace set with old European and single-cut diamond and calibre cut blue sapphires. The fancy platinum chain, interrupted at regular intervals with natural seed pearls, joins to a gracefully arched diamond-set bar suspending old European cut diamonds leading an asymmetrical pair of semicircular plaques, each finished with a tassel of natural seed pearls. The term “negligee”, technically meaning “careless”, refers to the seemingly careless, uneven arrangement of the drop elements. The diamonds are graded as J/K color and I1 clarity. The necklace is stamped with French “tete de chien” marks for platinum.

Origin: France, ca. 1915. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: necklace length, 17-1/2”; pendant drop length, 2-1/4”. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .85 ct; sapphire, .16 ct. Weight: 9.5 grams.

A superb early Edwardian “style guirlande” platinum, gold, diamond, opal and pearl necklace. The fine platinum chain suspends a platinum and gold pendant centering a beautiful oval opal surrounded by an ornate swagged garland of diamonds punctuated with creamy natural pearls. The opal has strong and even play-of-color with strong flashes of bright green, a bit of blue and pale orange. The single cut and old European diamonds have beautiful color (F-H) and have clarity ranging from SI1 to I1. The center drop is articulated in three places, allowing lots of movement when being worn. The quality of workmanship is very fine, with completely hand-sawed openwork behind the stones, fine millegraining, and precise placement of stones. The back has a heavily worn maker’s mark, but the partial serial number would indicate a quality maker. Tested and guaranteed 14K gold and platinum.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, all original except the spring clasp which is 14K white gold instead of platinum. Size: necklace, 18-3/16” long; pendant, 2-7/8”W x 2-1/4”L. Weight: 9.0 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: opal, 1.01 cts; diamond, 1.61 cts.

Stunning platinum and diamond earrings in the "stile guirland" or "garland style" developed in Paris by Cartier, but first made fashionable by Queen Alexandra of England. Each earring is composed of a floral motif surmount, suspending a bow, suspending a wreath circled about another floral motif, suspending a teardrop. Each earring is fully articulated, so that all the parts move independently with the slightest movement. Each earring contains 51 round brilliant-cut diamonds of very fine color and clarity. The larger stones are collet-set, while the smaller stones are bead-set. The platinum setting is very finely millegrained. The backs are marked "PT900".

Origin: American, circa 1980. Condition: excellent; the posts are original and the clutches are 18 karat white gold replacements (a normal occurence, since clutches tend to wear out or get lost easily). Size: 2" long. Weight: 18.75 grams. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 2.5 carats.

A very fine round platinum, diamond and pearl brooch depicting a flower in full blossom being visited by a small insect. The flower’s leaves and petals are set with mine-cut diamonds, as are the insect’s wings. The insect’s body is formed from a small natural pearl and pearls also adorn the flower in several places. The delicacy of the design is amazing. The diamonds are very good quality and the pearls have lovely iridescence. The brooch retains its original safety clasp and 18K gold pinstem. The brooch is signed “Tiffany & Co.” and has an engraved inventory number. Tested and guaranteed platinum. This piece could be worn as a pendant simply by passing a fine platinum chain through one of the openings or by adding a folding bail.

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 1” diameter. Weight: 4.6 grams. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .30 carat.

A stunning Art Deco platinum bracelet, the links arranged in a zigzag pattern of bead-set round diamonds and channel-set square rubies. The overall design has the beautifully graphic, geometric appeal of the best French Art Deco jewels. The diamonds average VS clarity and G/H color. The rubies are similar quality, with medium dark, vivid red color (R6/6) and eye-clean clarity. The bracelet is masterfully constructed so it lies flat against the wrist and the links are individually hinged to provide movement that accents the glittery jewels. The bracelet is completed with its original hidden box clasp. The clasp is stamped with French 18K gold (for the clasp tongue and spring mechanism) and platinum (remainder of the bracelet) marks and with a partially worn master goldsmith’s mark. The bracelet was acquired from the collection of a Parisian lady who owned many pieces of superb quality from major houses such as Cartier, Perrin, and Boucheron.

Origin: France, ca. 1925. Condition: excellent; all original. Dimensions: 7/16†wide; 7-3/8†long. Weight: 45.5 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: ruby, 14.91 cts; diamond, 4.20 cts.

A stunning early Art Deco platinum bracelet set with diamonds and emeralds. The bracelet comprises seven rectangular plaques, each centered with an old European cut diamond. The plaques are hand-pierced in an ornate foliate pattern accented with a total of 84 smaller old European and single cut diamonds and 70 calibre-cut natural emeralds. The primary diamonds (two .44ct; two .46ct; two .55ct; and one .61ct) are very well matched and are graded G/SI1. Each plaque is slightly arched to accommodate the curve of the wrist. The clasp has a hidden safety catch and is stamped with French platinum hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1925.

Condition: excellent, all original, normal wear to emerald surfaces consistent with age.

Size: 11/32” wide; 6-3/4” long.

Weight: 27.5 grams.

Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 6.22 cts; emerald, 1.47 cts.

A magnificent vintage platinum brooch formed as a floral bouquet featuring three primary blossoms tied at the bottom with a ribbon, and set with a mix of old single cut, old Swiss cut, old European cut, old mine cut, early modern brilliant round cut and French cut diamonds and round brilliant cut sapphires. The center flower features a .83-carat, old mine cut diamond of fancy cognac color and SI2 clarity; surrounded by sapphires. A flower bud is represented just above by a prong-set .34-carat old European cut diamond of fancy light cognac color and VS2 clarity. Leaves are bead-set with mixed cut white diamonds, all in the E-G color range with VS1 to SI2 clarity. Berries are represented by collet-set blue sapphires. The sapphires display P2B zone 30 color (moderate purplish blue) on the Gem Dialogue scale and have VS clarity. The hinged double pinstem is worked in 14K white gold, but the body of the brooch is tested and guaranteed platinum.

The range of different diamond cuts in this brooch clearly indicates it was specially made to order for a customer using the diamonds already in her possession. Such commissioned pieces are often not fully hallmarked, hence the lack of a mark for platinum or a maker's mark. The quality of workmanship is superb.

The brooch is accompanied by a June 2008 written appraisal (GIA & NAJA) conforming to the above description and assigning a replacement value of $16,500.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 2" x 1-1/4". Weight: 16.3 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 1.84 carats (1.17 carats of fancy colored diamonds); sapphire, 2.1 carats.

A very fine pair of platinum, diamond and aquamarine earrings in a classic Art Deco style. The brilliant round-cut diamonds graduate from .20 ct at the top to .30 ct at the bottom. The diamonds are finely matched at H color, VS1 to VS2 clarity, with good to very good cut. The brilliant oval-cut aquamarines have fine color color, very good brilliance and SI clarity. The aquamarines are unheated. Each gemstone is set in a fully articulated mounting with a pierced gallery. The earrings have screw posts. Tested and guaranteed platinum.

Size: 1-3/4" long. Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 2.52 carats; aquamarine, 3.52 cts. Weight: 9.0 grams.

A stunning late Art Deco pair of diamond and palladium dress clips by Tiffany & Co. The clips are fully convertible with a duette mechanism into a single round brooch of substantial presence. Each clip features a pair of stylized flowers with curving foliage and are faintly in the cornucopia shape popular in Deco and Retro jewels. The clips are extremely versatile--they can be worn singly, as a pair or joined as the larger brooch. The diamonds are G color and VVS2-VS1 clarity. The back of each clip is marked "950 Palladium Tiffany & Co." and each as a scratched inventory number. The duette mechanism is worked in gold. The clips are presented in their original Tiffany box.

Origin: America, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 1-3/8" x 3/4" each; 1-3/8" x 1-1/2" joined. Weight: 16.4 grams. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 4.88 cts.

An exquisite platinum and diamond brooch in the form of a turtle by Tiffany & Co. In the 1990’s, Tiffany created a small line of nature-themed jewels loosely based on antique pieces in its design archives. The turtle pin was one of the most luxurious pieces in the series. The domed back is pave-set with 90 2.5-point round brilliant cut diamonds and the legs and head are set with additional 28 1.5-point diamonds. The eyes are collet-set blue sapphires. The back has a pendant hook, so it can be worn suspended from a chain. The reverse is marked “1996 Tiffany & Co. PT950”. The original selling price was $15,750.

Origin: America, ca. 1996. Condition: mint. Size: 29/32” x 1-3/8”. Weight: 14.5 grams. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 2.67 carats.

Elegant platinum and diamond bracelet designed by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. The bracelet features 23 collet-set 10-point round brilliant-cut diamonds spaced along a platinum chain. The diamonds are G color and VS clarity. The clasp is marked "Perretti T&Co 950". It currently (January 2013) retails at Tiffany for $10,500. Size: 7-1/8" long. Weight: 5.5 grams. Total Diamond Weight: 2.3 carats.

A stunning pair of platinum and 18K yellow gold earrings set with diamonds and rubies by Tiffany & Co. Each earring features four marquise cut diamonds set in the traditional “Victoria” crossed pattern, suspending a prong-set round mixed-cut ruby. The diamonds are set in platinum, while the rubies are set in 18K yellow gold, as tradition dictates. The diamonds are F color and VVS2 clarity. The rubies, of equally superb quality, are graded as medium vivid red color (R 5/6), excellent cut, and Type II eye-clean clarity. The quality of the rubies suggests they are Burmese in origin. Tiffany has not sold Burmese gems since 2003, so earrings such as these cannot be replaced. The posts are marked “T&Co PT950”. Victoria earrings, set only with diamonds, are currently available at Tiffany for $4650 (.72 ct) and $6500 (1.28 ct).

Origin: America, ca. 1995. Condition: excellent. Size: 15/32” x 5/16”. Weight: 3.3 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .98 ct; ruby, .88 ct.

A superb pair of vintage, mid-century platinum earrings with green tourmalines and diamonds. The large rectangular step cut tourmalines contrast beautifully with the surrounding ribbons of diamonds and the whiteness of the platinum settings. The pairing of tourmalines and diamonds isn’t terribly common and gives these earrings a special appeal. The tourmalines, of outstanding quality, are graded as very slightly bluish green hue, with medium dark tone and strong saturation (vslbG 6/5); 60% brilliance (very good); excellent cut proportions; good finish; and Type I eye-clean clarity. The round brilliant and single cut diamonds are estimated at H color, VSI clarity. Marked for platinum.

Origin: America, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent, tourmalines have slight wear at facet junctions visible at 10x magnification. Weight: 12.1 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: tourmaline, 14.0 carats; diamond, .66 carat.