French Victorian moonstone heart pendant with hidden diamond, circa 1870

A French Victorian pendant from around 1870, this small heart shaped moonstone jewel has a quiet tenderness to it. The soft glow of the cabochon and the fine gold border give it a delicate, affectionate presence, while the hidden rose cut diamond at the back comes as a sweet little surprise, adding charm to a piece that already feels intimate and endearing.

Jewellery Type
pendant

Condition
very good condition
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
France

Style
Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration. Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.
See also: Victorian
more info on styles

Period
ca. 1870
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
Love and romance

Theme
Heart - The heart has long been used as a symbol to refer to the spiritual, emotional, moral, and in the past also intellectual core of a human being. As the heart was once widely believed to be the seat of the human mind, the word heart continues to be used poetically to refer to the soul, and stylized depictions of hearts are extremely prevalent symbols representing love. (from: Wikipedia)

Material 18K
yellow gold (touchstone tested)
more info on precious metals

Technique
The rose cuts are set on foil. This is a special technique that was used to bring the lustre of the diamonds to its best quality.

Diamonds
One rose cut diamond . We do not have the weight of this diamond which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cuts.

- All diamonds in our antique and vintage jewellery, regardless of size or shape, are verified by the IJGC laboratory as natural.

Precious stones
One heart shaped cabochon moonstone

Birthstones
Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April and moonstone for July.
more info on birthstones

Hallmarks
The French control mark for 18K gold representing an eagle's head that was in use in France from about 1838.
more info on hallmarks

Dimensions
1,40 cm (0,55 inch) x 0,94 cm (0,37 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
1,20 gram (0,77 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
26106-0433

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

Additional information
our latest acquisitions
jewelry glossary
wall of fame
visit us in Antwerp
subscribe to our mailing list