Golden Era of Romance: Victorian Seal in Diamonds and Emeralds

This Victorian gold seal, hailing from the Romantic Victorian Period of the mid-19th century, exudes a deep sense of historical romance and intricate craftsmanship. Fashioned from 18K yellow gold, the seal is lavishly adorned with 150 rose cut diamonds, 31 emeralds, and a singular, exquisitely engraved lapis lazuli. Reflecting the era's penchant for eclectic and symbolic design, it encapsulates the sentimental and romantic ethos of Queen Victoria's reign. This piece is not merely a seal; it's a romantic narrative, woven in precious stones and metals, telling a story of love, devotion, and artistic expression.

Antique jewelry object group: seal

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 or more info on styles

Style specifics: The Romantic Victorian Period - Experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria, also called The Victorian era (1837 - 1901) in to three periods of about twenty years each; The Romantic Victorian Period (1837 - 1860), The Grand Victorian Period (1860 - 1880), and the Late or Aesthetic Victorian Period (1880 - 1901).

We consider this to be of the Romantic Victorian Period. This period covers the coronation of Victoria as Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and her marriage to King Albert and their love, their devotion to their marriage and to their country are the sources of inspiration for this period. The jewels of this period are made of intricate carvings, special techniques where the enamel is subtly worked. These techniques allowed to give the jewel a certain opulence with less precious metal needed. As precious metals were really rare at that time. Highly favored (semi-) precious stones in this period are amethyst, coral, garnets, seed pearls and turquoises. The connotation is obviously sentimental, symbolic and romantic with reminiscent Gotic and/or Renaissance patterns and an abundant use of motifs like anchors, birds, branches, crosses, hearts and snakes.

Period: ca. 1840
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

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

Diamond(s): 150 rose cut diamonds and senailles . A senaille is a simplified rose cut diamond, a small diamond chip with perhaps a few polished facets. We do not have the weight of the rose cuts diamonds nor the senailles which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cut diamonds and senailles.

- All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since stones are not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting. Also we have all diamonds screened by the IJGC - lab (www.ijgc-worldwide.com) for whether they are natural or synthetic, and all diamonds in this jewel are 100% guaranteed to be natural!

Precious stones: 31 emeralds (most probably Brasilian) and one engraved lapis lazuli

- All color stone weights are approximate since stones are not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting.

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April, emerald for May and lapis lazuli for September.
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Engraving: monogram B.V.(?)

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: height 2,56 cm (1,01 inch) - See picture with a ruler in cm and inches

Weight: 5,70 gram (3,67 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº: 20155-0504

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewellery

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