French Antique Bague Au Firmament Three Old Mine Cut Diamond Blue Enamel 18k Gold Ring of Heaven STAR Victorian Ornate Bead Rivet Halo OMC

ABOUT:

An imposing and ornate antique ring! I love the beaded / ball rivet surround and the scrolled gold work gallery.

Beautiful French antique "Bague au Firmament" from the Victorian era with cobalt blue enamel on the elongated oval platform ring face. Cropping out from the blue background are three old mine cut diamonds in silver collet settings, applied as little "stars" to the face of the ring.

This very French antique piece is called "bague au firmament" which translates to "Ring of the Heavens." This style became popular due to Marie Antoinette's fondness for them. The blue is meant to look like the night sky, with the twinkling diamonds like little stars.

So many wonderful details to this one, the striking blue color, the sparkle, the ornately decorated ring shoulders. I have not seen one with the gorgeous gold bead surround / halo.

Another thing that I really liked about this ring is that the diamond settings are open backed. We often see these in closed and foil backed settings which are also wonderful and period appropriate, but can often show rust and age to the foil.

Found in France with their hallmark for 18k gold and partial goldsmith stamp.

Please note the detailed measurements that I always provide, as I have small fingers and it can be difficult to determine scale from pictures where I am required to show zoomed in detail.

SIZE & MEASUREMENTS:
Size 5. NOTE this piece was sized in the back and the weld spot weakened resulting in a crack through at the back of the ring. I decided to sell it as is in case the buyer planned to have it sized anyway, why fix it and take the time and cost if it quite possibly will be cut to re-size again after purchase? Just a note that it is a break to the gold though, occurring from age, and it was not cut off at the back.

The ring face is about 29x12mm. It stands off the finger 7.7mm. Weight is 5.2grams.

The diamonds are each about 2.5mm, just measuring the exposed portions, the stones widening out further in the collet settings which wrap up and around the girdle edges of the stone. Thereby exact carat weight is unknown as I would not remove them.

IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTES:
Typical antique diamonds, they all have frosty inclusions and one end stone has a smattering of carbon specks within the frosty included area. The center stone is chipped in two places, with flakes of loss off two corners leaving an unpolished area that appears frosty, however to the eye while wearing it still fills the silver collet setting.

The enamel on the other hand is in about as good of condition as one could hope to find. Complete in coloring with just a little surface wear. As mentioned break to the back of the shank.

Please note that all my pieces are pre-owned and in estate condition. They will have patina, surface wear, a few small nicks. These pieces may also have evidence of a sizing, some build up around the stones and / or inclusions seen under magnification, typical for antique pieces. I have mentioned any noticeable issues above and they are all still wearable and eager to be loved and accepted for many years to come, (the preservation of antique jewelry, even those with signs of their age and history, is important to me. : )
But - Please note due to age, this piece is not in mint condition. Pictures also serve as part of the description and condition report so please utilize the zoom feature which will magnify any wear significantly more than what is visible to the eye while wearing : )

SOCIAL:
Please feel free watch @mouseshouseantiques on Instagram for inventory drops, sneak peaks and previews! And check out my website www.MousesHouseAntiques.com as I can add more pics there so you can get extra looks : )

All items hand picked by me, one at a time from all over the world. All listings individually written by me, and not AI, after studying each piece to discuss its beauties and its ; ) eccentricities (which I am picky to point out).

Many of my listings include group shots – I find the comparisons between pieces help show scale, diamond hues, etc. All items in group shots are inventory, but refer to the website to see what items have sold out and to watch for new listings from the grouping to appear on the home page.

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