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A very pretty 18ct75% pure gold (or 750 parts pure gold and 250 parts other metals) gold bracelet that was made circa 1900-1910. It is typical of the early 1900s style with a bow and garland design within a platinumDerives from the Spanish word 'platina' meaning 'little silver'. Acknowledged since the 1900s, platinum's durability and natural brightness has been and still is today highly treasured A metallic element prized for its rarity, whiteness, high tensile strength and insusceptibility to corrosion, platinum first became widely used in jewellery in the late ninete... top. It has been set with a mixture of transition cutDirect descendants of the Old European Cut, this progressive cuts saw an evolution toward a larger table, a lower crown, and a smaller culet than previous cuts. However, unlike later brilliants, the girdles of these stones remained unfaceted. Considered a precursor to both the Modern Round Brilliant and the Ideal cuts. diamonds and rose diamonds. It has fascinating French Bigorne marks on the clasp. Bigorne is a two-horned (or beaked) anvil with both a flat and a rounded striking area. From 1818 to 1984, the French instituted a system whereby they engraved their anvils with insects. In the case of the small anvil used to mark jewellery, they were incised in a zigzag pattern depicting rows of insects. This specially engraved bigorne anvil was then used in a system devised to countermark hallmarksSystem of marking precious metals, not required on antique jewellery, but sometimes marks can be found.. The piece to be hallmarked was placed in position on the anvil and, when the punch was hit with the hammer to create the hallmarkSystem of marking precious metals, not required on antique jewellery, but sometimes marks can be found.
, the reverse (or anvil side) was impressed with the specially engraved bigorne pattern. This system was devised as a security precaution against counterfeit or transposed hallmarks. These marks can be very difficult to discern because of the intricate nature of the insect renderings.
From 1838-1984, Insects were aligned and bordered by zigzag parallel lines. There were different patterns for Paris and for the Provinces. Paris shows the insects from the side. Provinces shows the insects from birds eye view.
In the case of this bracelet, this has three hallmarks for Paris. There is a secure tongue clasp with a clip over fitting.
18 (for 18ct gold) French Bigorne marks
Buying antique jewellery is both ethical and eco-friendly as harmful and destructive mining processes are not needed to make an item yours. So give yourself a pat on the back!
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