Legacy of Luxury: The Belle Époque Diamond Brooch as a Symbol of Grandeur

This exquisite Belle Époque brooch, originating from around 1900 and believed to be of Belgian origin, captures the essence of the era's opulence. Crafted with two tones of precious metal, predominantly 18K yellow gold with accents in white gold or platinum, it features eight old brilliant cut diamonds and 148 rose cut diamonds. The design reflects the period's fascination with luxurious and intricate details, blending Renaissance and eighteenth-century styles into a modern form. This brooch, a symbol of the "Beautiful Era," represents not just a piece of jewellery but a piece of history, embodying the grandeur and sophistication of a bygone golden age.

Antique jewelry object group: brooch

Condition: very good condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of Belgian origin.

Style: Belle Époque - The Belle Époque (French for "Beautiful Era") was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the time of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, the "Belle Époque" was named in retrospect, when it began to be considered a "golden age" the major powers of Europe, new technologies improved lives and the commercial arts adapted Renaissance and eighteenth-century styles to modern forms. In the newly rich United States, emerging from the Panic of 1873, the comparable epoch was dubbed the Gilded Age. In the United Kingdom, this epoch overlaps the end of what is called the Victorian Era there and the period named the Edwardian Era. or more info on styles

Style specifics: The Belle Époque (French for "Beautiful Era") was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century from the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and lasted until World War I (1914-18).

Occurring during the time of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, the "Belle Époque" was named in retrospect, when it began to be considered a "golden age" the major powers of Europe, new technologies improved lives and the commercial arts adapted Renaissance and eighteenth-century styles to modern forms.

In the newly rich United States, emerging from the Panic of 1873, the comparable epoch was dubbed the Gilded Age. In the United Kingdom, this epoch overlaps the end of what is called the Victorian Era there and the period named the Edwardian Era.

In the Belle Époque cheap coal and cheap labour contributed to the cult of the orchid and made possible the perfection of fruits grown under glass, as the apparatus of state dinners extended to the upper classes; champagne was perfected during the Belle Époque. Exotic feathers and furs were more prominently featured in fashion than ever before, as haute couture was invented in Paris, the centre of the Belle Époque, where fashion began to move in a yearly cycle; in Paris restaurants such as Maxim's achieved a new splendour and cachet as places for the rich to parade, and the Opéra Garnier devoted enormous spaces to staircases as similar show places.

After mid-century, railways linked all the major cities of Europe to spa towns like Biarritz and Deauville; their carriages were rigorously divided into first-class and second-class, but the super-rich now began to commission private railway coaches, as exclusivity was a hallmark of opulent luxury. Bohemian lifestyles gained a different glamour, pursued in the cabarets of Montmartre.

Period: ca. 1900
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

Material: Two tones of precious metal, the main part being 18K yellow gold and the white parts are either white gold or platinum.
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Diamond(s): Eight old brilliant cut diamonds with an estimated weight of ± 1.45ct. (colour and clarity: F/I, vs/si).
148 rose cut diamonds. We do not have the weight of the diamonds which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cuts.

- All diamond weights, color grades and clarity 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.
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Hallmarks: No trace.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: width 3,90 cm (1,54 inch) x height 5,05 cm (1,99 inch)

Weight: 9,10 gram (5,85 dwt)

Reference Nº: 18233-0019

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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