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Art Deco Pearl & Sapphire Swedish Ring

Photo Credit: coins-jewelry-collectibles

Art Deco Pearl & Sapphire Swedish Ring

Buy It Now Price: $284.99 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Art Deco opulence simply radiates from this 18 karat yellow gold Swedish ring from 1925 that is set with a central pearl flanked by accent sapphires.

-This antique ring is a size 6.5 on the U.S. sizing scale, meaning its opening measures about 16.9 mm (0.6654 inches) across. It also weighs in at a healthy 2.25 grams (0.0723 troy ounces), which is fairly typical for a petite high karat gold ring.

-This Swedish ring is hallmarked “18K”, indicating it was made from solid 18 karat (.750 fine) gold. The ring also has a separate, three-crown hallmark, which is the Swedish state guarantee that the stated fineness is correct.

-This 18 karat gold ring was crafted by the firm of Guldvaruaktiebolaget Dahlgren & Co., a well-regarded Swedish jeweler that operated in Mamlö from the mid 19th century to at least circa 1970.

-We can precisely date this Swedish ring to the year 1925 because of the “Y7” hallmark on the inside of the shank. The Swedish hallmarking system employed a unique, two-digit alpha numeric date code that was applied to both silverware and gold and silver jewelry.

-18 karat gold is superior to the more well known 14 karat gold is pretty much every way. The 18 karat alloy is purer, less prone to oxidation and has a richer yellow color compared to its more common 14 karat counterpart.

-This Art Deco era ring is set with a good quality, single 4.8 mm pearl. By the mid 1920s, round cultured pearls had been available in the marketplace for about 5-10 years. So there is a chance that this Swedish ring is set with a more desirable and valuable natural pearl, although we can’t know for sure without conducting an X-ray test to view the internal structure of the pearl.

-The ring’s accompanying accent sapphires are almost certainly natural, which is always welcome in a piece of Art Deco jewelry. 1920s era jewelry is often set with synthetics instead of natural stones.

-The quality of the goldwork in this Sweden ring is absolutely top-notch – a very desirable trait in jewelry settings. There is no pitting or burring on the shank and the prongs holding the central pearl are delicate and unobtrusive while still being completely secure.

-It is becoming increasingly tough to find investment grade antique gold jewelry for less than about $400 these days. So I can unequivocally recommend this Swedish Art Deco masterpiece for only $285.

Cons:

-I suppose the only possible con is that the current sale will end and the price will go back up to $300. Even then, this antique Swedish ring is well worth the price.

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Hand-Faceted 19th Century Old Mine Cut Diamond

Photo Credit: MyDiamondZone

Hand-Faceted 19th Century Old Mine Cut Diamond

Buy It Now Price: $795 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Sparkling chic is on full display with this hand-faceted, 19th century old mine cut diamond that weighs in at a robust 0.68 carats.

-The face of this old mine cut diamond measures 5.11 mm x 4.69 mm across – a nice size for mounting in either a modern engagement ring or a period setting.

-The old mine cut dominated the diamond trade from the early 18th century until the late 19th century. Old world diamond cutters followed the octahedral form of the rough in order to minimize waste. This produced a cushion-shaped stone with a distinctively small table, high crown, large culet and tremendous fire.

-This 19th century old mine cut diamond has an estimated (by the seller) clarity grade of VS1, which is excellent for an antique stone. Most surviving old cut diamonds have clarities ranging from SI1 to I3, the cleaner examples having been recut long ago. A VS1 diamond, in contrast to lower clarity stones, will appear absolutely flawless to the naked eye. It is only under magnification that any inclusions will become apparent.

-The old mine cut was eventually superseded in the 1890s by the old European cut, a more rounded form that was the precursor of today’s modern round brilliant cut.

-This wonderfully charming antique gem is selling at a price of only $1,169 per carat, which is a great deal for a 120+ year old diamond. And if you’re willing to wait for an eBay Bucks promotion, the effective price could be as much as 10% lower!

-Because of the growing popularity of old mine and old European cut diamonds, modern versions of these stones are being cut today. However, these computer-assisted imitations will lack the subtle asymmetry and classic charm of the handmade originals. Happily, this gorgeous specimen is undoubtedly a bona fide 19th century old mine cut diamond that was faceted by hand.

-It boggles the mind that you can own this lovely Victorian era diamond for just $795 – well under a thousand dollars. But you had better hurry. This gem currently has 36 watchers on eBay, so I don’t think it will be available for long.

Cons:

-This 19th century old mine cut diamond has an estimated (by the seller) color grade of either K or L. I would personally go with the lower “L” designation. Although an L-color diamond would be considered undesirable for a freshly-cut stone, it is pretty typical for old cut diamonds. As a result the gemstone remains desirable, but has a lower value than it would if it had better color.

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Vintage 14K Gold U.S. Ruptured Duck Pin From World War II

Photo Credit: Maison Rive

Vintage 14K Gold U.S. Ruptured Duck Pin From World War II

Buy It Now Price: $199.99 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This vintage World War II era U.S. military Ruptured Duck pin, also known as the Honorable Service Discharge pin, is made from solid 14 karat gold.

-This vintage military pin measures 0.625 inches (16 mm) across and weighs 1.9 grams (0.0611 troy ounces), excluding the clutch.

-The Honorable Service Discharge pin allowed a veteran to continue wearing his military uniform after being discharged – a point of great importance in the immediate post-World War II era when civilian clothing was often hard to find due to rationing.

-This pin features a screw-back fastener with a threaded post, which is consistent with its 1940s attribution. This type of fastener was last used during the World War II era when it was replaced by the smooth post, Ballou clutch type.

-According to tradition, the Ruptured Duck pin gained its bizarre nickname because the ungainly eagle emblazoned on the pin looks more like a misshapen duck than a dignified raptor.

-This vintage Ruptured Duck pin is marked “M14K” and “Gordon B. Miller & Company, Cinti. O.” – a respected jewelry manufacturer based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They specialized in corporate service pins for major American firms like Proctor & Gamble, Glidden, Chevrolet, etc. Gordon B. Miller operated from the 1930s until 1990 when it was purchased by Jostens, Inc.

–Vintage U.S. military insignia are rapidly gaining the attention of militaria collectors due to the loss of the World War II generation.

-This period pin comes in its original case, which reads “in Recognition of SERVICE to COUNTRY in the U.S. ARMED FORCES WORLD WAR II”. The inside of the case says “14 Kt. Gold Authorized HONORABLE DISCHARGE EMBLEM – Mfgd. under license by General Motors”. The reference to GM – the 20th century’s leading car manufacturer – really boosts the appeal of this piece.

-Because this vintage Ruptured Duck pin is rendered in 14 karat gold and comes in its original box, I believe the $200 asking price is justified. It is quite rare to find World War II U.S. military insignia in solid karat gold, making this example an exceptional investment.

Cons:

-The asking price for this piece is definitely on the upper end of the typical range for vintage U.S. military insignia. However, it is also a tremendously handsome specimen – possibly the finest Ruptured Duck pin I’ve ever seen. If you are interested but don’t like the $200 price tag, the seller is open to lower offers.

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1950s Omega Seamaster with Caliber 410 Movement

Photo Credit: Watch Work USA

1950s Omega Seamaster with Caliber 410 Movement

Buy It Now Price: $489 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This classic men’s 1950s Omega Seamaster watch features an immaculate silver dial, gold hour markers and radium-lume hands housed in a stainless steel, screw-back case.

-The origins of the celebrated Omega Seamaster date back to 1948. Before that time, most watches were incredibly sensitive to water exposure. Even accidentally dropping an ordinary 1940s watch into a full sink was often enough to flood the movement, permanently disabling the watch.

-The caliber 410 movement of this 1950s Omega Seamaster is inscribed with the serial number “12,683,017”, indicating that it was produced sometime during 1951.

-Omega, drawing inspiration from British WWII submarines, included a rubber O-ring in their groundbreaking water-resistant design for the new Seamaster wristwatch. Although the early versions were not waterproof dive watches as we understand them today, late 1940s and early 1950s Omega Seamaster wristwatches were still a quantum leap forward in terms of water resistance at the time.

-This 1950s Omega Seamaster is quadruple signed, which is a very desirable trait for horologists. The Omega logo or name is present on the dial, crown, case back and movement!

-This vintage Omega Seamaster sports a 17-jewel, manual-wind, caliber 410 movement with sub-seconds. Relatively little is known about the Omega caliber 410. Even the normally authoritative Dr. Roland Ranfft shows a photo of the related (but different) caliber 420 movement on the 410’s reference page. But it is important to note that Omega used the caliber 410 in solid karat gold cases, meaning that it was regarded as a fairly high-end movement for the time.

-Robust collector interest in older Omega Seamaster wristwatches, coupled with the fact that this particular example was just extensively serviced, make this 1950s Omega Seamaster an intriguing buy at only $489.

Cons:

-This vintage Seamaster has a refinished dial and a polished case. This is a distinct negative in a world where many hardcore watch collectors won’t touch an antique watch that isn’t completely original. However, a fully original early Omega Seamaster in stainless steel would cost close to $1,000. In addition, it would most likely be a safe queen that hardly ever sees the light of day. In contrast, some lucky vintage watch enthusiast can happily wear this iconic Omega everyday without the fear or guilt of ruining a pristine specimen.

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