Some jewels whisper their age. This one announces it.This extraordinary Georgian cross is an astonishing survivor, large, elaborate and gloriously dramatic. It has the presence of a jewel that was never intended to go unnoticed, yet the delicacy of the scrolling goldwork and articulated construction keeps it remarkably graceful when worn. Throughout, scrolling and curling gold wirework surrounds a magnificent arrangement of garnets and natural pearls. The reverse is nearly as wonderful as the front. Turn it over and you see the architecture of an eighteenth century jewel, beautifully domed closed back settings, hand worked gold and the framework that holds this surprisingly complex piece together. There is no attempt to hide its construction. Instead, you can see the hand of the jeweler everywhere.

Made around 1760 this cross is constructed in two sections, joined so that the lower portion moves freely beneath the upper element. Twenty eight garnets glow from their traditional closed back settings, their color shifting from deep wine red to flashes of brilliant crimson in the light; eight garnets measure approximately 2.5 millimeters, six measure 4 millimeters, nine measure 5 millimeters and five measure approximately 5 by 4 millimeters. Nine pearls provide the perfect counterpoint. Raised high in their rounded gold settings, they have the soft, irregular shapes and wonderful luster of pearls that have lived for more than two and a half centuries. Seven measure approximately 7 millimeters and two approximately 5 millimeters. The cross measures an impressive 4.25 inches from top to bottom, 2 inches across and approximately 12 mm deep. It weighs a substantial 24.16 grams. The gold tests at 15 karat and is unmarked.

This is more than a beautiful Georgian cross. It is a spectacular piece of eighteenth century jewelry that has somehow survived more than 250 years intact, and is still ready to make exactly the sort of entrance it was made for.

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Item id: CSA27427VA