Are you fascinated by Antique Jewellery and vintage jewellery or just want to buy a piece as a special gift or heirloom? If so you you need to know that the piece you are buying is a genuine antique and not a modern copy. There are many things to check and look out for such as the materials the piece is made from, the way the jewellery is made and the shape of the catches and hinges. All of these factors are just guidelines but with British Antique Jewellery you can sometimes tell the exact date of a piece from its hallmarks.
Hallmarking law is complex, it varied from city to city and has changed many times over the years since it was introduced in the middle ages. It takes a set of tables to work out the exact age of a piece but there are certain pieces of antique jewellery that it is easy to work out the age of. One of these is British antique jewellery made from 15 carat gold.
What is 15 carat Gold?
15 carat gold is gold of.625 purity, that is 625 parts of pure gold per 1000 parts. Pure gold is very expensive and also quite soft so it is mixed with other materials to give a harder and cheaper material that is more suitable and longer lasting than pure gold for use in jewellery. The other materials include copper, silver, iron, platinum and aluminium. The colour of the gold can be altered using different metals in the blend, for example rose gold is produced by having a high level of copper in the mix. 15 carat gold can theoretically be any colour that gold can be made in but normally you will find it as yellow or rose gold
How can i Identify 15 carat gold?
British antique jewellery which is made of 15 carat gold will be hallmarked with the number 15 and.625. If the piece of jewellery is quite light weight it may just be stamped 15ct. If there are the full hallmarks you would also expect to find a town mark, a date letter and the gold standard mark for the town which would help to give an exact date.
When was 15 carat gold used?
It 求婚戒指結婚戒指一起戴 was only a legal standard of gold in British jewellery between 1854 and 1931. During this time 12 carat (.5 or 500 parts per thousand) was also used. These two standards were replaced by 14 carat in 1932. Neither 12 or 15 carat gold were legal standards before 1854. This means tat any piece of antique gold jewellery from Britain with the 15 carat hallmark dates somewhere between 1854 and 1931 and you have a genuine piece of antique or vintage jewellery.
Bombé rings are a unique style of vintage diamond ring that are becoming increasingly popular with those that are looking for a unique engagement band or simply a unique and dazzling item of dress jewellery for their evenings out and special occasions. So what exactly are Bombé rings, and where lies their appeal?
Bombé rings are an Edwardian style of ring, with the name coming from the French word 'bombe' - or 'bomb' in English - which very accurately describes the shape of these items of stunning jewellery. These rings have an appealing rounded curving shape, providing a large canvas for a variety of designs upon the basic 'bomb' shape.
Although these originated in the Edwardian period, they became a coveted item of vintage jewellery in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, becoming popular as dress jewellery and vintage diamond engagement rings, as mentioned above.
The original Edwardian Bombé rings were often manufactured with the new precious metal at the time, platinum. As this particular metal is very strong, it was able to be worked into a variety of shapes and designs, allowing some elaborate creations to be made to fit the large curving style of the ring.
Examples of items that feature these elaborate designs in platinum include rings that bear lacy swirling designs and openwork floral patterns. The finest of three-dimensional shapes was possible, leading to some truly exquisite creations.
Due to the complexity and uniqueness of many of the designs possible in this style, and with the use of platinum, this kind of jewellery is especially suited to vintage diamond engagement rings. Not only are the designs beautiful to look at, but they also are very unique and special pieces, making for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift that an engagement ring should be.
During the Art Deco period, the swirls and floral designs of the Bombé ring changed, although the overall large and curving style remained. Instead of the delicate and feminine designs of the previous era, this kind of ring instead featured geometric straight lines to contrast with the round or oval border of the ring.
This contrast of the straight and the curved created a particularly striking look. In addition to this, the Art Deco period also had a preference for 'crisp' designs and white metals, which resulted in large, striking and bold pieces. Art Deco is also an era known for its contrasting colours - such as white diamonds and blue sapphires - adding to the effect.
Later styles of Bombé rings featured yellow gold instead of platinum, creating a Hollywood glamour that had not been seen before. These pieces of jewellery were not only used as beautiful vintage diamond engagement rings, but also as a statement of luxury, elegance and opulence.
Later designs moved away from the straight line of the Art Deco era, now with fluted and twisting designs proving popular. In addition to this, top jewellery houses such as Tiffany's and Oscar Hayman Brothers set their Bombé rings with a multitude of tiny gemstones, covering the entire surface of the ring.
The complex, luxurious and creative designs of Bombé rings make them an exciting choice for anyone looking for vintage diamond engagement rings, but also can be attention grabbing dress rings. One thing is for sure, however, and that is that these rings are anything but plain and ordinary, each piece offering its own form of striking beauty and complexity.
If a Bombé ring seems to be the item of jewellery that you are looking for, the first step to take is to find a reputable specialist jeweller that can guide you in choosing the right antique or vintage jewellery piece for you. Not only will they assure you of quality and authenticity, but are also able to make sure that you care for your unique ring so it stands the test of time for many decades to come.