Victorian 15ct Gold Heart Shaped Locket Set With Sapphires & A Diamond

A very pretty and detailed 15ct62.5% pure gold (or 625 parts pure gold and 375 parts other metals). Popular during the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras but was discontinued in the mid-1930s. gold heart locket that was made circa 1880-1900. The gold work above the stones is called Etruscan work. This archaeological style was popular in the 1860-1900 period as a large excavation had taken place in Italy. The gold pieces that were discovered influenced many jewellers to copy the design, the most notable being Castellani. Corded gold wire has been applied by hand after the ancient techniques to create matte and shiny surfaces and depth and relief. It has been set with two sapphires and a diamondA precious, lustrous gemstone made of highly compressed carbon. Diamonds are one of the hardest materials known to mankind. Colours of diamonds range from colourless, yellow, orange and brown to almost black. Natural coloured (or ‘fancy’) diamonds can be extremely rare. The cut, colour, clarity and carat weight of a diamond are the criteria jewellers use…. It opens to reveal a compartment for a photograph.