This antique demantoid brooch is characterized by its humorous and joyful design. The interpretation of the design is subjective, I see a jester hat and my jeweler saw a masquerade mask. This piece evokes a cheerful disposition, sure to bring a smile to the wearer’s face.
Demantoid, part of the andradite garnet family, has its special trait due to possessing a brilliance that surpasses diamonds. While diamonds are renowned for their dispersion, the brilliance of a demantoid outshines them. Its high dispersion value inspired its name “demant”, derived from the German word for diamond. Typically, the lighter the hue the greater brilliance. Although the primary Uralian source is nearly depleted, other mining locations will occasionally yield demantoids.
Discovered in Russia in 1868, demantoids have remained relatively obscure due to their rarity. It was not until George Kuntz acquired this gemstone that it garnered attention amongst the upper echelons of English and French jewelers. The popularity of demantoids peaked in the 19th century, coinciding with the depletion of Russian deposits. Although there is no definitive science lab method to determine the origin of demantoid gemstones, the ones from Russia usually have a horse tail inclusion. This inclusion resembles the fine fibers of a horse’s tail, emanating throughout the stone in a curved shape. Which not definitive, this inclusion serves as an excellent indicator of origin and I'm excited to share that a majority of the demantoids in this brooch have this inclusion.
This demantoid brooch would make a distinguished addition to any collection.
Specification
1920s Art Deco
Demantoids and two old European cut diamonds
15k-18k yellow and white gold
4.1g
2” in length
0.46” in width
Care
Intermediate – demantoids have a 6.5-7.5 hardness scale
Clean
Basic
Condition
Great! A few demantoids have surface abrasions and nicks but well secured in their setting
Cost Drivers
Gemstone type: supreme
Gold purity level: supreme
Gemstone quantity: basic
Gold weight: average
Rarity: supreme
Condition: above average
