We’d like to thank all of the folks who’ve been so generous with their compliments and positive feedback.We work hard to be worthy of our 100% rating and always try to provide 5 star service…so to that end, we are pleased to offer free U.S. shipping of this bracelet.
This auction is for a knock out Victorian saphiret bangle bracelet.
The top of the bracelet has eight beautiful, round cabochon saphiret stones, each set in a fancy saw toothed bezels. They run in a simple and elegant line across the top of the wrist on a solid trim finished in a rich “Roman” matte finish. “Roman” finishing was the Victorian nod to the glorious jewelry being rediscovered in ancient Pompeii. These high karat gold treasures emerged from archaeological digs with a sumptous golden color which was mellowed by 1900 years of being in the ground. The rediscovery of all things Romans kicked off the neoclassical craze and influenced everything for a hundred years: architecture, glass, pottery, clothes and jewelry. To approximate luxurious ancient jewelry, Victorian jewelers acid bathed their finished pieces, dissolving the top layers of alloy and leaving a fine gold “crust”; this is what you see on the top of our awesome bracelet. The bracelet fits on the wrist with a slim, high polished band made in 10k rose rolled gold plate decorated with three graduating beads which settle just below the saphirets. The bracelet ‘opens’ by pulling on the one side and sliding the bracelet extension out and closes by simply pushing the extension back into again. This simple and ingenious ‘clasp’ is in perfect working order and holds closed very well.
What a graceful and easy to wear bracelet! The piece de la resistance is surely the saphiret jewels which glow a dramatic, moony blue. So desirable and collectible, saphirets were made in Czechoslovakia in the late 1800’s by mixing gold into molten blue glass; the result is a stone which at an extremely angle has a brown back round which then pops and flashes with a spectacular blue. This is a genuine Victorian era bracelet and the stones are all original to the piece. Considering that they are about 120 years old, the saphirets are in remarkably . There are some tiny, shallow scratches and one stone does have a small and shallow flake (see photos) but overall they are almost as fresh and certainly as luminescent as the day they were set. As to the rolled gold plate, we see no real wear and no repairs.
So, each of the round cabochon saphirets measure 5.3mm in diameter and they stretch across the top of the wrist 1 and 6/8th inches. The bracelet was made to fit close to the wrist and is a smallish size. The closed interior bracelet measures 2 and 1/4in across by 1 and 13/16in tall and is 6 and 1/4 inches ‘long’ when measured by running a ribbon around the entire interior. This being said, I have a medium to medium large wrist and I feel I could wear the bracelet pretty comfortably. The ‘clasp’ pulls open and will completely pop out of the top of the bracelet. I require this to get the piece over my hand and then simply slide metal bracelet back into the ‘tube’ under the saphirets. The bracelet is very close fitting on my wrist but does remain ‘closed’ and in place. To judge if the bracelet would fit well, measure a 6 and 1/4 inch piece of string and wrap it around you wrist. You will need a 1/4 inch of over lap or an actual, on the skin wrist measurement of 6 inches or less for a good fit.
We love to flea market and to go antiquing…you never know what you’ll find! We’re always amazed at the perfection that Victorian artisan manufacturers were able to obtain…all to make a bracelet which at it’s heart is (beautiful!) glass and affordable rolled gold plate. We’ve pictured a few vintage photos with fashionable Victorian ladies in their best ensembles and if you look close you can see their similar bracelets.
We’re professional jewelers best known here on for our one of a kind earrings created from antique cufflinks and Victorian buttons. Occasionally we stumble across a some other treasure which just needs a bit of TLC or better yet is simply misidentified: that is the case here. What a miracle that this desirable, collectible bracelet has been so well cared for! Was it a birthday present? An anniversary gift from a happy husband? What happiness or heart break has it witnessed and where has it traveled all these long years? If you’ve been dreaming and longing for a saphiret bracelet don’t hesitate to bid now!
For our international bidders:We get such a thrill knowing that we have successfully shipped to England, France, Holland, Italy, Germany, Japan and China…even to Tuktoyatuk, Canada which is ABOVE the Arctic Circle! If you are interested in our auctions, please feel free to ask for a shipping quote. We ship as inexpensively as your country’s import rules allow…IF they allow! Some countries have very restrictive or even prohibitive shipping rules.
Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility.Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up – do not confuse them for additional shipping charges.We do not mark merchandise values below value or mark items as ‘gifts’ – US and International government regulations prohibit such behavior. And finally, customs inspections can hold up a package for additional days before it will deliver…we have no control over that delay. A recent first class mail package to the Netherlands took 7 WEEKS to appear and customs added $46.00 to a $167.00 pair of earrings.
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