DATE: Art Deco, c.1920

Spectacular (for all the right reasons) antique solitaire engagement ring set with a 1.72ct transitional cut diamond. It dates from the early 20th century, circa 1920, at a time when old European (and old English brilliant) cut stones were sometimes modified in order to bring the facet proportions closer to the newly invented modern brilliant cut. It's a beautiful stone, eye clean with high colour (F), and resting in an eight claw platinum mount with openworked heart motifs around the gallery and 18k white gold band. A simple and well proportioned antique engagement ring with all the focus on the stunning diamond.

The transitional cut is something of a cult classic; a hybrid cut that sits somewhere between the old European cut (which came into popularity in the 19th Century) and the modern brilliant cut that's near ubiquitous today. They were experimental stones, produced between the 1920s and 1940s, and literally bridging the gap between old and modern cuts, so a great deal of variety can be found from stone to stone. They typically feature bigger tables, lower crowns, and smaller open culets than the old Euros that preceded them, meaning they have more of the brilliance and sparkle associated with modern stones, whilst keeping that unique/imperfect old cut charm.

STONES 

Transitional Cut Diamond - 1.72 carats (calculated) - F colour, SI2 clarity

Stone displays a small feather inclusion behind one claw, visible under magnification

MEASUREMENTS 

Head: 8.1 x 8.0mm

Rise off finger: 5.6mm

Width of band: 1.8mm

WEIGHT 

2.4g

MARKS 

No marks present, tests as platinum and 18k white gold

CONDITION 

Very good, evidence of an old resize to the back of the shank