Antique Vintage toi et moi ring with diamonds and pearl

In this 18K yellow gold Victorian "toi et moi"-engagement ring from 1900, an old European cut diamond and a pearl are set side by side as if Cupid caught two unified souls and bound them together in between the two twirling tapered ends of a shank with a total of eight rose cut diamonds set in white precious metal.

Antique jewelry object group: ring 'toi et moi'

Condition: very good condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: Although it does not carry any legible control marks we believe this to be of Belgian origin.

Style: Late-Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration.

Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.
  -  See also: late-Victorian or more info on styles

Period: ca. 1900
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

Source of inspiration: Love and romance

Theme: Toi et Moi ring - The French call this shape of rings "Toi et Moi" which means "You and me".

Material: Two tones of precious metal, the main part being 18K yellow gold and the white parts are either white gold or platinum.
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Extra information: engagement ring - Especially in Western cultures, an engagement ring is a ring indicating the that the person wearing it is engaged to be married. In the United Kingdom, and North America, engagement rings are traditionally worn only by women, and rings can feature gemstones. In other cultures men and women usually wear matching rings, which can be plain. In some cultures, engagement rings are also used as wedding rings.

Conventionally, the woman's ring is presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective spouse while he proposes marriage or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage. Rings can be bought by the man, the couple together, or by each partner for the other.

In North America and the United Kingdom, it is worn on the left hand ring finger, while in Poland and Ukraine, it is customary for the ring to be worn on the right hand. In Germany, the ring is worn on the left hand while engaged, but moved to the right hand when married. Similar traditions purportedly date to classical times, dating back from an early usage reportedly referring to the fourth finger of the left hand as containing the vena amoris or "vein of love".

Betrothal rings were used during Roman times, but weren't generally revived in the Western world until the 13th century. The first well-documented use of a diamond ring to signify engagement was by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria in imperial court of Vienna in 1477, upon his betrothal to Mary of Burgundy.

In the 20th century, if he could afford it, the typical Western groom privately selected and purchased an engagement ring, which he then presented to his desired bride when he proposed marriage. More recently, couples frequently select an engagement ring together. (from Wikipedia)

Diamonds: One old European cut diamond with an estimated weight of approx. 0.22 crt. (approximate color and clarity: F/G, vs/si) and eight rose cut diamonds and senailles . A senaille is a simplified rose cut diamond, a small diamond chip with perhaps a few polished facets. We do not have the weight of the rose cuts diamonds nor the senailles which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cut diamonds and senailles.
Note: All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since the stones were not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting.

Total diamond weight: approx. 0.22 crt. (without the rose cut diamonds)

Precious stones: One pearl
  -  (more info on precious stones)

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April and pearl for June.
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: No trace.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Weight: 2,80 gram (1,80 dwt)

Ring size Continental: 51 & 16¼ , Size US 5½ , Size UK: K½

Resizing: Free resizing, but because of the the way the ring is made, we cannot guarantee to make it on every size; so please ask in advance (only for extreme resizing we have to charge).
  -  (more info on ring sizes)

Reference Nº: 16096-0003

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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