Information about Filigree
Ladies antique filigree wedding rings from the Edwardian Jewelry Period and the Art Deco Jewelry Period of the early 1900s are increasing in demand.
The term used for filigree is started with the Italian word filigrana, which is originally from the Latin word filum, meaning a thread of wire and granum meaning a grain or bead.
Filigree is formed by twisting and bending wire into fine unique designs. These fine designs were used as openwork (without a backing) or they were applied to a metal surface. The metal wire used for antique bridal ring sets were primarily gold or platinum, though metal work was used in silver or bronze. The wires used were plain, twisted, untwisted or plaited.
Through the findings of antique jewelry, the creation and use of filigree may be tracked back to early metal work from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Etruria, Greece and Byzantium. Early practices of wirework jewelry and decorative items were created using small pieces of metal and then hand setting these metal pieces for design granules.
There are four basic structural ways to create filigree.
The first type of filigree is openwork, where the design does not have a backing and is generally constructed using a heavier wire. Wires are soldered together at points to hold the design together. Edwardian wedding rings are often created with openwork filigree. This type of filigree was used to create a light, lacy design that matched the lacy clothing of the early 1900s.
The second type of filigree is ground-supported. This type of filigree as used in bridal jewelry has a metal backing and has decorative metal wires that are soldered to the metal surface.
The third type of filigree combines openwork and ground-supported types, so that the completed types of openwork wires are attached to solid metal. Attachment types could be non-soldering methods, such as split rivets, rivets, bezels, or claws.
The fourth type of filigree work is used when a material is added as fill between the wires. Often the filler used would be enamel. This type of filigree is not often seen in wedding jewelry.
In early 1900 bridal rings, most design styles were linear. This is because wire is the main material. Frequently found are small wires twisted and patterned into areas built within the borders of larger areas. The larger areas will allow the wedding ring to be more durable, while the smaller areas will be used for more decorative purposes. In traditional filigree, the wires will never overlap, however, the wires may come close to or border other wires. For openwork filigree, structural frames are always used and are important for the strength of the ring. Whereas, in ground supported filigree the structural frames are for design and are not functional. The wire strand may be used to give a design pattern or even be an area filler.
The making of the wire design is a simple process and does not require complex utensils. Tweezers, pliers and hands are used to shape and bend wires. Cold chisels or wire cutters are used for cutting.
Finger rings from the early 1900s are created with openwork designs. These rings may use either bezel or prong settings to hold gemstones for embellishment. Edwardian rings would often feature filigree in shaped to form hearts, flowers, blossoms or even stars. Rings would also be embellished with engraved designs.
During the Art Deco Jewelry Period of the 1920s and 1930s openwork filigree wedding and engagement rings would use diamonds or synthetic sapphires mounted with an open backing. Art Deco Wedding rings would focus on geometric and abstract designs and patterns. Often the center stone would be mounted in a square, hexagonal or octagonal design. Art Deco Rings would also use engraving or stamped designs.
Ten Two Three specializes in Antique Old Diamond Filigree Wedding Rings. Ten Two Three ships within the United States, Canada, the United Kingdon and Australia. For questions please contact: Info@TenTwoThree.com
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Flawless Relationships Antique Wedding Rings
It’s not the perfection of a gemstone that makes the gem interesting. It’s the flaws, the imperfections, the impurities that give a gemstone character. Without the flaws, a gemstone is just a color. Or, in the case of a diamond, its lack of color. In the case of an antique filigree hand cut diamond diamond ring, it is the beauty of a diamond that is not symmetric and gold filigree that is knife cut by hand which shows slight irregularities.
The ideal in a diamond is the flawless, colorless stone. A flawless stone is one that is free of impurities. At least free of impurities that can be seen under limited magnification. A stone that has no discernible color of its own. A perfectly white stone. A stone that simply refracts and reflects light.
But when you look through a flawless, colorless diamond, you see nothing. It’s not identifiable. You could never recognize it by any identifiable object contained in the gem. It would be just like looking through air. It would just be a clear, transparent object.
So, what makes a clear, flawless, colorless gemstone interesting? In diamonds, there is just one thing that makes such a stone of interest and of value.
The value comes from the fact that such a stone is rare.
A perfect diamond is not as rare as finding a perfect person. Perfect people don’t exist. But what if one did? Wouldn’t that person be incredibly boring? What would a perfect person do that would make them identifiable or memorable? It is our imperfections that make us interesting. It is our flaws that give us character. It is our impurities that make us fun.
What first attracts people to the one they love is that first, breathtaking moment when you see that person as perfect. When the air around them seems to radiate and glow. When the person before you so captivates you that you can hardly breathe. When you want that moment to never ever end. A moment that 50 years from now, you can recall as if it just happened all over again. The moment you found your soul mate. The person who, for you, is perfection.
But, while that first burst of emotion, that first taste of love, will only grow through your life together, it is not your mate’s perfection that will endear them to you. It is their imperfections that make them so very enjoyable. So identifiable. So real. It’s the goofy little habits and oddities of your mate that will make you smile and warm your heart. It is the fun times, made more fun by not so much the parts that were perfect but the unplanned, unexpected imperfections of the moment that make the best memories.
So when you are shopping for that perfect antique diamond wedding ring to celebrate the perfect moment when you propose to the one you love, just remember that a small imperfection in the gem, or in the carefully planned proposal, that may give the moment the character that truly makes the moment memorable.
Ten Two Three offers online ladies antique, estate and vintage bridal wedding jewelry.
Ten Two Three specializes in Antique Old Diamond Filigree Wedding Rings. Ten Two Three ships within the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. For questions please contact: Info@TenTwoThree.com
Ten Two Three specializes in Antique Old Diamond Filigree Wedding Rings. Ten Two Three ships within the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. For questions please contact: Info@TenTwoThree.com
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
How to Recognize Edwardian Wedding Rings
EDWARDIAN WEDDING RING CHARACTERISTICS
Edwardian wedding rings are recognized by their rich, luxurious design and extravagant materials used. During his rule, King Edward VII would lead the fashion trends for the upper classes in the United Kingdom. King Edward VII would rule from 1901 to 1910.
Upper classes would wear rings on several fingers. Rings would be worn by the rich, leisure class. Wedding and engagement rings during this period would have an expensive look, though their appearance would be more understated that previous or past jewelry trends. Very few Edwardian Wedding Rings exist today because later generations would use the materials to construct other jewelry or wear them while cleaning house, doing sports activities or other physical tasks.
Key Attributes
Edwardian wedding rings are delicate in nature, generally light weight, very feminine and most frequently feature diamonds. Designs during this period were crafted to match the embroidered, white, lacy clothing that women were wearing. This resulted in honeycomb patterns, scallop shapes or a fine symmetrical platinum ribbon of diamonds. White diamond and white metal rings were created to match the white lace of this period. Designs were often nature driven motifs such as flowers, vines, clovers or shamrocks. The decorative French 1800s influence would be seen in light flowing ribbon designs, garlands, bows and flower bouquets. Hearts were crafted to reflect sentiment in Edwardian engagement rings. Edwardian Diamond Filigree wedding rings would be extremely popular. Metal filigree would be knife cut or hand pleated, fine cut openwork or twisted metal wire designs, often resulting in designs that were not exactly matched. - Unlike current computer designed rings. Bezel settings and fine millegrain would be used to enhance the beauty of the old wedding diamonds. Millegrain would be created by using a fine metal band to hold the diamond in place and enhancing the mounting with small beads or “grains” of metal. Amongst the wealthy, larger old-mine cut diamonds would be seen with smaller accent diamonds, diamond cluster rings and elliptical shaped rings would be popular.
Signed Rings
Only top wedding jewelry designers would have their trademarks on rings. French and English rings would usually have metal content marks, though many of these have worn away by now. In the US, most wedding jewelry would not be stamped because the metal hallmark law did not pass until 1906.
Diamond Cut
Diamond cutting equipment would advance greatly during this period. However, very few diamonds cut during 1890 to 1910. However, even the highest quality diamonds would not have symmetrical facets.
The Old Mine Cut would be a popular diamond cut. This diamond is recognized by having a high crown, a square girdle with rounded corners, a smaller table and a large cutlet. By 1910, many diamonds would become more rounded and a smaller cutlet portion., introducing the European Cut.
Pear and baguette diamond cuts would begin to appear. Smaller diamonds would be cut into single cut diamonds.
Diamonds were intentionally cut to offer the most light reflection under candlelight.
Metal Used
The enhancement of heating equipment would make platinum easier to use. Platinum would be used to create a light, lacy appearance to the mounting. Platinum was desirable as it flattered the appearance of diamonds and did not soil clothing as silver would have done. White gold would be attempted to be created as early as 1880, but would not be a viable metal for jewelry until approximately 1917. Yellow gold would be used with silver topping. The silver would make the diamonds appear whiter, however, it would be used to not touch skin or clothes.
Edwardian Wedding Rings designs would continue to be used after this period. During 1910 to 1925, there might be a visible combination of design and material with Art Deco Wedding Rings.
Ten Two Three Estate Jewelry ships to Dallas, Texas, New York New York, Glasgow Scotland, Osaka Japan, Lyons France, Perth Australia and San Francisco California.
Edwardian wedding rings are recognized by their rich, luxurious design and extravagant materials used. During his rule, King Edward VII would lead the fashion trends for the upper classes in the United Kingdom. King Edward VII would rule from 1901 to 1910.
Upper classes would wear rings on several fingers. Rings would be worn by the rich, leisure class. Wedding and engagement rings during this period would have an expensive look, though their appearance would be more understated that previous or past jewelry trends. Very few Edwardian Wedding Rings exist today because later generations would use the materials to construct other jewelry or wear them while cleaning house, doing sports activities or other physical tasks.
Key Attributes
Edwardian wedding rings are delicate in nature, generally light weight, very feminine and most frequently feature diamonds. Designs during this period were crafted to match the embroidered, white, lacy clothing that women were wearing. This resulted in honeycomb patterns, scallop shapes or a fine symmetrical platinum ribbon of diamonds. White diamond and white metal rings were created to match the white lace of this period. Designs were often nature driven motifs such as flowers, vines, clovers or shamrocks. The decorative French 1800s influence would be seen in light flowing ribbon designs, garlands, bows and flower bouquets. Hearts were crafted to reflect sentiment in Edwardian engagement rings. Edwardian Diamond Filigree wedding rings would be extremely popular. Metal filigree would be knife cut or hand pleated, fine cut openwork or twisted metal wire designs, often resulting in designs that were not exactly matched. - Unlike current computer designed rings. Bezel settings and fine millegrain would be used to enhance the beauty of the old wedding diamonds. Millegrain would be created by using a fine metal band to hold the diamond in place and enhancing the mounting with small beads or “grains” of metal. Amongst the wealthy, larger old-mine cut diamonds would be seen with smaller accent diamonds, diamond cluster rings and elliptical shaped rings would be popular.
Signed Rings
Only top wedding jewelry designers would have their trademarks on rings. French and English rings would usually have metal content marks, though many of these have worn away by now. In the US, most wedding jewelry would not be stamped because the metal hallmark law did not pass until 1906.
Diamond Cut
Diamond cutting equipment would advance greatly during this period. However, very few diamonds cut during 1890 to 1910. However, even the highest quality diamonds would not have symmetrical facets.
The Old Mine Cut would be a popular diamond cut. This diamond is recognized by having a high crown, a square girdle with rounded corners, a smaller table and a large cutlet. By 1910, many diamonds would become more rounded and a smaller cutlet portion., introducing the European Cut.
Pear and baguette diamond cuts would begin to appear. Smaller diamonds would be cut into single cut diamonds.
Diamonds were intentionally cut to offer the most light reflection under candlelight.
Metal Used
The enhancement of heating equipment would make platinum easier to use. Platinum would be used to create a light, lacy appearance to the mounting. Platinum was desirable as it flattered the appearance of diamonds and did not soil clothing as silver would have done. White gold would be attempted to be created as early as 1880, but would not be a viable metal for jewelry until approximately 1917. Yellow gold would be used with silver topping. The silver would make the diamonds appear whiter, however, it would be used to not touch skin or clothes.
Edwardian Wedding Rings designs would continue to be used after this period. During 1910 to 1925, there might be a visible combination of design and material with Art Deco Wedding Rings.
Ten Two Three Estate Jewelry ships to Dallas, Texas, New York New York, Glasgow Scotland, Osaka Japan, Lyons France, Perth Australia and San Francisco California.
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