Two Gold and Diamond Clip-brooches of Floral and Openwork Design, Centering Old Mine and Old European-cut Di

Offered together as a pair, these two snowflake-form clip-brooches combine floral and openwork design in a way that gives each piece genuine lightness despite its diamond density. Old mine and old European-cut diamonds centre each composition, their hand-faceted character producing a softer, warmer sparkle than modern cutting achieves, while further decoration comes from single-cut, hexagonal, and bullet-shaped diamonds worked into the openwork frame — an unusually varied combination of cut styles that speaks to a period of jewellery-making where consistency mattered less than character. The openwork construction itself is a technical choice as much as an aesthetic one, removing metal from the design's negative space so the piece reads as lace-like rather than solid, letting light pass through rather than only reflecting off the surface.

Clip-brooch fittings distinguish this pair from a traditional pin-back, gripping fabric cleanly without a visible shaft — well suited to a lapel, a wrap coat closure, or paired symmetrically at each side of a neckline for evening wear. Carat weight, metal purity, and colour and clarity grading are available on request for both pieces.

Snowflake motifs carry an obvious seasonal association, but well-executed antique examples like this pair transcend that limitation — the floral underpinning of the design and the warmth of old-cut diamonds keep the pieces from reading as purely wintry, making them wearable across a genuinely broad calendar. As a pair, they offer the same flexibility collectors value in any matched set: worn together for a coordinated evening look, or separated so that each finds its own place in a wardrobe or, eventually, in a different family member's collection.

Independent certification for the diamond population in each brooch can be arranged on request, and our specialists are well versed in period openwork construction. This pair is entered in the Legacy register, examined and its condition documented ahead of offer.

Openwork antique jewellery of this period requires particular care in handling and storage, and our advisors are glad to provide guidance on preserving the piece's structure for future wear, alongside the grading and condition documentation available on request. We are also pleased to advise on appropriate cleaning and storage for antique openwork jewellery, since the delicate lattice construction benefits from gentler handling than more solid designs.

Antique diamond openwork pairs of this character do not surface frequently in matched condition. We invite a private conversation to review specifications and arrange a viewing. Our advisors can also share comparable snowflake and floral clip-brooch pairs from our wider collection, should you wish to see the design in context before deciding.

Specifications

• Metal: Gold
• Form: Clip-Brooch