Old European Cut Diamond Bracelet Antique Chinese
Delicate Straits Chinese gold bracelet set with approximately 1.8ctw Old European Cut diamonds.
Authentic Straits Chinese Peranakan bracelets feature either hand cleaved (sometimes unpolished) diamonds or full cut diamonds. The older the bracelet, the more likely it will sport old cut diamonds, with more refined pieces certainly set with Old European Cut diamonds.
After the second war, we see the use of brilliant cut diamonds increasingly, just as OEC diamonds become almost impossible to come by. Even as early as the time after the first war, OEC diamonds were already used sparingly and only on precious designs.
Collectors in antique Peranakan jewelry make a distinction between pieces crafted with old or brilliant diamonds, as the type of diamonds used is one way we can put a time to its origin.
Which explains why OEC diamond jewelry is always sought out in the heirloom jewelry of this region, Peranakan, Chinese, Indian, you name it. This piece is typically Peranakan, with high quality OEC diamonds set amidst individual gold links.
Although most Peranakan bracelets are delicate, the way the diamonds are thoughtfully set in this bracelet gives an impression of simplicity. The centre flower motif is ‘dotted’ with very sparse groups of diamonds on each side.
The clasp in this bracelet also has room to adjust sizes up or down an inch.
These graceful bracelets are visually alluring when stacked with a few different designs collected together, though they captivate alone.
The last photo (pink plate) show a set of Old European Cut diamond jewelry, all in that era 🙂