Old Cut Diamond Bracelet

1900s Straits Chinese gold old cut diamond bracelet set with old cut diamonds weighing 3.16ctw in 20k.

The make is closer to Victorian than mid-century, the gold is solid and thick.

The diamonds are fiery and while close to Old European cut are really old transitional cut diamonds.

These diamonds were cut in India and brought to Singapore (Malaya) during the end of the last century. The weighty ones as this were made one at a time on the wishes of its patron and less store bought.

The bracelet folds at its sides around its ‘floral’ centrepiece, the whole diamond portion arches beautifully on the wrist.

A sea of Peranakan diamond bracelets have trickled to our generation, of both antique and vintage provenance, yet their distinction is hardly obscure (even where many pieces may look similar).

Truly heritage pieces are revealed through having ‘skilled’ versus ‘everyday’ craftsmanship and less diamond type and even lesser diamond weight.

While bracelets featuring full cut diamonds are more expensive than hand cut diamonds, collector pieces are distinguished by how simultaneously robust and fine the gold is.

In essence, Straits Chinese Peranakan jewelry vary through degrees in their art at working the gold.

The best full cut diamond pieces must be solid (this one). The best hand cut (rose cut) diamond pieces must be gossamer (see the brooches).

Believe it or not, the stacking of these treacle-like bracelets is a joy that sticks, but never OTT.

The bracelet is 7″. The centrepiece measures 60mm and is widest at 17mm.