{"product_id":"1960s-9ct-gold-split-pearl-and-diamond-cluster-ring","title":"Late Victorian 9ct Gold Split Pearl and Diamond Cluster Ring","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis beautiful Late Victorian ring dates to the 1860s and features a classic cluster design of creamy split pearls surrounding a central old mine cut diamond. The diamond has a slight pinkish hue. It is all set in 9ct gold. A fine example of 19th-century romantic jewellery, the ring exhibits traces of mercury gilding—a technique used during the period to give gold a richer, brighter finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMercury gilding, also known as fire gilding, involved applying a gold-mercury amalgam to a metal surface and then heating it to evaporate the mercury, leaving behind a layer of pure gold. Though visually stunning, the process was hazardous due to mercury vapour inhalation and began to fall out of favour by the late 19th century, replaced by safer electroplating methods. The presence of mercury gilding here is an evocative sign of the ring’s genuine antique origin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, the ring was later hallmarked in London in 1968, possibly when it was reshanked to preserve and extend its wearability. The result is a wonderful blend of original Victorian craftsmanship with a later period of British jewellery history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA charming and elegant piece that carries both beauty and a fascinating story through its layers of history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Parkin and Gerrish","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55308635275637,"sku":"908N","price":850.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0373\/3428\/6475\/files\/late-victorian-9ct-gold-split-pearl-and-diamond-cluster-ring-parkin-and-gerrish-antique-and-vintage-jewellery-150367.jpg?v=1751934453","url":"https:\/\/parkinandgerrish.com\/de\/products\/1960s-9ct-gold-split-pearl-and-diamond-cluster-ring","provider":"Parkin and Gerrish","version":"1.0","type":"link"}