DATE: Victorian, c.1870

It’s Jubilee Week over here in the UK (at least this is the week we get two bank holiday) so here’s a little bit of British Royal ephemera to mark the occasion… This is a brooch replica of “The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross”, made in 1661 by goldsmith Robert Viner for King Charles II. Interestingly, the sceptre remains part of the British Crown Jewels, but in a slightly altered form… the alteration being the addition of the Cullinan I diamond (aka Star of Africa), the largest cut diamond in the world at 530.2 carats. It sits just below the orb at the top of the sceptre and looks – frankly – unreal. The stone was added in 1910, around 40 years after this brooch was made and, for perspective, if it was included on this brooch the diamond would weigh around three quarters of a carat. The brooch is crafted in 9 karat gold and silver, set with diamonds and featuring a red guilloche enamel monde (the orb at the top) and diamond-set cross with emerald centre.

STONES

Rose Cut Diamonds

Emerald

MEASUREMENTS

49.5 x 5.7mm

WEIGHT

3.2g

MARKS

No marks present, tests as 9k gold and silver

CONDITION

Excellent, with light antique patina