Victorian 2.80ct Saltwater Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings in 18ct Yellow and White Gold

A beautiful pair of natural pearl and diamond drop earrings from the Victorian period. Two lustrous natural saltwater pearls (10-11mm) form the elegant drop sections of these showpiece earrings. These have been secured by detailed cap mounts intricately set with small old cut diamonds. Two impressive old mine cut stones (1.40cts) form the top stud sections completing this elegant design. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, natural pearl jewellery was an instantly recognisable symbol of wealth and status reserved almost exclusively for royalty and the nobility. Plucked from the depths of the dangerous Persian Gulf by only the bravest of divers, the largest and most lustrous examples were worth far more than diamonds. The examples set into these earrings are accompanied by certification from the Gem & Pearl Laboratory to confirm that they are sought after natural saltwater examples. The Victorians loved anything bestowed with meaning and this was particularly true for jewellery. Steeped in romance and ancient mythology, natural pearls have been revered for thousands of years. Known as the ‘Queen of Gems’, their enduring magic and purity give them timeless appeal.