Late Victorian Diamond Target Brooch/Pendant in Yellow Gold and Silver

Three rows of romantic old cut diamonds form a stunning target style brooch/pendant from the late Victorian period. The target design features a central stone that is surrounded by a smaller stone set ring (or rings). These outer rings draw your eye towards the centre stone or target. Blackened with age, silver settings protectively encase these signifiers of wealth and status. A gold backing ensures that any tarnish would not mark the skin or damage valuable silks or velvets. Before the appearance of platinum the lustre of silver was used to showcase the best diamonds and gemstones. The relative softness of this metal meant that heavy and thick setting styles were required to support weighty stones. Jewellery that could be quickly adapted to different occasions was incredibly popular during the period, and this brooch/pendant is a superb example. A sturdy pin fitting, and concealable pendant loop means that it can be effortlessly converted from a statement brooch to an elegant pendant. A fantastic benefit, which can be enjoyed today for a wedding celebration with daytime and evening elements. It is also possible that this target style element could have originally been part of an imposing tiara that disassembled into more wearable elements.