A pair of white South Sea pearl and diamond earrings, 18ct white gold, made as fine modern drops, each featuring a fine grain set drop bar of brilliant cut diamonds, suspending an articulated single South Sea pearl of classic white colour with high lustre, measuring approximately 0.43 in., completed with pierced European hooks also grain set with diamonds to front panel. Length 2.17 in.
- Brilliant Cut - In their naturally occuring state diamonds have little life or sparkle and for many centuries were simply cut in half and worn in amulets. Invented at the end of the 17th century by a Venetian diamond cutter, a "brilliant cut" diamond has 58 facets arranged in a regular geometric relationship, with 33 above the crown and 25 below on the pavilion.
The introduction of the brilliant cut increased the popularity of diamonds in jewellery as it was the first cut to reveal the fire of the diamond, with the light being internally reflected from one facet to another, and was superior to the previously used table cut and rose cut.Variants to the brilliant cut have emerged since the end of the 17th century, but the popularity of the original brilliant cut has continued to the present time, where it is still the most commonly found cut.
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