Russian Gold Sunburst Locket
This unusual and spectacular locket is Russian in origin, dating from the late 19th Century, and has an interesting story to tell. Pictured inside originally, though now removed for cleaning, were an unknown man and woman, who look to be well to do Russians, he with his Alexander II style mustache and she with her high collared gown, wavy hair and large diamond or gemstone earrings. The locket, with its beautiful sunburst/starburst design and rich 18k gold is weighty and of quality construction. A series of marks and Cyrillic letters tell us that the locket is Russian, though the city hallmark - St. Petersburg? Moscow? is too worn to make out clearly. In place of a maker's mark, are letters that stand for the abbreviation for "imported goods", which explains why the locket is 18k but has a Kokoshnik mark inside the locket denoting minimum fineness of 14k, which is standard in Russian jewelry of the time. This particular mark, known as the 1st kokoshnik, was used from 1896-1908, and may have been added slightly later. The piece was assayed by Aleksander Romanov (Cyrillic AP), who worked in the late 1800's. I wonder who the couple were. Perhaps they lived in France for a while. Their smiling faces have no idea of the wars to come and the horrors that would befall the Tsar and his family some two decades later during the Revolution, obliterating the social order as they knew it forever. I wish I could tell you more, but that's it for now.
Circa 1890's
18k, throughly tested
weighs 19 grams
1.4 inches tall, not including jump ring or bail, by 1.2 inches wide
.20 carat old mine cut diamond
Back is plain
This unusual and spectacular locket is Russian in origin, dating from the late 19th Century, and has an interesting story to tell. Pictured inside originally, though now removed for cleaning, were an unknown man and woman, who look to be well to do Russians, he with his Alexander II style mustache and she with her high collared gown, wavy hair and large diamond or gemstone earrings. The locket, with its beautiful sunburst/starburst design and rich 18k gold is weighty and of quality construction. A series of marks and Cyrillic letters tell us that the locket is Russian, though the city hallmark - St. Petersburg? Moscow? is too worn to make out clearly. In place of a maker's mark, are letters that stand for the abbreviation for "imported goods", which explains why the locket is 18k but has a Kokoshnik mark inside the locket denoting minimum fineness of 14k, which is standard in Russian jewelry of the time. This particular mark, known as the 1st kokoshnik, was used from 1896-1908, and may have been added slightly later. The piece was assayed by Aleksander Romanov (Cyrillic AP), who worked in the late 1800's. I wonder who the couple were. Perhaps they lived in France for a while. Their smiling faces have no idea of the wars to come and the horrors that would befall the Tsar and his family some two decades later during the Revolution, obliterating the social order as they knew it forever. I wish I could tell you more, but that's it for now.
Circa 1890's
18k, throughly tested
weighs 19 grams
1.4 inches tall, not including jump ring or bail, by 1.2 inches wide
.20 carat old mine cut diamond
Back is plain
This unusual and spectacular locket is Russian in origin, dating from the late 19th Century, and has an interesting story to tell. Pictured inside originally, though now removed for cleaning, were an unknown man and woman, who look to be well to do Russians, he with his Alexander II style mustache and she with her high collared gown, wavy hair and large diamond or gemstone earrings. The locket, with its beautiful sunburst/starburst design and rich 18k gold is weighty and of quality construction. A series of marks and Cyrillic letters tell us that the locket is Russian, though the city hallmark - St. Petersburg? Moscow? is too worn to make out clearly. In place of a maker's mark, are letters that stand for the abbreviation for "imported goods", which explains why the locket is 18k but has a Kokoshnik mark inside the locket denoting minimum fineness of 14k, which is standard in Russian jewelry of the time. This particular mark, known as the 1st kokoshnik, was used from 1896-1908, and may have been added slightly later. The piece was assayed by Aleksander Romanov (Cyrillic AP), who worked in the late 1800's. I wonder who the couple were. Perhaps they lived in France for a while. Their smiling faces have no idea of the wars to come and the horrors that would befall the Tsar and his family some two decades later during the Revolution, obliterating the social order as they knew it forever. I wish I could tell you more, but that's it for now.
Circa 1890's
18k, throughly tested
weighs 19 grams
1.4 inches tall, not including jump ring or bail, by 1.2 inches wide
.20 carat old mine cut diamond
Back is plain