Early Christmas pressie - ZIRCON DELIGHT!

[nottospec]

I have decided to put my search for a killer OEC on hold until the new year under the tutelage of Arkieb.

In the meantime...... my search lead me past this ring. Love it! But have never seen zircons and did know much about them but was really surprised at the sparkle!



It is an art deco handmade platinum setting with a mid hue zircon with 42 single cut diamonds (.43ct) and 2 baguettes (.24 ct H VS) in the setting

The band is stamped platinum and WALTON & CO. I have not been able to glean much from google re this company but the odd piece in an antique shop or auction house (and pricey) or a reference they were akin to tiffany in its day (late 1800s, early 1900s)

Hubby couldn't wait and gave it to me tonight, this is a photo in real life...



There was a matching brooch in the shop which I loved, I am not sure what its status is..... hubby may surprise me yet?!?! I plan to add attachments to be able to wear on a chain north-south... thoughts?





If anyone can provide ANY info on Walton &co I will be very appreciative.

Hope you enjoyed looking at the ring and wish you all and very happy and healthy festive season and may all your dreams come true in 2014!!!

 

[gemmyblond]

Hi nottospec,
Gorgeous ring! The zircon's a really lovely color and that mounting's stunning...a great find! Wear it with happiness and good fortune.

I know a little (very little!) about Walton & Co., but have an idea about where you may be able to learn more. (I'm a longtime antique and estate jewelry lover and so spend countless hours reading about obscure, no-longer-in-existence jewelry manufacturers!)

They were based in Newark, NJ around the turn of the 1800s into the 1900s. At the time, Newark was one of the major jewelry design and manufacturing hubs in the USA (the other being Providence, RI). There were several hundred mostly small manufacturing operations there. The largest, of course, consisted of the manufacturing for Tiffany & Co., both jewelry and silver pieces. The next largest and also quite well-known was Krementz & Co., whose jewelry was quite prized and well-regarded for decades, as well. There were dozens of other firms and Walton & Co was one of those.

I din't know when Walton stopped producing jewelry, but I do have an idea if you want to research it further. There's a well-known regional museum named The Newark Museum, appropriately enough, that has a large collection of estate and antique jewelry, especially from local Newark-based makers and craftsmen from the last 2 centuries. It's really an impressive storehouse of knowledge on all of this, these companies, and jewelry history in general. I've heard the curator of the museum (Ulysses Grant Dietz) speak on various jewelry history topics over the years and he's incredibly informative and really knows his stuff. You might try to get in touch with him or someone in the jewelry history department there, and ask them about Walton. That museum really lives and breathes this stuff, so I'll bet they'd know more and be happy to share.

Enjoy your gorgeous new old ring! It's really lovely.

 

[nottospec]

Thanks, Gemmy, for your comments on the ring and input into it's history!

I will send an email with some photos to the gentleman you mentioned and see if he can give me any further information. I don't expect to have anything to report until the new year but will come back and let you know what, if anything, he can tell me!

 

[gemmyblond]

Yes, please do report on what you learn...I'd love to know more about them, too.

FYI...I don't remember the names of the others who work at that museum when I heard the talks, but I do recall that his colleagues were just as savvy and into jewelry history. (Didn't want you to think you had to go thru him, necessarily, in case he was hard to reach or away etc.). Cheers and enjoy your gorgeous ring..it's really pretty and a real piece of history!

 

[VRBeauty]

Your ring is gorgeous - and how sweet is your husband, that he couldn't wait for you to be able to wear it?

Wear it in good health!

ETA the matching pin is absolutely drool-worthy! But... it's almost criminal to break up the set, especially since it's hung together for all these years... don't you think?

 

[Enerchi]

What a wonderful present, nottospec! That is a gorgeous piece (and I hope you become the new owner of the brooch, too!) and with history to boot - makes it even more special to own! The colour is very intriguing - it makes me think Mediterranean Sea.. or the Caribbean ... a colour you could just get lost inside of!

Wear in good health and happiness - and Merry Christmas!

 

[ForteKitty]

Your ring made me gasp out loud. It's spectacular!

 

[junebug17]

Oh my word, that ring is gorgeous, amazing, and fabulous!!! More pics, please!

 

[Artquest]

Absolutely stunning! Love the bright gorgeous blue. And the setting seems to fit it so well, it really puts the emphasis on the stone

 

[arkieb1]

Congrats!!!! We definitely need to see more pics of it on!!!! I wonder if you go back for the brooch if it's too big to wear as a pendant have you considered turning it into a bracelet. I have seen people make them into both.

 

[missy]

OMG! I love the color.
Gorgeous. Wear in health and happiness. And please post more pics.

 

[backwardsandinheels]

I've been looking for a vintage oec type of zircon in a vintage setting-this is gorgeous! What a nice husband. Enjoy! Carat weight? I'm looking for no bigger than 3.

 

[kgizo]

Just gorgeous! And I agree with everyone else about not breaking up the set.

 

[pandabee]

Wow....both pieces are amazing!!! And if you can make ForteKitty gasp, that is a good thing. She has quite the zircon collection! I have a similar brooch that I would like to add a chain to in order to wear as a pendant eventually but that zircon brooch is quite the stunner. I hope your DH gets you that one too!

 

[nottospec]

this is the photo close up from the website

I am going to add some shots but one at a time. Everytime I have tried to add them in multiples, my post has crashed!

 

[nottospec]

this is a photo taken indoors, near a window, sorry for the fuzziness, its the best the iphone managed!




It seems to sparkle even in the shade




This is the side of the ring showing the setting and handengraving.

 

[nottospec]

Phew, managed to add more photos!

I would just like to say a big heartfelt THANKYOU to all for your lovely comments! My husband, especially, has enjoyed the references to himself being so sweet!!!

I am *hoping* my ring has a friend under the tree, we are having our gift giving family get together in 3 days before we head away so I might know in 3 days otherwise it will be a week. We definitely keep you posted!!!

I will try to capture the faceting in this stone with a better camera so I can get an idea of the quality of the cut from you experts.

 

[Catmom]

Your ring is beautiful! I love blue zircons. I really hope you find a friend under your tree!!