This is a stunning pair of Stuart Crystal earrings from my personal collection circa 1700. They are in remarkable antique condition for their age. They have been highly polished by the previous owner so there is no 300+ year patina any longer. The silver shines like they were made yesterday and this really accentuates the brightness of the crystals. I had purchased these earrings from an antique jewelry store in London. The pair caught my attention because I had never seen a "B" inside a Stuart Crystal before and "B" is my last name initial so they are very special indeed. The faces are rock crystal and the setting is silver. There is a tiny woven hair backing, and gold thread 'cyphers', typical of Stuart Crystals. The backs of the earrings are sterling silver, and the earwires are gold. The seller told me the gold wires test around 9k. Production of Stuart Crystal jewelry originated in England under the silent support of the monarchy after the execution of King Charles I in 1649. His Loyal Stuart followers wore Stuart crystal jewelry bearing his initials, miniature portrait, or lock of hair, a tradition that carried on in to the 18th Century. This jewelry, though originally aligned with support of the monarchy, over time became more personal in nature, and the later examples might feature the cypher or hair of the owner. These earrings started out life most likely as buttons or cufflinks, and were converted to earrings at a later date. They are a matched pair. DIMENSIONS: The earrings have a total drop of 5/8 inch. Their faces have a diameter of about 1/2 inch. CONDITION: Remarkable antique condition. They have been highly polished so there is no tarnish to the silver setting. The crystals are bright and the cyphers are where they should be. The foil behind the one crystal on the one earring is a little darker (small amount of tarnish) than the other. They were probably buttons or cufflinks in a previous life and have been transformed into the earrings that you see now. Please feel free to message me for more details or pictures.
