Wonderful Victorian Gold, Diamond & Opal Tortoise Brooch/Pendant

This amazing, super quality, antique, 9ct white gold, diamond and opal brooch/pendant, in the form of a terrapin or tortoise, is beautifully made and probably dates to the late 1800’s. The piece has been formed around a stunning, large, natural, oval shaped, cabochon ‘boulder opal’ with amazing iridescent colours (red, blue, green, orange, and yellow), that alter with movement and light, which is surrounded by numerous ‘old cut’ diamonds - with a row bordering the opal, in the feet and tail and a large diamond forming the head. The brooch has been fitted with a safety chain which is attached under the head via a small looped, finely made swinging hinge, where a necklace could be attached, so it could also be worn as a pendant. This fabulous piece is in excellent condition, with the odd natural imperfections in the opal.

The valuation of R65 800, which doesn’t take antiquity and rarity into consideration, was done 6 ½ years ago, in March 2017 by a Senior Qualified Gemmologist, at an exchange rate of R13 to the dollar, and in my opinion, would now be in the region of R100 000. According to the valuation, of which there’s a copy below, the estimated total weight of the diamonds is 1,32cts and the opal is 11,4cts with a gross weight of 8,5 grams. The brooch measures 37mm head to tail, by 23mm.