Edwardian 18ct Gold Frog Brooch set with Green Garnets & Diamonds

A fabulous large 18ct gold novelty brooch, as they were called, of a leaping frog. It was made circa 1910. His body has been set with lines of  graduated green garnets or demantoid garnets which is the correct name for these stones. He has two rose diamonds near his mouth and cabochon garnet eyes.  His body has been set with old mine cut diamonds in between the green garnets. Although garnets have been known since ancient times, the demantoid variety was not discovered until 1868 in Russia’s western central Ural Mountains. Miners were immediately stunned by the highly refractive nature of the gem material. They began comparing it to diamond and referred to it as “demantoid”, from the French “demant” meaning diamond. The reason is obvious, with its high brilliance and dispersion. These bright apple green stones are comparatively rare and very expensive as they are no longer mined. In the early 1900s they were a celebrated stone and many items of jewellery were set with these beautiful stones.

When worn on a lapel he looks stunning and hopefully will not leap off!